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THE MAZE RUNNER

From the maze runner series , vol. 1.

by James Dashner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2009

Boys come to the Glade via an empty freight elevator with no memory of how they got there or of their prior lives. This disorientation is made more frightening when they realize that to survive they must lock themselves in every night to avoid the horrors of the Grievers, beings that are part machine, part animal—and altogether deadly. The boys in the Glade send out Runners each day to find a way out through the Maze that surrounds their one patch of safety, with no success. Life goes on until one day the elevator delivers a girl. She brings a message: She is the last child to be sent, and there will be no more deliveries of food or supplies. Now the Glade is cut off, and as the Grievers gather for an all-out attack it’s clear that it’s now or never—the Maze must be solved. Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic. Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what comes next. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-385-73794-4

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2009

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT DYSTOPIAN FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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More In The Series

BOOK REVIEW

by James Dashner

More by James Dashner

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

by Lauren Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.

The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.

Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023

ISBN: 9798987380406

Page Count: 538

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

New York Times Bestseller

DIVINE RIVALS

by Rebecca Ross ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 4, 2023

Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy.

A war between gods plays havoc with mortals and their everyday lives.

In a time of typewriters and steam engines, Iris Winnow awaits word from her older brother, who has enlisted on the side of Enva the Skyward goddess. Alcohol abuse led to her mother’s losing her job, and Iris has dropped out of school and found work utilizing her writing skills at the Oath Gazette . Hiding the stress of her home issues behind a brave face, Iris competes for valuable assignments that may one day earn her the coveted columnist position. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles. At home, she writes cathartic letters to her brother, never posting them but instead placing them in her wardrobe, where they vanish overnight. One day Iris receives a reply, which, along with other events, pushes her to make dramatic life decisions. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. It flirts with clichéd tropes but also takes some startling turns. Main characters are assumed White; same-sex marriages and gender equality at the warfront appear to be the norm in this world.

Pub Date: April 4, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-250-85743-9

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FAMILY

More by Rebecca Ross

by Rebecca Ross

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The maze runner: maze runner trilogy, book 1, common sense media reviewers.

Teens are the pawns of evil adults in violent dystopia.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Many teen readers enjoy post-apocalyptic or dystop

Thomas sets a strong example by doing what he know

Depicts a violent world where chosen children in a

Some of the boys refer to the only girl as "h

Mostly made-up slang words, such as "klunk&qu

Parents need to know that the scenes of violence are stronger in this book and more graphic than those of, say, The Hunger Games , partly because at times it is adults murdering children, and not from a distance or out of sight. The teens stranded in the Maze have their memories wiped, but they are still aware…

Positive Messages

Many teen readers enjoy post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction because it is so dark and over the top. They can judge the actions of an out-of-control world from a safe distance. Even in this dystopia main characters follow their consciences and risk their lives for others.

Positive Role Models

Thomas sets a strong example by doing what he knows is right and risking his personal safety, and later his life, to save the others. He quickly recognizes the value of having even one friend and does everything to protect that friendship. He feels responsibility for the younger teens, and is willing to go against authority.

Violence & Scariness

Depicts a violent world where chosen children in a maze are mere pawns. They face mortal danger from the monsters outside the walls and mortal danger inside from boys who have been stung (but not killed) by the monsters. Some boys go insane. Boys attack monsters with guns, knives, and spears. Adult Creators of the Maze control everyone in it and don't stop at murdering children. Disease and pestilence run rampant in the outside world. A climax where many characters are killed by gunfire.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some of the boys refer to the only girl as "hot."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Mostly made-up slang words, such as "klunk" and "slinthead"; the word "shuck" is used often and it's hard not to think it's the word "f--k" every time you see it. Some usage of the words "butt," "crappy," and "sucks."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the scenes of violence are stronger in this book and more graphic than those of, say, The Hunger Games , partly because at times it is adults murdering children, and not from a distance or out of sight. The teens stranded in the Maze have their memories wiped, but they are still aware on some level that they are being held captive and endangered by adults, not monsters or other children. Some of the teens in the Maze go insane from the fear, the attacks, or in one case, the memory of the world he had left behind. Main characters are conscientious and risk their lives to save others.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (37)
• Kids say (259)

Based on 37 parent reviews

Gruesome dystopian novel with plenty of blood and torture scenes.

What's the story.

Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up in a place called the Glade, where towering walls close at night to keep a colony of boys safe from the monsters outside them. They have all had their memories erased, but Thomas remembers just a little too much. The world is in catastrophe and they are living in the Killzone, mere animals in a bizarre experiment. Soon Teresa, the first girl, arrives and tells them the game is on. Some boys think they are better off in this cold, cruel place than going back to where they came from -- they have formed a society after all, with rules and jobs like farming and even butchering their own meat. But Thomas turns out to be the leader they've needed to form their own army, revolt against the monsters, and take on the people who have set them up in this very cruel and isolated world. Of course the outside world may have its own scary challenges.

Is It Any Good?

This is a fast-paced adventure in a very dark and pretty violent post-apocalyptic world. It is reminiscent of The Lord of the Flies , without the inventiveness of The Hunger Games . Readers who enjoy dystopian novels will enjoy it, and Thomas is a strong role model who does not fall easily into peer pressure or give up his own sense of what's right. Readers will root for him, and for Teresa, and the complicated relationships between the other boys will keep readers guessing.

Part of the attraction of THE MAZE RUNNER will be the world the boys and Teresa inhabit for most of the book, a world with no adults where kids make their own rules. The story makes up for the sometimes bumpy prose, and the invented slang is a little jarring since there are no clues about how far in the future the story is supposed to take place, or why the boys have made up their own words. A cliffhanger ending will gear up teens for the second in the trilogy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what happens when a group of boys are left to survive without the normal rules and laws of society. Who becomes the leader? What happens to those who won't follow the new rules?

