Book two in the blockbuster Maze Runner series that spawned a movie franchise and ushered in a worldwide phenomenon! And don’t missThe Fever Code, the highly-anticipated series conclusion that finally reveals the story of how the maze was built!
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive. Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.
The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and Maze Runner: The Death Cure are all now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV's Teen Wolf, Dylan O’Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
Also look for James Dashner’s edge-of-your-seat MORTALITY DOCTRINE series! Praise for the Maze Runner series: A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series A USA Today Bestseller A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick
“[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost.” —EW
“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.” —Newsday
“Heart pounding to the very last moment.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Exclamation-worthy.” —Romantic Times
“James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.” —Shelf Awareness, Starred
“Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book.” —Deseret News
The Scorch Trials is a hard book to review, because I have no clue what's going on, and anything I do say might be a spoiler or just not make any sense at all. It all starts immediately after the boys' rescue. We find them in their dormitory, which really is nothing but some beds, a bathroom, and it's locked from the inside. Then Teresa disappears, a boy named Aris appears claiming to have gone through the same ordeal as them but with another group, and then a strange man dressed all in white tells them about Phase Two. Immediately, the boys learn that they're being tested for something, since the world has gone to hell. At the end of this second test they'll receive the cure to this disease that has plagued humanity. But what in the world are they being tested for?!
Most of The Scorch Trials is the boys trekking across desert, ruined city, and mountains to reach the Safe Haven. They have no idea why they're going it, but they don't exactly have a choice. It's reach the cure or die trying. And they certainly do face a lot of nearly sudden death. But throughout all of this, I had no idea what to think. Their trials seem really random and unnecessarily violet and cruel. What could WICKED possible gain from this? From the explanation they gave, they're just collecting "patterns" by forcing them to face specific "variables." They're not researching a cure, since they apparently have that--unless they're lying--but nothing else I could come up with makes sense. It just got weirder and more mind boggling by the page.
While The Scorch Trials does provide some answers, it also raises a ton more questions. It didn't captivate me as much as The Maze Runner, but I still enjoyed it. It just frustrated me to no end! Nothing is what it seems, and it's starting to look more and more likely that someone is just screwing with these kids rather than doing anything useful! Also, Teresa! I want to throttle her! I know it's likely that she's just going along with what WICKED tells her to, but aahhh! She's withholding information! I need to know what's happening!
