Chapter 21-24

In chapter twenty-one, Thomas found some sort of courage deep down inside him and ran towards one of the Griever. The Griever is shocked by this but it didn’t stop it from attacking Thomas head on. Thomas new found courage was lost and jumped out of the way last minute dodging the attack. While Thomas was running down one corridor a pair of hands randomly grabbed him into an adjoining hallway. It was actually Minho and he told Thomas that he was inspired by that quick dive he made. Minho led Thomas a part of the Maze which just ends with a cliff. Both Minho and Thomas stood just inches away from the edge of the cliff waiting for the Grievers to come at them with full speed. At the last second they both jumped out of the way causing the Grievers fall into the dark abyss. Except for one which was able to stop itself in time but both Minho and Thomas had the same idea and jumped at the griever feet first causing it to also fall down the cliff.

                Out of nowhere the sun started to rise which meant that the gates of Glade would be opening. This reminded that Alby is still probably hanging on the wall and when Minho heard what Thomas did it made him think that there still could be a chance that he Alby can still get the serum in time.  In this chapter Thomas also learns that the serum is an antidote for a Griever wound, it’s made by the Creators, and that it is brought through the box. When they entered through the west entrance everyone was in awe that they returned alive. Newt was surprised the most and when they mentioned Alby’s situation Thomas pointed towards Alby’s hanging thirty feet in the air. Newt told them that they should rest up and see some medical attention. Thomas was woken up by Chuck who wanted to tell him that Alby is still alive and that he’s just going the changing which was followed by a blood curdling scream.

                In chapter twenty-three, Newt finally explains to Thomas what he knows about the changing. The changing is the side effect from the serum, the body starts to shake, the skin starts to bubble and turn green and that the person starts to vomit all over themselves. They call another one of the side effects the changing because people start to remember snippets of their past memories and apparently it would be so horrible that it would change them as a person. Newt also informs Thomas that there will be a gathering taking place and it’s about him so he has to go.

                The next day Thomas found himself in front of the keepers except for Alby since he’s still in recovery and one of the keepers is Gally who hated Thomas ever since he got to Glade. In the gathering all the keepers stated their opinion on whether or not they should punish Thomas. Some said that he should be rewarded for his bravery, while others say that he should be punished for breaking the number one rule, the most shocking opinion came from Minho who said that he wants to nominate Thomas as the keeper of Runners which is his position.

                I really enjoyed Thomas’ technique with dodging the Grievers; it also reminds me of bull fighting and how the Matador would step away from the bull’s horn within reach of its horns. I was equally amazed by what Minho had suggested to do with Thomas mainly because in the story line it has been about a week since he has first arrived from the box. I still think that the story might have a bigger climax because we’re not even half way through the book and the climax of any good story comes near the end. There are also mysterious yet to be solved by Thomas.

Chapter 17-20

In Chapter seventeen, Thomas came up with an idea to create a search party and to look for them but Newt told him that making a search party to look for someone in the maze is against the rules because they would be risking everybody’s life.  After waiting a while and sunset arriving the gates started to close Thomas saw Minho with Alby’s arms draped across his shoulders. Thomas knew he had to do something so he ran out into the maze trying to help but it was too late the gates have closed and know they have to spend the night with grievers. Yet even though Thomas was only thinking about helping Alby and Minho, Minho got mad because Thomas has practically gave up his life for no reason. Thomas also figured out that the griever that was dead wasn’t really dead and that Alby got stung by that griever. After Minho told Thomas that he said that it would be best to split off leaving Thomas with Alby who is currently passed out.

At first Thomas didn’t know what to do when Minho left but he did know that he has to help Alby stay alive long enough to get him the serum which could save him from the Griever attack. Then weird sounds coming from within the maze and decided that he has to hide Alby from the grievers. Thomas thought about climbing the tall vine covered wall and he tied the Albys limbs and climbed up while finding cracks in the wall which was perfect for his footing and pulled Alby up. After about thirty feet up the wall and ties the other vines that are on the wall to keep Alby from falling. Then that’s when Thomas saw his first Griever and wasn’t behind the protective glass.

As the Griever walked towards the wall Thomas sees the creature in more detail. It was a fusion between animal and mechanics, and it also had mechanical arms all for different purposes one with needles, and a saw. As the Griever came closer and closer, Thomas noticed that it smelled like and overheated engine and burning flesh. The Griever then jumped onto the wall and started climbing upwards.

With Alby immobilized Thomas didn’t want harm to come to him so he did what he thought was the right thing to do and that would be making the Griever chase him. So Thomas grabbed a vine right next to him and slid down it while catching the attention of the Griever. Thomas succeeded in grabbing the attention of the Griever but it’s now chasing him through the maze and what’s worse is that three more Grievers joined the chase.

Within these four chapters I think the author changed his writing style a bit to make the story line seem more action packed with a trouble in every corner. I enjoyed how the author described the Griever because it makes it seem more realistic.