The boys arrive one at a time but become acclimatized to their new society very quickly. Why do they form loyalties so quickly?

Why do you think the Creators use children in their Maze instead of adults?

The boys and Teresa have all had their memories erased. Is there really a memory-wiping device or drug available?

Book Details

• Author : James Dashner
• Genre : Science Fiction
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Delacorte Press
• Publication date : October 1, 2009
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
• Number of pages : 375
• Last updated : July 12, 2017

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Our editors recommend.

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Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

The Giver, Book 1

Unwind: Unwind Dystology, Book 1

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 18th August 2019  - Last updated: 12th January 2024

Categories Book Reviews , Books

After reading this Maze Runner book review you’ll know exactly why everyone raves about this young adult dystopia book by James Dashner. Keep reading for my full The Maze Runner review!

The Maze Runner is a young adult dystopian story and if you haven’t already heard of it, you’re going to be hearing a lot about it soon. The film adaptation of this story has already hit cinema screens in the US and is scheduled for release in the UK on 10 October 2014.

It’s not hard to see why this story was snapped up by 20th Century Fox as it’s a gripping story full of twists and turns set in a world that will no doubt make an impression on the big screen.

The Maze Runner Summary

This story starts when Thomas arrives at the Glade in the box. Thomas has absolutely no memories about his past or who he is and is very confused by his surroundings, which is to be expected given that the Glade is occupied up of a small group of teenage boys (no adults and no girls) and is enclosed within the confines of massive stone walls.

Thomas soon discovers that these boys are trapped in the Glade, which is surrounded by a huge maze, full of dangerous creatures called Grievers. Everyday, the walls open, revealing the Maze and the Gladers send out ‘runners’ to try and figure out a way out of the Maze. The Gladers have already been trapped for two years but they still haven’t found a way out.

Because every night, once the stone walls close, the walls of the maze change. Escape seems futile. Everyday is the same in the Glade, that is, until Thomas shows up, when everything starts to change. Ordinarily, only one new person arrives at the Glade a month, but the day after Thomas arrives, another person is delivered via the box. A girl.

A girl that recognises Thomas, no less.

Things are changing in the Glade and it seems like the time to finally escape has come – but only if they can figure out the code – and their escape mission will not be easy.

The Maze Runner Book Review

Although  The Maze Runner is written in the third person, it follows Thomas as he tries to figure out what the hell is going on – what happened to him (and the other boys), where they are and what their purpose is. I didn’t connect as much with Thomas as I expected to but he is definitely a strong male lead and a great character to read about.

Not all of the characters in the story like Thomas and I think that that feeling rubbed off slightly on me as there were times when I questioned whether I really trusted him. 

With so many character with little to no memory of who they are and where they’ve come from, it can be a little difficult to figure out which characters to trust and the success of this story is probably down the huge amount of suspense that the reader feels.

It is not until the very end of the story that anything really becomes clear and when it does, you kinda wish you hadn’t found out what’s really going on.

Dashner has created a unique and terrifying world which will probably haunt me in my dreams tonight.

It’s very Hunger Games -esque as you’ve got a group of young kids fighting for survival against what they assume is a system that adults created to test them. Why they are being tested, they have no idea.

The difference is, however, these kids are working as a group to try to survive so themes of friendship and how a society should function are important.

Listen to Maze Runner for free with an Audible trial !

Although all the main characters are children, if their age was never mentioned, I could very well believe that this was a tale for adults. This is classified as a YA novel, however, there is nothing remotely ‘childish’ about this book. This is a serious tale of survival and I have to be honest, Dashner’s imagination frightens me.

There isn’t much romance in  The Maze Runner but you can see that there is something developing between Thomas and Teresa, the only girl in the camp. There are some nice moments between these two but this definitely isn’t one of the main plot points. I look forward to this blossoming in future books!

I am a big fan of romance in YA books, but in this case, I didn’t really care that there wasn’t all that much of it because there was so much going on in terms of friendships and the developing ties between different characters.

All in all, The Maze Runner is definitely up there with top YA dystopia novels such as The Hunger Games and The 5th Wave and if you haven’t read it yet, then you absolutely must pick up a copy before the film comes out next month. The cliffhanger at the end of The Maze Runner makes sure that readers will want to pick up the next book and I cannot wait to see how the plot develops from here.

I absolutely tore through this book and finished it in no time, desperate to find out what was going on. Dashner has now been added to my list of favourite authors and I would give this story 5 stars simply for the terrifying world that Dashner has created.

Buy The Maze Runner

If you liked this post, check out these: Divergent Book Review The Hunger Games Book Review Catching Fire Book Review Mockingjay Book Review Best Dystopian Novels for Teens

[First written in 2014, updated in 2019]

Editor of What’s Hot?

Monday 19th of August 2019

I read the whole series a few years ago and I really hated it... I thought it was messy, most of the characters were not really likable and it was just quite complicated, even though the first book was actually better than the rest. As for the movies, it's quite the same for me. The first one is good, but then it goes way too far, become to complicated and as you said, it's hard to know who you can trust ...

Thursday 22nd of August 2019

Oh no! I really enjoyed the book and film when I first read/watched them Movies never live up to expectations set by the book though, this one included!

Sunday 8th of November 2015

You know what I'm like Laura lol - Ive seen the movie but haven't read the book (yet). Thanks for hosting this :D Charlotte x

Mummy To The Max

Saturday 7th of November 2015

This book looks like a great read. I will look out for it so I can download it to my kindle.

Agata @BarkTime

Friday 6th of November 2015

I loved the movie and would like to read a book too as I was told it's much better.

The Mummy Balancing Act

Wednesday 4th of November 2015

I'm more of a film girl than books these days, but I find book adaptations to be mostly good.

