The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

The Maze Runner trilogy is another dystopian, post-apocalyptic series that is really popular right now due to the new movies that are being made. These books are really fun and unique. Although most of the main characters are boys, girls will find interest in these books too.

Similar to the Divergent trilogy, the trilogy is named after the first book. Here's the blurb for the first book if you are unfamiliar with the series:
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids swho welcome him to the Glade, a large expanse enclosed by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they've closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark. The Gladers were expecting Thomas's arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up - the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home . . . wherever that may be. But it's looking more and more as if the Maze in unsolvable. And something about the girl's arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers - if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

I absolutely loved these books. James Dashner is an amazing writer, and the books are fun, humorous, and suspenseful. The book is action-packed and exciting, but it can be dark and depressing at times, but I think that most dystopian books are supposed to be. I like The Maze Runner books because throughout these depressing chapters, there's a hint of humor and this makes these books unique compared to The Hunger Games.
It was unpredictable and I loved that. I hate knowing what's going to happen in a book before it happens, and I love a good plot-twister. I cried in the first book, and I'm pretty sure I cried in the third one but I can't remember completely.

Language is very mild, and most of the books are filled with made-up language such as "shuck", "shank", "klunk", "slinthead" and more. In the third book, The Death Cure, the "d-word" is used once or twice.

Sexual content is extremely low. In all three books there is some kissing, but it doesn't get any worse than that, which I really enjoyed. In the first book, one of the boys in the maze mentions the girl is "hot", but besides a couple kisses, it's surprisingly appropriate.

The worst thing about these books is the violence. Teens fight and kill, and are injured severely and/or die. Several loved characters die throughout all three books, and and zombie-like cannibals are the main plot of the second and third books. The violence can get pretty gory, and most deaths are described in acute detail (and they don't die prettily). If you have a weak stomach and don't like gore, you most likely won't appreciate this book.The second one is similar to a zombie-type horror movie.

After the trilogy, a fourth book was published as a prequel to the series, and that one is called The Kill Order. I didn't enjoy this prequel as much as the other books, and it's definitely not necessary to the story, but it's pretty interesting. It has more language, such as the "d-word" and "b-word", but nothing too bad. Sexual content is a little worse in the first half, but nothing is described besides a couple kisses.

Overall, I really enjoyed this series. I read them last year, my sister read them, and my brother is reading them right now. This is definitely a series I would love to reread someday.

I do have one comment to make about the movies though - The first one is ok and pretty close to the book, but the second one (The Scorch Trials)....what a disgrace. It was terrible! I only watched parts of it, but the preview ruined it for me, it wasn't anything like the book. Definitely read the books first because the movies don't compare.