This dystopian tale is part of a trilogy and fraught with mystery. The main character, Thomas, finds himself suddenly awakening in a strange elevator, facing a group of all boys in a glade surrounded by a maze. He can't remember much of anything, though he does know his name. The others in the glade have made a life for themselves, dividing up into groups that perform needed duties for survival.
He befriends Newt, and Chuck, two of the Gladers and quickly learns why no one goes into the maze at night. Runners have been exploring the maze's depths for years, trying to map it out; trying to find a way out with no success. Thomas's arrival seems to herald change, and just as he arrives, things start operating out of the ordinary. The monsters in the maze, grievers, have begun to attack in the daytime, and Thomas has the drive and tenacity to survive that brings clues to drive change.
A girl arrives abruptly, and not according to the patterns all the Gladers are familiar with. She arrives with a message, that she's the last one, and a feeling of intensity grows as the pressures mount. Teresa and Thomas begin to see they must play a different part than the others, and clues lead to a rising climax filled with scary monsters, racing through the maze and unexpected endings that make any reader want to rush out and find the next book. Though targeted to a teen audience, the books were enjoyed immensely by most in our book club group.
