Cover of The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

by James Dashner

Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 3 states

On reading-award lists:Charlotte AwardOregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA)Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is assigned in US schools at grades 7–12. It appears across 3 curriculum references and 3 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The Maze Runner is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

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Grade range
Grades 7–12
Age range
Ages 12–17
First published
2012
Genre
Dystopian
ISBN-13
9781908435484

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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About this book

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade - a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze.

Part of a series — read in order

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Maze Runner→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Dystopian title, typically at grades 7–12. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on survival and memory; cited across 3 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

survival · memory · friendship

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is The Maze Runner?
The Maze Runner is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What curricula assign The Maze Runner?
The Maze Runner appears on reading lists for Charlotte Award, Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award, Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Maze Runner banned in schools?
The Maze Runner does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does The Maze Runner explore?
Central themes in The Maze Runner include survival, memory, friendship. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 7–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 3 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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