Author: James Dashner
ISBN: 9780307706621
Publisher: Random House Children's
Released: October 26, 2010
Series: The Maze Runner #2
Duration: 10 Hours, 23 Minutes
Source: eAudio from my public library
Summary:
"Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.
In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated--and with it, order--and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.
The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder--does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?"
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First Lines:
"She spoke to him before the world fell apart.
Hey, are you still asleep?
Thomas shifted in his bed, felt a darkness around him like air turned solid, pressing in."
Page 1
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Review:
I am sort of depressed that they have pushed back the release date for the Maze Runner movie - which is one of the reasons I am making my way through this series. Alas! But it's still worth reading/listening to.
This second book picks up right where The Maze Runner left off. The boys are outside of the maze, but they still aren't sure where they are. They soon realize that this new life isn't any better than the one they just escaped. Then the boys are dropped into a new horror - a desert land that is full of people who will attack them at first sight. But they have to get through it to be taken to safety.
I think one of my favorite things about this series so far is the mystery. There are so many things that the characters are uncovering as they go along - and you can't trust everything they find out! Often they are being lied to, tricked, and forced to deceive each other. You never know what's going to happen! I think Dashner does that masterfully. He keeps you on your toes and I think that's what makes me continue to get excited about this series.
There are some new characters introduced in this second book. They are mostly picked up from this crazy city they have to get through. Those people really add a whole new layer to the relationships between all of the boys. Speaking of the maze group, some of the sideline characters from the first book become more important. They have dwindled down a bit, so I can imagine the next book will pull them even closer together.
As usual, I get worried going into a second book. There's a lot of the sophomore slump syndrome out there. But this series really doesn't have that problem. Not even a little bit. The story just keeps building in a way that makes the reader wonder what in the world could possibly happen next. It's so well done, I pretty much want to give this book to everyone who hasn't read it yet. I know I'm a little slow on the up-take here, but it really is worth it.
And even though it's been pushed back, I still can't wait to see how these books translate to the big screen. I think there is so much meet in these stories that it could be amazing. So... I know I'm not convincing anyone to read these books, but I totally recommend it. Plus, the audio is REALLY well done. Some of the best that I've listened to. The reader does a great job distinguishing between all of the guys. It's a bit impressive. Anyway... read it. Listen to it. Dashner is a master. Obviously.
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Other Blog Reviews:
The Book Smugglers
The Dancing Reader
Nerdfighters
Reading for Sanity
Foil the Plot
Rinn Reads
Literary Getaway
The Reader Lines
Empire of Books
Eve's Fan Garden
