The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, Book 1) By James Dashner

 


Published: September 25, 2009

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Mystery, Adventure

Rating: PG13 - Scary scenes and violence. 

Synopsis: When the doors of the lift crank open the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade — a walled encampment at the center of a bizarre and terrible stone maze.

Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know how or why 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 — even the Grievers; half-machine, half-animal horrors that patrol its corridors — to try to find the way out.


For the record, I'm a huge fan of the movie series. I was intrigued by the fact that they were books first so decided to read them. The entire cast will still be pictured as the characters though since I love them all. 

After finishing the first book of the series I can see why they decided to adapt it to screen. It is a science fiction story that is very unique, action-packed, and definitely did not feel like a child's book. The characters go through real emotions in what would be crazy situations for anyone to deal with. The mystery definitely builds and having the main character not know everything made for a great exposition detail. 

Like all book-to-movie situations, there are changes that I noticed in the movie. Some good and some bad. The start of the book is very close to what we see in the movie and I felt the same tension as Thomas seeing the glade for the first time through his confusion. Most of the changes were understandable as it moved the plot along faster in some places. I really wanted Thomas to go into the Maze long before he did. 

Some of the negatives, in my opinion, I can't really go into without giving away some plot points but I will say the character of Teresa was used better in the movies. One of the things that make her and Thomas 'special' was just weird and out of place so I'm glad they left it out of the movie completely. It really did nothing to help the story and didn't need to be added. 

I did notice that the action in the book was way more dramatic and honestly if they had translated it to film the way it was written I don't think the movies would have been PG-13. Personally, I loved the more action-packed scenes as the tension through the characters was just amazing. And the Grievers...Perfection. Clearly, the movie team paid close attention to detail because the description was just as the movie portrayed them. 

Final Thoughts. 

The movie holds a special place in my heart and I really do love it, but I can't say that the book is better or worse. I think they are both amazing stories with great characters and even though some situations changed I'm not mad about them. Personally, I would not read this book to younger kids, but to anyone 13+ or if your kids have read The Hunger Games. 

Solid 7 out of 10. Glad I brought the book and will definitely have multiple times reading it. 

Always Keep Fighting. 

You Are Enough. 

 

A R Pliley

 

SUPPORT THE AUTHOR ► www.patreon.com/heritagesaga

Follow my Instagram ► http://instagram.com/alisonpliley

Follow me on Twitter ► https://twitter.com/PlileyA

Like me on Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/arpliley

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Teen Wolf: The Movie 2023

Cabinet of Curiosities - 2022 Netflix Original

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous - Season 5 - Netflix Original