Book Reviews

The Maze Runner by James Dashner: Book Review

Thomas suddenly awakes in a box as a group of other teenage boys looks down at him, calling him unfathomable names like “shank” and “greenie.” He has no idea how he got there or where he came from. All he remembers from his past is his name.

He eventually learns that this group of 50-60 boys live in the heart of a maze. They’ve been looking for a way out for years and haven’t found it yet. They must return to the Glade every night, or else they’ll be locked out and left for the Grievers. Thomas starts to have a feeling that he knows more about the maze than he first thought. Turns out he’s right.

Ya know, dystopian novels are just not my thing, yet I keep trying. At what point do I give up? Is it good that I keep trying or is it a waste of my time? I just don’t know.

My problem with this book was that absolutely no one would tell Thomas what was going on. Granted, they don’t know a whole lot about what’s going on either, but someone could at least say, as soon as they get him out of the box, “Look, dude. You’re in the middle of a gigantic maze. None of us knows how we got here. None of us remembers anything before waking up in that box. We get supplies weekly. Don’t get caught outside the Glade after dark because these horrible monsters that we call Grievers will kill you. Yes, we’ve been looking for a way out but we haven’t found it yet. Any questions?” Instead it’s just a whole lot of, “Shut up with the questions! We’ll explain tomorrow.” And then, when tomorrow comes, it’s “Shut up with the questions! I’ll get to that in a minute.” And then they don’t get to it for days. It felt like a cheap way to build suspense. I don’t think realistically that the whole scenario would play out like that. I know, I’m talking about “realistically” in a novel that has very little to do with reality (we hope), but human nature is human nature. We generally like to tell what we know.

I really–really–hated the ending.

The narrator, Mark Deakins, did do a good job. He has a fairly impressive cast of voices to keep track of, and they all did sound different, whether in pitch or in accent.

Dystopian fans will definitely like this better than I did. I won’t be continuing the series.

Read an excerpt .

Find author James Dashner on his website , his blog , Twitter , and Facebook .

Buy The Maze Runner at

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When I first saw your two star rating I was really disappointed because I have a copy of this I've been looking forward to! But, since you don't like dystopians anyway…I think it makes sense.

I wish you would find one that you enjoy – I love them!

Well, I like dystopian so I hope I like it better than you did. Your review made me smile, though. 😉

I'm way bummed to hear you didn't really like this one! It's one I'm looking forward to! But then again, if you don't really care for dystopian, that would make sense.

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Book Review

The maze runner — “the maze runner” series.

• James Dashner
• Dystopian , Futuristic , Science Fiction

Readability Age Range

• Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House Inc.
• ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2011, and more

Year Published

The Maze Runner by James Dashner has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in “The Maze Runner” series.

Plot Summary

Feeling drugged, Thomas wakes up in an elevator car with no memory except his name. He finds he is part of a community of about 50 teen boys called Gladers, and all share the same pattern of memory loss. Their leader’s name is Alby. In an artificial environment built as an experiment by unknown, unseen scientists called Creators, they live in the Glade, and their lives revolve around trying to solve the Maze, a gray stone structure with walls hundreds of feet high. Entrances to the maze automatically close at the same time every night, which protect the Glade from Grievers — large part-animal, part-mechanical monsters that bite, sting and sometimes kill.

Occasionally a Griever stings one of the boys. If the victim returns to the Glade in time, he can be injected with a serum that saves his life; but it causes a strange, painful process. The boys call it the Changing — when part of the victim’s memory returns — but those who have lived through the Changing all agree that the real world is one they don’t want to return to. The few boys who have undergone the Changing say they have seen Thomas in it, and they are convinced that he is bad or perhaps a spy.

Chuck, the youngest in the compound, is assigned to Thomas to help him acclimate. He is the only one to offer Thomas friendship. Thomas spends his first couple of days learning the ropes and various work positions, such as Baggers and Sloppers . Runners are the boys who daily run through the Maze, and when they return just before night, they map the section they ran since each night the walls move, reconfiguring the Maze. The group has been working for two years to figure a way out of the Maze. Thomas notices that parts of his new life somehow seem familiar, with fleeting impressions of memories just out of reach. He feels driven to be a Runner.

Every month, a new boy arrives in the elevator. But on Thomas’ second day, the elevator brings a teen girl. Nearly comatose, Teresa has little memory remaining, and it is quickly fading. She remembers that she is being sent as a trigger to begin the end of life in the Glade. Later, when Teresa emerges from her coma, Thomas discovers that Teresa can communicate telepathically with him, and they deduce that they must have known each other before their arrival.

One evening, as time draws near for the walls to close between the Maze and the Glade, two of the runners have not returned. As the walls nearly finish closing, Thomas sees the two runners but realizes they won’t make it. Breaking the No. 1 rule to never leave the Glade at night, he squeezes through the walls at the last second, and he is terrified to find himself in the dark silence of the Maze. Miraculously, Thomas and the two runners survive their night in the Maze by outwitting several Grievers. Because no one has ever survived before, Thomas becomes a hero and then is promoted to Runner.

The end to life in the Glade is triggered when they all awaken one day to the absence of what they thought was a sun, and the fact that they exist in a fabricated place seems more apparent. Supplies stop arriving, and the walls stop closing, compromising their protection from the Grievers. The community is thrown into a panic. They learn that the Grievers plan to kill one child a day until they’re all dead.

Thomas finally decides that the best way to solve the Maze is for him to get stung and endure the Changing in order to retrieve some of his lost memory. His plan succeeds when the Grievers invade the Glade. Thomas goes through the Changing and learns from it that the boys in the Glade have above-average intelligence and are part of an experiment to test for survival of the fittest. The Creators took them from their homes when they were young, following a catastrophic event called the Flare. Some of them have had their brains altered. The ones who survive are to be used for an unidentified but important purpose. He also learns that he and Teresa were part of the group that planned the Maze.

