The Maze Runner by James Dashner with movie trailer

I am a little late to join the band wagon on this one...but as the saying goes, better late than never.  Admittedly I only read this because a) my tween book club is discussing this in September and b) the movie is coming out in September.  But reasons aside, I really liked this one, and I already have requested the sequel.  I love that the majority of the characters are boys and there is a *very* light romance element, which all adds up to a great "boy" read.   Being the mother of one of those teenage boy creatures, who is *extremely* picky in what he reads, I am always on the look out for a good guy read.  Definitely check this book out before the September premier of the movie.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–10—Thomas wakes up in an elevator, remembering nothing but his own name. He emerges into a world of about 60 teen boys who have learned to survive in a completely enclosed environment, subsisting on their own agriculture and supplies from below. A new boy arrives every 30 days. The original group has been in "the glade" for two years, trying to find a way to escape through a maze that surrounds their living space. They have begun to give up hope. Then a comatose girl arrives with a strange note, and their world begins to change. There are some great, fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys. Thomas is a likable protagonist who uses the information available to him and his relationships (including his ties to the girl, Teresa) to lead the Gladers. Unfortunately, the question of whether the teens will escape the maze is answered 30 pages before the book ends, and the intervening chapter loses momentum. The epilogue, which would be deliciously creepy coming immediately after the plot resolves, fails to pack a punch as a result. That said, The Maze Runner has a great hook, and fans of dystopian literature, particularly older fans of Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember (Random, 2003), will likely enjoy this title and ask for the inevitable sequel.—Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH END --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.