The Maze Runner Review

Title: The Maze Runner Book 1
Author: James Dashner
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte Press; Reprint edition (August 24, 2010)
Pages: 400
ISBN: 978-0385737951

From Amazon.com:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.


For the longest time I put off reading this book due to some unsavory reviews I read. Do I ever regret that decision! This was a fantastic book! I didn't really know what to expect as far as the direction the story might take. There were many surprises and heart-pumping moments that I never saw coming.

The story centers around Thomas, who is thrust into a completely unknown place, The Glade, with no recollection of his life previously. The Glade is home to a hundred or so young boys who have created a working society from the ground up. Surrounding the Glade is an enormous maze that seems impossible to solve. Thomas has a burning desire, a desire that could have fatal consequences, to be a maze runner in hopes of solving the maze. As if being stranded in what seems to be a never-ending nightmare isn't enough, Thomas is not well-liked by some of his new companions to the point of being accused of things Thomas has no memories of. Dashner writes in true form from a male perspective but does it uniquely to gain readers of both genders. The timing and pace of events throughout The Maze Runner coincided perfectly, creating a well-written thrill ride.

4 Lattes: When a story has the ability to keep the reader turning the pages feverishly, it is these types of books that will hold a place on the book shelf. This is one of those books! I cannot wait to read the next two in the series!

Divergent Review

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Dystopia
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 3, 2011)
Pages: 496
ISBN: 978-0062024022

From Amazon.com:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

After The Hunger Games ignited my desire for Dystopian novels, I was on the hunt for something to quench my thirst. Divergent was the answer! Author Veronica Roth does an amazing job of creating a world that is believable enough to engulf the reader. This was one of those books that had me up late, aching to know what happened next. The characters are flawed in all the right ways and really display certain aspects of our cultural and societal standings and viewpoints.

The reader gets the chance to learn with the main character, Tris, which I find to be one of the strong points of this book. As Tris chooses her life's path, which is starkly different than what she was raised to become, she must evolve into her faction or risk being banished from society for life. Roth did a fantastic job of making it easy to relate to Tris and follow her on her journey as she learns life lessons. Some of these lessons are hard and it's a nice change of pace from the books that aren't willing to create characters and situations that mimic reality. But do not fear, for what would a great book be without a little romance? Tris finds herself falling for someone that is not altogether safe, making for an exciting twist to the already thrilling ride that is Divergent. This book was a thoughtful take on the Dystopian genre. I am impatiently awaiting the next book in the series, Insurgent!

My rating: 4 lattes for a fantastic adventure! The ride, though just beginning, was an amazing start to what I expect will be one great journey!