Thomas comes up with a dangerous plan to escape. The plan works, but half of the group dies in the process. Their escape from the Maze ends in a confrontation with two of the Creators, who mind-control another boy who had disappeared earlier from the Glade. The boy throws a dagger aimed at Thomas, but Chuck moves in front of it and is killed. Suddenly an apparent rescue group arrives on the scene with weapons, shooting and killing one of the two Creators. Then they flee, along with the kids. They board a bus and drive for two hours to a new location. During the ride, a woman tells Thomas and Teresa about the outside world’s catastrophe: A massive solar flare scorched the earth, leaving millions of people dead and diseased. Much of the earth has become a wasteland. She tells them that this group they are with now is against the Creators and their testing of children. Book one ends with a memo from the World in Catastrophe: Kill End Department (WICKED), known to the kids as the Creators (scientists). It says that what the adolescents just lived through was only the first stage of their trial.

Christian Beliefs

Wooden crosses serve as grave markers. Alby refers to God in a discussion with Thomas.

Other Belief Systems

Authority roles.

The Creators believe the end justifies the means, even to the point of allowing children to die. The woman scientist at the end tells Thomas and the group that “everything happens for a reason” after Chuck dies.

Ever since the Glade’s last leader died, Alby has led them. Though he and all the boys have experienced being the newbie or Greenie, Alby doesn’t have any empathy for Thomas, and he is short on politeness. He recognizes his shortcomings as a leader after he’s gone through the Changing. In the final battle with the Grievers, Alby is the first to sacrifice himself. He hopes to draw away the Grievers from the rest of the boys and prefers death to a return to life in the real world. Newt is second in command. He tempers Alby’s gruffness and is often the voice of reason.

Minho is the Keeper of the Runners and stands up for Thomas after Thomas saves his life. However, when he and Thomas spend the night in the Maze, Minho runs away, reasoning that their chances for survival are better if they split up.

Profanity & Violence

Invented slang and mild profanity are used, such as clunk, shuck-face, shuck it, runtcheeks, slinthead, wettin’ yourself, crap, holy crap, shut your hole, fart, butt, bloody, klunk (another word for poo ) and shank appear throughout.

One of the boys is banished to the Maze and certain death when he is placed in a leather collar at the end of a long pole, then shoved into the Maze just before the walls close. In the graveyard, Thomas sees the remains of a boy who had been sliced in half by an unseen force during an attempt to escape back through the elevator. Ben, who is undergoing the Changing, attacks Thomas. Alby appears and shoots Ben with an arrow that enters Ben’s cheek with a “wet thunk.” His blood is black like oil, and his finger twitches. Thomas then retches violently.

The Changing process is gruesome and is described in detail a couple of times with severe seizure-like symptoms and bulging, discolored eyes and skin. Alby tries to choke himself during his Changing. Alby gets a gash on his head, which bleeds into his eyes. Plenty of screaming, stabbing, bleeding, slimy yellow goo, etc. happens in the final battle with the Grievers.

Chuck throws himself in front of Thomas to save Thomas from a thrown dagger. His death is described in detail as the dagger buries itself in his chest. Thomas holds Chuck as he convulses then dies, and Thomas’ hands are wet with blood. Thomas then flies into a rage and attacks the boy who threw the dagger, beating him with his fists until he lies still and senseless. Then a group of people shows up with guns. One of them takes aim and kills one of the Creators, leaving her bleeding profusely. They continue shooting at the other Creators before fleeing, taking the Gladers with them. They board a bus that runs over a hysterical woman, the wheels thumping over her twice.

Sexual Content

When Teresa arrives in the lift, one of the boys shouts that he’s “got dibs” on her. When one of the Med-jacks bends over Teresa to check for a heartbeat, another boy shouts he gets the next “shot” at her. Alby warns everyone not to touch her. Thomas feels a chill sweep through his body when Teresa shakes hands with him, holding his hand for a long time. While Teresa is mentally communicating with Thomas, she suggests that perhaps they had been lovers at one time. He senses a pleasant chill that causes him to trip and fall while he’s running the Maze. In spite of there being plenty of room on the bench, Teresa presses her body next to Thomas when she goes to sit with him. Thomas squeezes Teresa’s hand to reassure her as the battle with the Grievers begins. With separate rooms assigned to them for the night, Thomas telepathically tells Teresa that he wishes she were in his room.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Suicide mention: One of the boys says they all ought to slit their wrists rather than try to fight all the Grievers in an escape.

Movie tie-in: Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and the movie differ, compare the book review with Plugged In’s movie review for The Maze Runner .

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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The Maze Runner Review

Favorite Quote: No, I'm busy.

James Dashner’s The Maze Runner is a majestic piece of work. His flow of important events and keeping the pace together along with extensive character descriptions make this book a delight. From the beginning Dashner leaves the reader no questions besides, “can there be more?”. Dashner answers all other questions before you can even ask them, however still manages to hook his readers in with cliffhangers, from Thomas being unaware of his surroundings and worried, to the foreshadowing that Thomas might die in the maze. This book was an amazing piece of work from James Dashner.

In The Maze Runner, teenage boy Thomas is awoken by a group of teenage boys in a

place known as the Glade. For the other new arrivals they are given a random helping job, but for Thomas he knew that deep down he was meant to be a Runner. As time progressed Thomas makes the executive decision and breaks the number one rule to save his fellow Gladers and jump into the Maze. With willpower and might they become the first survivors thanks to Thomas. From there on Thomas is second in command with the Runners and help them on their endeavor to escape.

