The Maze Runner Summary and Complete Study Guide

Thomas and Teresa recover partial memories: they helped create the maze. It's all an experiment by an organization called WICKED testing kids for something. The Gladers finally solve the maze, fight through Grievers (many die, including Chuck protecting Thomas), and reach an exit. They discover the world outside was scorched by solar flares and a disease called the Flare. WICKED was testing them as potential cure candidates. They escape WICKED's facility temporarily, but it's clear this is just the beginning. Dashner's themes: Authority figures lie to and use children. Memory defines identity. Working together beats individualism. The maze is artificial but the friendships are real. And sometimes escaping one trap just leads to another. It launched another YA dystopian series, playing on teen feelings of being manipulated by adults while facing challenges with incomplete information.