The Scorch Trials- A science-fiction and post-apocalyptic novel by James Dashner, is the sequel of a 2012 Young Reader’s Choice winner, The Maze Runner. The Scorch Trials is also going to be made into a film that will be released into theaters in the United States later this year.
The book begins when a group of young men that escaped from the treacherous maze in The Maze Runner, are given instructions from an organization called WICKED (World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department). If the men wish to survive, and find a cure to the disease that they have all been infected with, they must cross a large, desert-like terrain called “the scorch.” Thomas is the main character in the novel and is seen as the leader of the group after he was one of the last to join them in the maze. Teresa is another character, the only female glader, who has been removed from the group (presumably by WICKED) and a new boy by the name of Aris joins them with shocking news. Together they must brave the harsh conditions of the scorch while trying to fight their way to freedom and safety.
One thing that stands out in this novel is its very rich plot. Dashner finds a way to incorporates elements of suspense, while also flooding the reader with the crazy scenarios and twists that his mind create. Dashner’s novel is the perfect blend of Action, Horror, Drama, and Science Fiction. The way he paints the difficult situation that he puts his characters through help to provoke the reader’s mind.
However, Dashner’s fast paced writing style may not help to serve his story well enough. In the span of a few pages, many events will take place. Anyone who reads too fast, or likes to skim through books, will not have the same experience with the novel as someone who reads the book slowly. Dashner also focuses mostly on the events taking place in his novel, while ignoring deeper character development. Dashner rarely talks about his character’s reactions to events and does not let the reader into the character’s minds as well as he could.
Despite this, there is still a great amount of character development and description in his work. The colorful story line makes this novel a good read for anyone interested in post-apocalyptic teen novels. Additionally, there is not an excessive amount of “filler” information, which makes the plot even more gripping and suspenseful.
I would not recommend this novel for those under the age of thirteen, as the novel can be violent and some scenes are too graphic for a younger audience.
Overall, the novel has surely been one of Dashner’s best creations. It is the second novel in the The Maze Runner series, and there are also two other books following The Scorch Trials. The movie adaptation of the book will be released on September 18, 2015.