Dashner leaves no breaks for complaints in his writing of The Maze Runner. He keeps up with the suspense with Thomas fighting off the deadly Grievers in the Maze, and when Ben tried killing Thomas. Dashner is the first author I have seen who manages to constantly keep suspense, while also answering any question readers may have about what’s happening. His writing style is impeccable and wonderful. An example of his use of suspense is when Thomas is faced by a Griever in the Maze on page 125, “And then something rounded the corner… Something unspeakable. A Griever.”. Dashner leaves you with that immediate question, “what is it”, but then answers it instantly, hooking you in. I would recommend this book to anyone who can read without a doubt, it is a treat to read.

To some the idea of not being able to have unanswered questions is boring, but trust me as an avid readers of this genre of books, this is one of the greatest. Dashner manages to hook you in every time you open his books, especially The Maze Runner. Like I said, to anyone who can actually read, read this book, it is worth your time.

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Book Review: The Maze Runner

In recent years, the "Post-Apocalyptic" book genre has taken the world by storm- filling book shelves and enthralling readers all around the globe. But with the rising popularity of this market, an influx of new books have followed, and as such, it has become harder and harder for readers to find good post-apocalyptic novels. For the case of "The Maze Runner", one of the most popular novels in the genre, James Dashner has managed to exceed the status quo and produce a tremendous read.

The story is set in a distant future, where a group of teens are mysteriously teleported into a giant, stone maze. Not only has their memory been cleared, but they also have no indication as to why they have ended up in this position and what means they must take to escape.

Their situation complicates even further, given that the maze doors close every evening. During the night, vicious monsters roam free and devour any humans in their way. The teens, who have declared themselves “Grovers”, attempt to map the maze, but doing so poses obvious threats to their safety.

Enter Thomas, a new “Grover” arriving in the maze. As he learns his way about this new reality, the story follows his point of view in first person perspective. Thomas eventually comes to terms with living as a Grover, but one night, as he crosses into the outer layer of the maze, his world is turned inside out.

Over time, Thomas must confront these imminent struggles, while also attempting to solve the grand puzzle of the maze. Readers are kept on edge through the entire novel, with hidden twists and turns on every turn of the chapter.

I would certainly recommend this read for teens and adults alike. While it’s true that the novel is aimed at a young demographic, its plot is engaging for even some of the most mature readers. The ending simply cannot be predicted, leaving readers to make their own speculations about the mysterious origins of the maze.

One complaint I might file is that there is somewhat of a lack of character development. The plot is so action-packed that it would see Dashner decided to leave out some of the more subtle nuances of a good novel.

If you decide to not read this novel, I would suggest as an alternative “The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. The plot bears some parallels to that of the Maze Runner, but makes up for a majority of its imperfections.

Overall, “The Maze Runner” stands to be a top-quality post-apocalyptic teen-novel, making for an engaging read. The story sheds light on the natural instincts of teens under true isolation. In doing so, it echoes a number of themes which leave readers to draw meaningful questions about life, nature, and the purpose of humanity.

Reviewers Grade: 10

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner - review

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas can remember is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade, an encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there, or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything to find out.

This book + sleep deprivation = TOTAL BRAIN SHOCK

After finishing this book my mind was utterly blown. Suddenly everything came to together in one epic final stand of the desperate Gladers and I would explain it to you in extreme detail, but I don't want to spoil anything so I'll shut up.

To be honest, it took me a while to get into the book. Thomas knew NOTHING and nobody would tell him what he wanted to know so I kinda ended up getting as frustrated as Thomas. This led me to...well, I gave up, and came back to it almost a month after I was effectively bullied into picking it up again by my Instagram followers. But from the minute I picked it up again, it was fairly obvious that I'd put it down at COMPLETELY the wrong time as I was suddenly thrown back into the action and I became desperate to know more.

The characters Minho, Newt, Chuck and Teresa (all important in their own right) were introduced and I began to feel the desperation and camaraderie of the Gladers as they worked together in one final push to solve the maze before they were all killed. I felt the urgency of 'The Ending' and I got the creeps just by thinking of the Grievers (the hideous creatures that roam the Maze by night). What I'm saying is, is that Dashner created the perfect mystery, but in a dystopian, futuristic setting with added telepathy, brain alteration and experiments.

So yeah, a pretty brilliant book there. SO EXCITED FOR THE MOVIE.

Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop

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Book Review: The Maze Runner

A young man wakes up in an empty elevator in James Dashner’s book The Maze Runner , cheapest now a major motion picture. The book began the long-running series and clearly operates as an origin story about a group of young men who are seemingly trapped inside an arena– nicknamed the Glade– and surrounded by a large and mysterious maze.

Thomas is the main character here, unhealthy a teen who realizes his name on the novel’s first page. Most of his memory has been seemingly wiped away and when he arrives in the Glade, he meets dozens of young men who experienced the same predicament. Alby, the group’s tough-minded leader, shows Thomas around the arena letting him fully experience the cryptic environment that they begrudgingly call home.

With the group composed of only isolated males (until one female shows up a third of the way through), it’s easy to compare this novel to William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies . Clearly there is no comparison in terms of quality though. While Golding’s novel had a timeless quality (it’s still one of my favorite books of all time), The Maze Runner often settles into something smaller, never fully capturing some of the main dynamics and rivalries at play here.

The most thoughtful relationship here is between Thomas and the likeable Chuck, a sensitive boy who was the last one to enter the maze before Thomas (each month a new recruit is sent into the maze). Chuck is a mischievous teen and often acts and sounds more like a normal teenager than most of the other kids here, who are less willing to admit how homesick and frightened they are. When Chuck goes to visit Thomas in one of the book’s nicest moments, he’s willing to put his feelings on the line stating, “Thomas, I’m kinda messed up, man. It’s weird to feel sad and homesick but have no idea what it is you wish you could go back to…”

Dashner unfortunately makes some of the other teen boys more immature and silly than they would need to be, speaking to grosser subjects (klunk quickly becomes the shorthand for feces) than necessary. The rivalry between Thomas and Gally, an obnoxious teeb who serves as Thomas’ biggest antagonist, also feels unearned with its casual name-calling. “This shank probably klunked his pants when he heard old Benny baby scream like a girl. Need a new diaper Shuck-face,” he says to Thomas during an early encounter.

