The kids manage to spell out the words “float” and “catch” before Minho points out that they should get back to running the maze, seeing as how they know why it’s important.  The others stay behind to continue putting words together.

She smiled and folded her arms. “If you’re going to decipher a hidden code from a complex set of different mazes, I’m pretty sure you need a girl’s brain running the show.”

Okay, but, you spent several days in a coma and then the only reason you were any help at all afterwards was because you were lucky enough to remember a few things that the scientists/author put in your head.  You seriously did not figure anything out; you just had plot points handed to you through no fault or effort of your own.  Shut up until you do something worth being smug about.

Chuck comes to see them off at the maze entrance, and he gets a heartfelt “don’t forget I promised to see you home” parting, so Chuck’s about to die, isn’t he?

Out in the maze, they see none of the walls have changed, so they’re just going to do some intensive exploring.  By…continuing to run.  Look, guys, I know the book is called maze runner, but you really can’t do a detailed search while you’re running. 

Also, Thomas and Theresa can both speak telepathically now and they spend several pages talking about stuff that has already happened.  The book does this a lot; it repeats the clues it gives by having the characters talk about how strange they are, but then it does this over and over again without ever adding new information.  Yes, book, we get it, you dropped a clue, now DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

After they run the maze and see there’s nothing obvious presenting itself, they do at least get down to some more detailed poking around at stuff.

The only thing interesting was another one of those odd signs that read World In Catastrophe—Killzone Experiment Department. Minho didn’t even give it a second glance.
And of course, anything the older kids ignore is bound to be something huge and game-changing that they were just too stupid to figure out because they’re not Thomas.

They stay out in the maze at night but only catch glimpses of grievers, then decide to give in and go back since nothing exciting is happening.  They find out some character we’ve never met was taken while they were gone.

“I’m sick of this!” Minho spat in the ivy, veins popping out of his neck. “I’m sick of it! It’s over! It’s all over!” He took off his backpack and threw it on the ground. “There’s no exit, never was, never will be. We’re all shucked.”

Thomas watched, his throat dry, as Minho stomped off toward the Homestead. It worried him—if Minho gave up, they were all in big trouble.

??? Minho’s done nothing but give up since we met him.  Admittedly, he’s been there a long time and could just snap, but if Thomas hasn’t known him to do anything but this, why would he find it unusual?  If anything, he should assume Minho will rant for a while and then get over it.

Thomas and Theresa continue to have telepathy and continue to agree that they shouldn’t tell anyone that because reasons.  The only tepid excuse they give is that no one would believe them, but then they drop that in favor of simply ominously repeating “no telling” over and over. (Also, telepathy would be one the easiest things to prove.)

The map team has figured out six words: Float, Catch, Bleed, Death, Stiff, Push.  Thomas looks over all of this and spontaneously has a thought that he does not share with the rest of us.  Because someone always has to be in the dark, I guess.

This thought leads him to his next thought: getting stung by a griever is the awesome way to go.

That night, the grievers show up and take some kid named Dave, and Thomas runs after them.  (How do they pick which kid to take?  Are some boys singled out and pushed out of the group?  Is it that the monsters go for smaller packs of them and just pick random kids?  You’d almost expect these boys to either be picking sacrifices or sticking all in one group, instead of one big group downstairs and then random smaller ones in the upstairs rooms.  And why has no one tried to shoot one of these things with those bows they have and yet never use?)

Anyway, Thomas succeeds in getting stung but left there so the other kids can collect him.  He very briefly goes through a changing period, and then when he wakes up he knows how to get out of the maze.  Just like that.  Wow, what a riveting puzzle, you solve it by just…bullshit.  Bullshit.  You solve it by bullshit.  You just lay down and let the author lightning strike the answer into your brain, like he’s done to three other characters before by they don’t count because bullshit.

That’s all this book is.  Bullshit.  The author throwing plot points out into the wind and then scrambling to make them connect again. 

Hey, remember how Alby knew things after his changing but then he couldn’t tell anyone without trying to choke himself?  Thomas has no such concerns!  He calls for a big group meeting.

I hope he really does choke.

My hopes are dashed, because Thomas can talk fine.  Not only does he never fear that it might be different, none of the others fear that either.  They gather together to hear his talk and no one, not once, not even Alby, says “hold up, what if you try and bite your tongue off or something, should we take precautions?”

Because the author knew it wouldn’t be an issue, and he forgot that his characters don’t know the same.

Thomas explains to everyone that the maze is not a riddle, it’s a test, meant to see how they handle pressure and such.  Seems to me it’s more a test of boredom, but whatever, I’m too sick of this book to care too much.

