# The Maze Runner

**Author:** James Dashner
**Grade range:** Grades 7–12
**Age range:** 12–17
**First published:** 2012
**Genre:** Dystopian
**ISBN-13:** `9781908435484`
**ISBN-10:** `1908435488`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-maze-runner
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## 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.

## Themes

- survival
- memory
- friendship

## Where this book is assigned

### Charlotte Award

- **recommended** · 7th grade · New York — [source: New York State Reading Association — Charlotte Award winner (official 'History of NYSRA Charlotte Winners' 1990-2025 PDF, nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards, fetched 2026-07-02)](https://nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · New York — [source: New York State Reading Association — Charlotte Award winner (official 'History of NYSRA Charlotte Winners' 1990-2025 PDF, nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards, fetched 2026-07-02)](https://nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards)

### Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award

- **recommended** · 7th grade · Arizona — [source: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)](https://www.azla.org/page/GCRAaboutpage)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Arizona — [source: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)](https://www.azla.org/page/GCRAaboutpage)
- **recommended** · 9th grade · Arizona — [source: Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award — Arizona's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-66-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award'...](https://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/previous-winners)
- **recommended** · 10th grade · Arizona — [source: Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award — Arizona's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-66-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award'...](https://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/previous-winners)
- **recommended** · 11th grade · Arizona — [source: Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award — Arizona's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-66-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award'...](https://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/previous-winners)
- **recommended** · 12th grade · Arizona — [source: Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award — Arizona's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-66-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award'...](https://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/previous-winners)

### Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA)

- **recommended** · 7th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 9th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 10th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 11th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 12th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)

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