Despite its limitations though, The Maze Runner creates an intriguing and distinct world and Dashner offers a new nice twists and surprises along the way. He succeeds best in creating a mystery that slowly unfolds. Thomas learns more and more about his memories with each passing day. Because this is the first novel in a series, its conclusion only begins to answer the larger questions at play here. How the story unfolds in the sequels (which I haven’t read yet) will help determine if this whole story was worth delving into.

The Maze Runner isn’t as provocative or powerful as the original Hunger Games , which it shares many similarities with, but it’s a solid start for this series.

Stay tuned for my review of the movie.

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The Maze Runner (Book 1)

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• COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS AND DRAGONS

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Genre: Dystopian/Apocalyptic, Horror, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult

Thea James is one half of the maniacal duo behind The Book Smugglers. She is Filipina-American, but grew up in Hawaii, Indonesia, and Japan. A full-time book nerd who works in publishing for her day job, Thea currently resides in Astoria, Queens with her partner and rambunctious cat. COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS & DRAGONS (available August 31, 2021) is her first cookbook.

40 Comments

I haven’t read this one yet, but it is totally on my radar. I read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Gone. Loved each of them.

Have you read The Knife of Never Letting Go? Dystopian YA book on crack!! An Adrenaline rush from page 2!

I read this last month, and also loved it! I thought the ending was just incredible.

Jaime – Talk about a gut-punch! I loved it, and I do like it when authors aren’t afraid to go certain places with their endings. The only frustration is knowing we have to wait a whole freaking year for the next book! 👿 I’m so glad you loved The Maze Runner too!

What a great concept for a book! You have done your evol pimping ways yet again.

Rhiannon Hart

You’ve made me really want to read this one now. I think I’ll buy it next week!

KB – You knows how much of a pimp I am 😈 This is a great one, really enjoyed it! I hope you get a chance to read it and lemme know what you think!

I teach junior high gifted and just read Maze Runner over the Thanksgiving weekend–WOW. loved it! I also loved Hunger Games and both of the choas walking books by Patrick Ness–if you haven’t read them yet, run don’t walk to go get them–sooooo well done. Can’t wait for the second part of the Maze story–Scorch something???

😆 loved this book but other reviews where dead wrong 👿

The Book Smugglers » Blog Archive » Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

[…] did I read this book: I truly enjoyed The Maze Runner, Dashner’s first book in this post-apocalyptic/dystopian/SF adrenaline rush of a series, and […]

Jennifer (An Abundance of Books)

I really enjoyed your review and included a link to this post in my own Maze Runner review.

I especially liked your comment about “Lost” – I too felt that I was trying really hard to figure things out but got enough little answers that I don’t thinkg Dashner will leave me hangin’ . 🙂

The Maze Runner | One More Page

[…] Reviews: The Book Smugglers Steph Su […]

I absolutely hated this book with a passion. I literally was upset I spend my time reading it. It’s some of the worst writing I have ever read, the only reason I kept reading it is because the author drags out the simplest parts and give no details until the very end. And even then they don’t make sense.

The Maze Runner « Tanz

[…] The Book Smugglers […]

Well, I didn’t hate it as much as anna, but it certainly doesn’t deserve a rave review. The premise is good but Dashner just doesn’t come through. The writing is flat and derivative (the opening scene is a complete rip-off from Murakami’s Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World) and the characters are one-dimensional. There is a lot of weak and lazy writing. The long tease is never really satisfied and the actual resolution is bogus. If the key clue was going to be given to the boys in the maze, why wouldn’t they get it from the outset, 2 years before the events in the book? I have lots of other problems, but they would involve spoilers, so I’ll leave it there.

loved your review im after going out and buying the second one thinking it was the first one so would it be ok just to carry on from the second one or should i start from the first one??? 😀 😉

the ending of the book was just smashing and i loved how chuck sacrifised himself for the sake of the gladers ❓

The Maze Runner | UTSIKT FRÅ LIA ~ VIEW FROM THE HILLSIDE

I found the review so helpful! I loved the Maze Runner, but the Scorch Trials (the second book to the sequel)but it wasn’t as good as the first book! Most reviews aren’t helpful=P…but yours was, so thanks! 😉

Lol, jk. I hated this bullshit.

Five Years of Book Smuggling… | The Book Smugglers

[…] Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner (11/12/2009) 2. The Half-Year Mark: Best Books of 2012 (so far) (7/2/2012) 3. From the Page to the […]

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jacob otteni

The book is awesoe but totaly not horror :opps: :cry

I love this book SO MUCH! However I was a little disappointed with the two sequels and prequel… I think The Maze Runner was the best one. The series went a bit downhill from there.

MagicianWinnipeg

Famous Magicians from Winnipeg An Evaluation Of Winnipeg’s Magicians

For those who taught me something, I thank you. Here are my views, although I have mixed feelings about many magicians in Winnipeg. Remember, these are only my views regarding some renowned Winnipeg magicians. You may not agree!

A short film about the Magicians in Winnipeg was released last summer. Entitled “Pick a card, any card”, this video shows us some of Winnipeg’s working magicians.

Although a cameraman came out to film me on Canada day, my contribution to the film didn’t make it past the cutting room floor. I can not help but believe that this is due to the fact that I was performing manipulation that day. “Flourishes”, as they’re recognized in magic are “not magic” according to many magicians. Even though my manipulations were published in genie magazine in 2011, absolute manipulation isn’t consistently respected by magicians; who consider it to more similar to juggling.

