23. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

1. Bibliographic Information
Dashner, J. (2009). The maze runner. New York: Listening Library.
Audiobook read by Mark Deakins
9 Disks
ISBN: 978-0307582881

2. Plot Summary
When Thomas emerges from the dark room, he finds himself surrounded by a group of boys. Remembering only his name, Thomas begins his life in the Glade. The Glade is an outdoor community engulfed by walls, protecting the boys from the maze. Everyone has a job; some in the care and upkeep of the Glade, while others run through the maze hoping to find answers of why they are here and how to get out. Life in the Glade is determined by routines. On the same day every month, a new boy is sent to the Glade. At the same time everyday, the gates to the maze are opened and later closed. At night the Grievers come to stalk the boys. However, with Thomas’ entrance strange things begin to happen. The day after Thomas’ arrival, a girl named Teresa is sent to the maze. When the maze doors refuse to close the Gladers know their time is numbered. Can Thomas find the answers to the maze, his link to Teresa, and his own mind before it’s too late?

3. Critical Evaluation
The Maze Runner is an interesting addition to the futuristic dystopian novels. The plot itself is reminiscent of Golding’s Lord of the Flies; however, Dashner's work takes a more direct approach, simply looking at the psychological effects of abandonment, isolation, confusion and danger rather than commenting on the loss of humanity. Converse to Golding’s work, though, is the boys’ ability to remain positive through their experiences. Despite their unrelenting lifestyle, the boys use order and routine to counteract their desolation and fear. Nevertheless, the end of the novel felt lacking in execution. While it is evident that The Maze Runner is to be the first book in a trilogy, the author provides the reader with no explanations, the boys with a false sense of security, and a hanging resolution thus making the ending seem empty. The themes and survival techniques so vigorously employed by the Gladers is meaningless. Furthermore, since almost all of the questions generated from this book remain unanswered, the lasting impression of the boys who struggled in the maze for two years is wasted. Perhaps this book’s resolution will appear better when all of the books are published and the reader can fully understand the motives of the characters and author.

4. Reader’s Annotation
Thomas wakes up in a dark room, remembering only his name. When a light emerges, he finds himself surrounded by a group of boys in a maze. Thomas is sure that the secrets that could help them escape remained locked in his brain. Can Thomas find these answers before it’s too late?

5. Information about the Author
James Dashner was born in Georgia but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his wife and kids. His other books include The 13th Reality Series and the subsequent sequels to The Maze Runner which have yet to be published.

6. Genre
Science Fiction

7. Curriculum Ties
This book would be interesting for a philosophical debate on reality, ethics, and leadership roles.

8. Booktalking Ideas
-How do the creators use routine to control the Gladers?
-Do you think you would have given up on hope for escape if you had been in the Glade for 2 years?

9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I would recommend this book for older teens aged 16-18.

10. Challenge Issues
There are some instances of graphic violence including boys beating each other up, a young boy getting struck from a bow and arrow, and boys dying from a hybrid animal/machine all in the context of a post-apocalyptic future. The “creators” are also seen as unfeeling scientists using the boys for some unknown reason.

If anyone wished to challenge this book, I would encourage them to look at the ALA’s website and challenge form found at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm

11. Why was it selected?
During the Elluminate Session for The Hunger Games, one of the presentations recommended this book.

12. Citations

Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm

Dashner, J. (2009). The maze runner. New York: Listening Library.

Picture
Amazon.com. (2010). The maze runner [Audiobook][Unabridged] (Audio CD).
Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Maze-Runner-James-Dashner/dp/0307582884/ref=tmm_abk_title_0

13. Awards
No awards known.

29. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

1. Bibliographic Information
Westerfeld, S. (2009). Leviathan. New York: Simon & Schuster Audio.
Audiobook read by Alan Cumming
7 Disks
ISBN: 978-0-7435-8388-6

2. Plot Summary
This story begins in an alternate world at the start of World War I. The Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie have just been poisoned after a failed assassination attempt in Serbia. The son and prince, Aleksander Ferdinand is forced to flee from his palace home, when his relatives threaten his life. Running for the Swiss border, he is aided by his fencing teacher, a mechanic and a few other members who remain loyal to Alek. To move from Austria to Switzerland, the band uses Clanker technology to employ steam-driven machines as a means of transportation and protection. Unfortunately, his relative’s allies are not far behind. During this time, a young girl named Deryn has hopes of joining the British Air Service. However, they do not allow girls into their program. Deryn decides to pass as a boy. On her first day, she ends up stranded in a Huxley drifting over London. When she is rescued by the Leviathan, a whale-like air-ship, she convinces the captain to let her stay aboard. High in the Swiss Alps, Alek and Deryn’s paths cross. With so many secrets and the inevitability of war, how safe are Alek and Deryn?

3. Critical Evaluation
In many ways the themes in this story are nothing new. Leviathan focuses on the lives of Deryn and Alek, both of whom are pitted against one another while trying to prove their worth. Both are somewhat hampered by their birth; Deryn because she was born a girl, and Alek because he was born a prince. Nevertheless, it is the setting that Westerfeld presents as well as Alan Cumming’s narration that makes the book interesting. Westerfeld’s alternative history becomes exciting because it pits two different types of technologies against each other forcing the listener to question these modes of weaponry. It somewhat goes back to the cliché: just because we can does not mean we should. In fact, using this line of reasoning, Westerfeld’s novel becomes more than just a simple science fiction tale. While the novel does look at the characters it also makes a comparison between the growth of mechanical technology as well as animal testing in today’s world. Furthermore, Deryn and Alek debate the very same questions when comparing the two technologies. Alan Cumming’s narration also has an undeniable impact upon the listener. His tone, voice and pacing allows the listener to be transported to Westerfeld’s new World War I.

4. Reader’s Annotation
On the eve of World War I a 15 year old girl passes as a boy so she can fulfill her dreams of being an airman in the British Air Service. Additionally, Prince Aleksander Ferdinand, son of the Archduke Ferdinand, must flee Austria-Hungary and lay low until he can complete his destiny. When their paths cross their lives will change forever.

5. Information about the Author
Scott Westerfeld was born May 6, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. He has written other books for teens including the Uglies Series. He currently lives in New York and Sydney, Australia with his wife. His sequel to Leviathan is due in the fall and is to be title Behemoth.

6. Genre
Science Fiction (more specifically: Steampunk Fiction)

7. Curriculum Ties
Since this book is about an alternate reality during World War I, I would just encourage students to read this book as an outside reading book.

8. Booktalking Ideas
-What are some of the social and gender rules during Westerfeld’s Leviathan? How is this different from today?
-Through Deryn and Alek’s discussion regarding the technologies between the Clankers and the Darwinists, how does Westerfeld question the role of animals and machines in science and technology?

9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that this book would appeal most to 15-16 year olds.

10. Challenge Issues
I do not feel that this book presents any challenging issues to the age group that this book was written for. However, if anyone were to challenge this book I would refer he/she to the ALA’s challenge form found at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/

11. Why was it selected?
I am a fan of steampunk fiction.

12. Citation Page

Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm

Westerfeld, S. (2010). Scott facts. Retrieved from http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/about-the-author/scott-facts/

Picture
Amazon.com (2010). Leviathan [Audiobook][Unabridged] (Audio CD). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Leviathan-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/0743583884/ref=tmm_abk_title_0

13. Awards
ALA Best Books For Young Adults
ALA Notable Children's Books
Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Outstanding Merit Kirkus Best Young Adult Book School Library Journal Best Books of the Year