The Scorch Trials (James Dashner)

Title: The Scorch Trials

Series: The Maze Runner Series

Author: James Dashner

Released: 2010

Rating: 5/6

Basic Plot: Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.

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.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

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.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.
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Improvement on the Original
One of the things that bugged me about The Maze Runner was that it took a little bit to get into. However, I had no problems with the flow of this book. It started and quickly made it hard for me to put it down. It helps that you know the characters and the important 'what is going on' questions have been answered. But this doesn't mean that you always know what is really real all the time. Or even most of the time.

Is It Right
This book is the second stage of trials and you have to ask yourself if it is right that these tests are being given. The whole world has been affected by the Flare and a cure is needed. As you're following Thomas, one of the Gladers and a creator of the Maze, you are biased. What would make all the suffering right is if a cure can be found and, therefore, all the suffering won't be in vain. And there is so much suffering that you begin to question about this being a Young Adult series.

Trust
Trust is a very important thing in this series and it is beyond difficult to know who to trust at any given time. People aren't always what they seem. Such as the start of this book is when they all think they are safe and it's revealed rather...violently that they aren't as safe as they thought they were. It appears that WICKED used the peace and quiet as part of one of their variables. But you still trust some of the characters and so it is painful to see the truth about them at times.

Final Thoughts
This was an awesome sequel to The Maze Runner. Questions are answered and yet there are still many questions left unanswered. Near the end something is revealed about Teresa and trusting her becomes nearly impossible. I also like in this book that the world of The Maze Runner is greatly expanded upon.