When I whip out a cobra cut, a flipback fan or a cross cut some magicians put their underwear in a knot. Others think I am awesome because they understand the ability and discipline required. You also see me one day and in case you are a Magician, come speak to me! I always love sharing magic with others. Even if you are a complete noob, come and speak to me. I am open to sharing my magic alongside you!

i love The Maze Runner book. I could’t put the book down.:)

Francesca Moore

I hadn’t heard of this book until I stumbled across the movie trailer on the Goodreads website. I’m really looking forwards to seeing the film but need to read the book first. Bought myself a copy and am planning to read it on a beach in Greece in the next couple of weeks.

I LOVED The Maze Runner!! It was one of the best books I have read, I am not joking. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in 3 days! It made me smile, laugh and cry. It mad you feel like you were included and actually in it! I cried at the end because 1. i can’t ell you this ‘coz it will spoil the end 2.The book was AMAZING and 3.I didn’t want it to end! I would definitely recommend this book! 10/10

Amazing piece of work by Dashner. It is a horrifying-thrilling Sci-Fi book that keeps you at the edge of the seat even after the end!

Itssss..realllyy tooo good to read..the book keeps u glued to it until u reach the end n unfold the DAM GOOD MYSTERY!! L**E it

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The Maze Runner Books In Order: How To Read Them

• The Maze Runner film trilogy is based on a book series, with the first book released in 2009 and the last book in 2011, followed by prequels and a sequel.
• The books follow a character named Thomas who wakes up in a maze and uncovers a conspiracy, with the prequels providing context and explanation.
• It is recommended to read the series in release order to fully experience the mysteries and revelations of the original trilogy, as the prequels spoil aspects of the story.

The Maze Runner film trilogy is based on a book series of the same name, and here is how to read every book in order of both chronology and release. The Maze Runner was released in 2014 amid the craze of young-adult novels being adapted into film. The success of the movie spawned two sequels, based on the two final books in the novel series by author James Dashner.

The book series centers on a character named Thomas - played by Dylan O'Brien in The Maze Runner film - who wakes up with no memories in the center of a huge maze. What began as an attempt to escape quickly turns into a huge conspiracy that The Maze Runner' s two sequels explore. Since then, Dashner has expanded the world of The Maze Runner through two prequel books, and even a sequel series. Given the more expansive nature of The Maze Runner book franchise, here is the definitive guide on how to read the series be it chronological or in order of release.

Related: The Maze Runner Cast & Character Guide

The Maze Runner Books By Publication Date

Firstly, it is worth exploring The Maze Runner series in order of how it was initially published. The first book, simply titled The Maze Runner , was released in October 2009, five years before the film adaptation was released. This was followed by a sequel, The Scorch Trials . This book was released just under a year after The Maze Runner , being published in September 2010. The third and final entry into The Maze Runner trilogy was called The Death Cure and was released in October 2011 meaning the entire trilogy was published in exactly two years.

After the completion of the original trilogy, author James Dashner began work on a prequel series of books to The Maze Runner . The first of these prequels was titled The Kill Order and was released quickly after The Death Cure in August 2012. Despite a book being released every year since 2009 in the series, the second prequel installment - T he Fever Code - took just over four years to be completed. Acting as the final prequel to the original three books, The Fever Code was released in September 2016. Finally, a sequel book to the original three stories - The Maze Cutter - was released in November 2022.

The Maze Runner Books In Chronological Order

Given that The Maze Runner series includes original stories, prequels, and sequels, the chronological order of the franchise differs from release order. The first book to take place chronologically in The Maze Runner universe is the first prequel released by Dashner, The Kill Order . The second chronological book in the series - The Fever Code - leads directly into the events of The Maze Runner . As such, the book that was released first is actually the third installment in chronological order.

The Maze Runner is then followed chronologically by The Scorch Trials which takes place directly after the end scene of the first book. The third book in publication order, The Death Cure , is the fifth in chronological order. The Death Cure takes place just under a month after The Scorch Trials . Finally, the sequel book that was released by Dashner in 2022 is also the final installment chronologically, set around 70 years after The Death Cure .

The Best Order To Read The Maze Runner

Considering there are two different orders to read The Maze Runner book series, there have long been debates over which is the best way to experience the six books released thus far. Much like with most book series' that are released out of chronological order though, the answer is quite clear. Based on the fact that the prequel books to The Maze Runner essentially spoil the mysteries of the original trilogy, release order is the best way to read the series.

Dashner wrote the two Maze Runner prequels in a way that meant the first three books needed to be read in order to understand all aspects of the story. While The Kill Order and The Fever Code could be read first, much of the intrigue, mystery, and big reveals of the original trilogy would be lost as a result given that the prequels reveal several aspects about the original trilogy in order to give them more context. The Maze Runner was written as the entry point into the series as it was published first.

Similarly, the prequel stories were written as exactly that, companion pieces to the original three books only set before The Maze Runner that explained any lingering mysteries after finishing The Death Cure. If the books are read as released, the reader is taken on a journey of discovery alongside the series' protagonist Thomas. Chronologically though, a lot of the wonder and intrigue of this journey is lost given that they were written by Dashner to provide context to the original stories. As such, release order is undoubtedly the best way to read The Maze Runner series.

Why the Maze Runner Trilogy Deserves a Prequel Movie

The Maze Runner trilogy concluded five years ago, but fans really want to see how the dystopian world came to be in a prequel film.

During the 2010s, there was a huge spike in YA dystopian books getting film and television adaptations, and among them was James Dashner's Maze Runner series. Audiences could not get enough of the end-of-the-world genre, and more specifically, because of the young protagonists, teenagers felt as if they had finally been given a voice in a more "adult" setting.

In these works, a governing body or an elite organization is always trying to mask horrible situations with false promises to civilians who are not privy to what is going on behind the scenes. However, an ambitious teenager emerges and convinces a group that they have to stand up for what is right, even if that means risking one's life.

