Scorch Trials Review

The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Genre: Science Fiction
Publish Date: October 12, 2010
Pages: 360

***May include spoilers from The Maze Runner***

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?

My Reaction:

This is the second book of the series Maze Runners. I know typically this series was intended for boys but when a friend let me borrow The Maze Runner (the first book) I read it. I liked it a lot. When I found out there was a second book I was ecstatic, and immediately put it on hold at the library. I loved this book a lot more than the first! You meet different characters, you find out more about WICKED, and why they do what they do. Thomas as a character develops a lot in my opinion. To be honest the whole mood in this book was different to me. In The Maze Runner it’s mysterious and eerie, but in The Scorch Trials it has tension building up, and there’s a lot more action.

I was so into this book I was actually glad my friend came to house late. I didn’t want to put it down. What would happen to Thomas? What is WICKED? What do they want? Will the Gladers make it? I liked some of the new characters even better than the old ones; and some of the old ones I began to hate. I was so caught up in this book that I was a bit shocked when it ended. Hint: There’s another book after this one. I kind of wanted to toss it across the room, but fortunately didn’t. I’d recommend this book to a lot of people. Not everyone because I know this book isn’t for everyone. But it definitely is for boys, action lovers, and somewhat for people who like the whole dramatic relationship thing. I can't wait to read the next book!

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