Chapter 13-16

In chapter thirteen, Thomas is amazed that Minho has spotted a dead Griever and he isn’t the only one Alby and Newt was equally in awe. They have decided to check out the dead griever tomorrow and that Minho should rest up. As Thomas was about to walk to the slaughter house for a trial job he bumps into Chuck who has an important news to tell. He told Thomas that Ben wasn’t actually dead, the arrow missed a vital point, he is currently in the Slammer (their slang for jail), and the biggest news is that he will be banished from Gale and will have to spend the night with the Grievers. Later that night Thomas witnesses his first banishment.

In chapter fourteen, it was described how the banishment took place. The keepers who were like the leaders first strap a collar to the Ben and attach a long pole to it. Then they stick ben as far out as they can and wait for the gates to close leaving ben outside with Grievers.

The next day while Thomas was on his way to try out another career he meets Newt and continues to ask him about runners. Newt describes runners as the best of the best. They need to be smart, fast, and strong. He also said that their job is to run in the maze and return before sunset because that’s when the gates close and must draw out what the maze looks like on a piece of paper.  Newt realizes that Thomas wants to be a runner and told Thomas that there is a small chance that he will become a runner especially since it’s been less than a month since Thomas has arrived. As they were talking they saw Alby and Minho go into the maze to retrieve the dead Griever’s body.

After Thomas was working at the garden he notices that Chucky looking at Newt. Thomas later finds out that he’s worried from chucky but they don’t know why. Newt over hears their conversation and told them that he’s worried about Alby and Newt and that they should have returned hours ago.

Within these four chapters I don’t think there has been anything big happening so far, maybe it’s like the calm before the storm. I like how every once in a while the author would end a chapter in a cliff hanger leaving us to read more.

9-12

In chapter nine, everyone is shocked about the girl, who arrives from within the box, and the message she delivers – she is the last one ever. This changes the dynamic of the Glades. Not only because she is the only female, but also because there will no longer be any one coming from within the box. While everyone is afraid and confused, a random character within the crowd screams out dibs on the girl. This is interesting and I wouldn’t blame him for his comment, because after all can anyone imagine being stuck in a village filled with only boys for two years? What seems strange is even though Thomas has no recollection about his past he still has a feeling that he has known this girl somehow. After all of the action everyone returned to what they were doing before and Thomas decides to take a shortcut to the Homestead (where people go to relax and sleep). On his way there he saw the beetle bug with green writing on its back saying WICKED.

In chapter 10, Thomas, for some reason, decides to run after the beetle blade which later on leads him to the graveyard section of Glade. There he notices half a tomb that represents that you cannot escape through the hole of the box which reminds him of that time with Chucky. Previously, Thomas was trying to figure out how to escape Glade and came up with some ideas like making a rope and going down the hole after the box. However, as he learned earlier, going down the box hole has already been attempted and resulted in the volunteer being cut in half.

In the midst of Thomas’ flash back he hears snapping of some twigs and yells out whose there and Ben showed up from the shadows. Previously in the book Ben was a Runner who was attacked by a Griever and as long as he was given the medicine he would be healed. In chapter 11, Ben seemed to be insane and pointed a knife at him. Luckily for Thomas, Alby showed up with a bow and arrow warning Ben to put the knife down and to step away. Ben doesn’t respond to the warning and Alby releases his arrow which pierces Ben in the head. Alby then recommended Thomas to go to Homestead and rest for a bit, but Thomas was still restless from the gory sight.

Chapter 12 begins with a dramatic scene of a person running into the Glade and starts screaming out Alby’s name. Thomas later learns that the person who was yelling was Minho who is the keeper of the runners. Keeper is a word that the Gladers made up meaning the leader of the certain type of careers that are in Glade. Once Alby and Newt have gathered around Minho, he begins to tell them that he has found a dead griever. This is an interesting end to a new mystery.

In these four chapters many things has happened to Thomas who is still trying to understand why he’s here and what everything is supposed to mean. Over all, in these four chapters I enjoyed how each situation builds and evolves the storyline. As I have noticed so far the story is growing more and more complicated which reminds of this saying “It’s all downhill from here.” I also enjoy how when Thomas thinks that he’s grasp some sort of understanding of the Glades he finds out he still doesn’t know everything.  At this point of the book so far, it seems that all the main characters have been introduced and now the journey to the climax and resolution are just underway. 

Chapter 5-8

               

                I find it kind of weird that not even has passed and he wants to become a runner, someone who goes out to the maze and runs around there and record what the maze looks like on a map. Newt also tells Thomas the goal of people in Glade which is to find their way out, the downside to what Newt shows him what lives in the maze which is a grotesque creature that’s part animal and machine. Even though Glade is a village of teenaged guys they are able to survive by the electricity that the Creator, the person who created the maze and trapped them there, has supplied them. The village seems to be ran by the teens and they have created jobs for themselves to do like; Slopper, Bricknick, Bagger, and Track-hoe. I have no idea what those jobs do but I’m guessing that we’ll find out. Once again something wrong happens in the Glade, Another person has been brought through the box but that’s only supposed to happen every month and what’s even weirder is that it’s a girl and she’s caring a not saying that she’s the last person ever to be brought into Glade.