“Recommended by…” is a monthly feature in which an awesome bookish person recommends a book that I just have to read. It’s posted in two parts. Part one is the intro to the recommender and the recommendation. Part two posts later in the month and recaps my thoughts on the book.
First things first, I fail at reading/blogging over the summer! Originally The Maze Runner was my July read but I ended up combining it with August. Between remodeling the new house, packing up and moving from my apartment, unpacking at the new place and staying with my sister and her family for the past month I’m getting nothing done! How is school starting already?!?!? Ugh. Hopefully with my return to a regular schedule I’ll be more consistent 🙂
About the Book:
“If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.”
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers–boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out–and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Goodreads Amazon B&N Indiebound
My Thoughts:
I’m so glad I finally read this one! I knew what it was about and I had started it but I was just never able to finish it. A student always wanted the book and I hate to deny them when I don’t have to! Summer was the perfect time to pick it up.
Just a fraction of my way into the story I could totally see why my middle schoolers are always raving about it. Dashner throws Thomas (the main character) into a totally new and disorienting situation. This of course puts the reader in the same place. You’re working with Thomas to figure everything out. I loved that! It adds a sense of urgency to the reading.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the way “the glade” (the world which Thomas finds himself in) has been organized and basically created by the boys trapped there. They have created a system that works for them. They have their own jobs and even slang. It really makes it a totally different place! I wanted to know more and more about how “the glade” came to be and the boys who first founded it (Guess I need to read the prequel book, huh?!?)
After reading The Maze Runner, I’m really excited to see the movie and compare the two. I can’t wait to get back to school and talk about the book with my students! I know what one of my very first booktalks will be 🙂
Giveaway:
Thanks to Random House I have a paperback set of all four Maze Runner books to give away! Use the rafflecopter below to enter. US only. Must be 13 or older to win. Read it before you see the movie!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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