Book Review: The Scorch Trials



The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
October 12, 2010
Delacorte Books for Young People
360 pages
Source: Personal Purchase

Goodreads 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 Review:

 

I admit it. I loved The Maze Runner. I was completely caught up in the craziness and the suspense of those kids being in the Glade and the Maze, and what the heck was going on. So I was very excited to start The Scorch Trials, because I had to know what whacked-out trial they were going to face next. Well, Mr. Dashner did not disappoint me.

 

The Scorch Trials picks up right where The Maze Runner left off. There is no reprieve for these kids. They are not safe, as they had hoped. The Glade isn't looking so bad anymore. The term "trial" seems like an understatement for all that they go through. Each chapter grows in suspense and danger, as well as confusion. It's like a long riddle, or puzzle, and we don't have all the pieces yet. I felt the frustration of the surviving Gladers, but also their extreme desire to conquer this trial, make it to the end, and hold onto that bit of hope that they just need to get through this. There is a reason that these guys survived the maze. There are no wimps here. I can't help but admire the determination and humanity of these boys (and girls).

 

I like Thomas as the main protagonist. He is emotional, yet cool-headed; a leader, yet a follower; a survivor, yet compassionate; loyal, yet focused. I also like his relationship with Minho and Newt. They are loyal to each other and have each other's backs, yet aren't going to get all weepy about it. If someone needs to have a cry, they do it, get it over with, then move on and do what needs to be done. Again, there's a reason these guys are leading the way.

 

The ending, of course, was crazy and confusing. Yet, my confusion is not in frustration. I appreciate the mental effort it's taking to try and figure out the truth. I don't know who to trust and can hardly anticipate what will happen next. Truly looking forward to The Death Cure.

 

5 STARS