When the third Maze Runner film, The Death Cure , premiered in 2018, fans thought that was the end of the era — we mean, with the full Hunger Games franchise, the incomplete Divergent trilogy, the one Giver movie, the Maze Runner trilogy, and The CW's The 100 , it is understandable that audiences were simply tired of seeing such similar patterns and storylines. However, in 2023, Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes , received a movie adaptation, and thus, YA dystopias got a second wind .

Maze Runner

Fans of the original Hunger Games films were excited to see how the tragic and deadly games came to be, and with a handful of new characters to follow, their storylines seemed to fall right into place and answer some questions fans had about the original plot.

With the prequel's success, plenty of audiences are turning their attention to the Maze Runner series. Dashner has written two prequel novels, detailing the events leading up to the building of the maze and Thomas' involvement with WICKED (WCKD in the films), and in 2019, Disney even announced that a fourth Maze Runner film was in the works. So, fans are simply asking, "what are we waiting for?" Perhaps the company needs a little nudge from the fans about why exactly the Maze Runner trilogy deserves a prequel movie.

What We Know of Thomas' Involvement with WCKD

In The Maze Runner , when Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) is in the Glade, he has flashbacks to when he was working for WCKD. Though he wishes they were just horrible nightmares, Thomas realizes that he was in fact a part of the malicious organization that put all the boys in the maze experiment. Thomas comes clean to his friends, and he even tells Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) that she was there with him, watching their friends get tortured and even die while they hoped a cure for the deadly disease would be found. Then, in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials , audiences get even more insight as to what Thomas was doing with WCKD.

In the beginning of the second film, we get a small glimpse into Thomas' childhood when he was first brought to WCKD. In the opening scene, armed soldiers are standing at a gate where hundreds of people are pleading to get in. One woman, who is actually Thomas' biological mother, shoves her way through and gets Thomas to the guards. Because he is a part of the younger generation that is said to have more immune individuals, he is accepted.

Thomas then finds himself being transported with several other children to one of WCKD's locations. Later on in the film, after Thomas has escaped the maze and WCKD's facility, he meets a former WCKD scientist, and she reveals that before Thomas was sent into the maze, he was the one who sent coordinates and information out about all the WCKD locations and trials. Essentially, she explains that he is the one who made a successful resistance army even possible.

While all of this is fascinating to the audience as well as Thomas — because he does not remember much about his life before the Glade — it is a bit frustrating not to have a coherent timeline of what actually went on at the WCKD headquarters. Overall, there are too many plot holes and questions surrounding Thomas' involvement with the sinister organization that a prequel could help clarify.

Related: The Maze Runner: Dylan O'Brien's Best Moments as Thomas

A Maze Runner Prequel Already Exists

Before James Dashner's The Maze Runner was adapted into a film, he had already published a prequel to his original trilogy entitled The Kill Order . Dashner understood that audiences would have questions about how the maze came to be, what exactly went down on the first few days of the solar flares, and how a ruthless virus was established, so he decided to address everything in not one, but two prequels.

The first prequel, The Kill Order, is set 13 years before the events of The Maze Runner , and it follows two teenagers, Mark and Trina, as they figure out how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where no one trusts one another. To put it lightly, the story starts off when the world is hit by fatal solar flares. Like everyone else who witnessed the mass destruction, Mark and Trina try to get to safety, but they learn that there is also a deadly virus called "the Flare" that is spreading and killing people. While on their journey, the pair meet a young girl named Deedee (who turns out to be Teresa from the original trilogy ) who is truly immune to the virus. The fact that there could be more people like her gives Mark and Trina hope that the human race will survive.

The second prequel, The Fever Code , dips more into Thomas' past with WICKED. While at the facility, Thomas (who is only five years old at the time) meets Teresa, Newt, Minho, and Alby. The children all get along at first, but Teresa and Thomas notice they are treated differently by the staff. Thomas attends class, and as he gets older, he is given more responsibilities; in fact, Thomas is the one who ends up creating the maze project that is featured in the very first film.

As the story goes on, Newt, Minho, and Alby end up as test subjects in the maze, and Thomas and Teresa then watch as their friends and the other boys fight for their lives. Thomas eventually grows a conscience and believes that WICKED should end their suffering, since a cure has not been found. The story concludes with Teresa agreeing to go into the maze with her full memories and the words "WICKED is good" inscribed on her arm.

Related: Why Teen Dystopian Future Movies Died Out

The Problems with Turning the Prequel Books Into Movies

While fans would absolutely love for a prequel of The Maze Runner to come out (or at least actively be in development) by the end of 2024, there are a few particulars that do not make the situation so easy. First off, Dashner has two prequels that could be attacked and adapted into films. The first one, The Kill Order , primarily deals with entirely different characters. Aside from a brief prologue and epilogue depicting Thomas and Teresa, a whole new cast would have to make their way onto the set and show us just how the first few weeks of the solar flares and the virus completely disrupted our society.

Since this was essentially the case for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes — featuring a whole new cast with subtle tie-ins to the original movies — fans may not be so upset. In fact, it would be beneficial to only include Dylan O'Brien and Kaya Scodelario as voice-overs for the prologue and epilogue, that is, if the writers chose to incorporate them at all.

The second potential prequel, an adaptation of The Fever Code , would be even tougher to manage, but it would answer a lot of fans' questions about Thomas and Teresa's experience with WCKD. The main problem with making this film would be that the original actors would be needed for at least half of the movie, and since it has been a decade since The Maze Runner was shot, they don't exactly look like teenagers anymore. Technology could be used to age O'Brien, Scodelario, and the other Gladers down, but that may turn away audiences. Perhaps this conundrum is exactly why the film has been put off for so long.