The Maze Runner is the first book in a series of other books. The story follows Thomas who has mysteriously appeared in a small civilization run by teenage boys and is surrounded by a giant maze. Everything about the maze feels off and after Thomas appears everything goes downhill. All the boys have to escape the maze before they run out of time or are killed by the monsters in the maze.
Shatter Me is a story about a girl named Juliette living in a dystopian future Earth. Juliette has been incapable of human touch all her life and that leads her to being locked away for years. With the prospect of having a better future Juliette must make tough decisions and choices to escape her captivity. Shatter Me is the first book in the series and I liked how you could tell Juliette changed throughout the book due to the writing style. My favorite characters are Juliette and Adam.
Project Hail Mary begins with a guy who wakes up not knowing where he is, how he got there or why he is in the situation he is. Eventually, he comes to find out what his purpose is by relying on his impressive memory. His goal is to save the Earth from a small microbe called Astrophage. Astrophage is a huge problem because as it spreads rapidly the sun starts losing its light. Pressure is on for this sole survivor as he tries to save Earth before its too late.
Thomas wakes up in a dark, empty elevator with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He finds himself in the Glade, a massive enclosed area surrounded by gargantuan walls which hide an ever-changing maze. The only way to escape is to navigate the maze, but it’s full of deadly creatures called Grievers. The maze is not just a physical challenge, but also a mental one. As secrets unravel, Thomas becomes determined to lead his fellow Gladers to freedom. Can they decode the Glade’s secrets before time runs out? Or will the Grievers get them first?
When an accident during a dust storm leaves astronaut Mark Watney stranded on Mars, everybody thinks he’s dead. Left alone with no communication, few resources and limited food and water, Watney will be a testament to the human instinct of survival. Armed with his botany and engineering skills, Mark sets out to survive by any means possible. Every day, he faces a new task ahead of him - all while knowing that his chances of survival become slimmer each day. After NASA finally discovers that he’s alive, the time for a rescue mission is quickly running out.
In the mystical realm of Asgard, Thor, the arrogant and impulsive crown prince, is banished to Earth by his father, Odin, after reigniting an ancient conflict with the Frost Giants. Stranded in the mortal world, Thor must navigate the complexities of human life and learn humility in order to reclaim his rightful place as the future king of Asgard. Alongside astrophysicist Jane Foster and her assistant Darcy, Thor must confront his brother Loki's treacherous plans and prevent a catastrophic war between the realms.
In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the main character, Winston, lives in a totalitarian society where he silently rebels against the “Party Members”(the government). The novel takes place in the future and speculates what our society could become. Citizens in Oceania are constantly under surveillance and fear a fictional creation that the government threatens. Throughout the novel, Winston struggles in difficult situations and acts in different ways to overcome them.
Veronica Roth’s Divergent is a gripping dystopian novel set in a world where society is divided into factions based on virtues. Sixteen-year-old Tris Prior discovers she is “Divergent,” meaning she doesn’t fit neatly into one faction. As she navigates her new life in the Dauntless faction, she uncovers a dangerous conspiracy threatening the entire society. The book delivers fast-paced action and an intriguing world. I also enjoyed Tris’s personal growth and the romantic tension with Four that added emotional depth.
Cloud Cuckoo Land connects five main characters using a fictional Ancient Greek codex called Cloud Cuckoo Land. This story is present and plays a significant role in all of the characters’ lives. Anna, a young girl who discovers Cloud Cuckoo Land, and Omeir, a boy conscripted into the Ottoman Empire, meet in 15th century Constantinople during the Ottoman Empire’s siege of the city.
Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games is a thrilling dystopian novel set in Panem, a society where the Capitol oppresses 12 districts through fear and the annual Hunger Games—a brutal televised competition where participants fight to the death. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old from impoverished District 12, who volunteers to take her younger sister Prim’s place in the Games.