He further explains that they were all kidnapped as very young children and then given special schooling and they were all named after scientists.

All except Minho.

“Supposedly we’re really smart and they’re studying every move we make, analyzing us. Seeing who’d give up and who wouldn’t. Seeing who’d survive it all.

Yes, supposedly.  And I really don’t get the survival aspect, since they had delivered supplies and the only thing that was deadly stayed politely outside the walls.

The maze is unsolvable, which is a stupid word, because it’s a maze, not a puzzle.  They mapped the whole thing and it simply didn’t have a door; that’s not the same thing as being unable to “solve” it.  Thomas explains that it was just there to give them something work on, which begs the question of why this went on for two years because for a large chunk of that time the kids were all just repeating the same actions over and over again.

Thomas gives very long-winded explanations.  He goes right on into the next chapter and continues by talking about how he and Theresa are uber special.  He finally admits that they are telepathic and that they were forced into helping the scientists create the maze.  (Because…adult scientists who can invent brain-wiping can’t invent a maze with no door?)  (Also, what does being telepathic have to do with maze-making?)

Thomas says he knows the exit and WHAT DO YOU KNOW, IT’S THE FUCKING OBVIOUS PLACE, THE DISAPPEARING HOLE THAT’S OVER THE CLIFF, WOW, WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT TO LOOK IN THE ONE PLACE IN THIS WHOLE BLOODY THING THAT EVEN LOOKS LIKE AN EXIT.  GOSH, I’M SO GLAD THOMAS WAS AROUND TO EXPLAIN THAT THE PLACE WHERE THERE’S NOT A WALL IS ACTUALLY THE EXIT, ‘CAUSE I KNOW I WOULD HAVE JUST STOOD THERE FOREVER GOING “GEE, WHY IS THERE NO WALL THERE, OH WELL, LET’S KEEP LOOKING FOR A DOOR, DUUURRRRR.”

Also, that was three chapters of straight-up exposition that was delivered to us after a character magically got his memories back.  No one is actually “solving” this maze/puzzle, because the answers are just handed to them via our resident special snowflake here, who for some reason can get these memories when no other sting victims can. (Or…maybe?  Alby acted sorta suspicious in there, maybe he knows and is just worried he still can’t talk about it?  God, what a stupid random plot point to be muddying up the waters.)

Alby has a conniption fit and starts screaming about how they can’t go back because their lives were so terrible.  Then he admits that he burned the (fake) maps.  NO, YOU DON’T SAY?  REALLY?  WHO WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT COMING?  YOU’D HAVE TO BE SOME SORT OF BLOODY GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT THAT THE UBER SUSPICIOUS GUY AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME WAS THE ONE THAT DID IT.

The Keepers exchanged looks, shock clear in their wide eyes and raised eyebrows. For Thomas, though, it all made sense now.

OMG, it’s like you’re taunting me, book.

Oh, and apparently those words they figured out are a code to turn off the grievers.  Thanks for cluing us in, Thomas. 

Then they start talking about how to get around the problem of the grievers living down in that hole and wait, really?  We don’t know that they live there, maybe it’s a huge area and the grievers just use it for an exit?  Maybe they’re “turned off” during the day?

The kids decide that since the grievers only kill one kid a night, they’ll sacrifice someone in order to distract/deactivate them while others go down the hole.  Uh, if you know the code turns them off, why not just hide until they all come out and then try and make a run for it/shut them off before anyone dies?

Thomas volunteers.  YAY!

“You gotta believe me, Newt. It’s the only way out of here—we can do it, I swear. We’re meant to.”

Why would scientists want a bunch of kids who can’t figure out a simple puzzle and then simply do what they’re told?  Anyone could do that.  We have a whole army of people who can do that, and do it better than these jackasses.

No, really.  They’re not figuring this out.  I can’t stress this enough.  They have been told the answer by Thomas’s magic memories; none of this came of their own intelligence.  They’ve been handed the way out and they’re following it.  You can give orders to nearly anyone without having to go through all this first so WHAT IS THE POINT?

Thomas leaves while all the kids discuss this plan, because if Thomas is around while they do it nothing will get done.  I mean, just look at this kid’s track record.  Newt does, at least, suggest Alternate Plan: Sneak In While They’re Out At Night So No One Has To Die.

He knew it was dangerous, but the idea of actually fighting the Grievers—not just running from them—was terrifying.

You know what would help here?  IF ANYONE HAD EVER TRIED TO ACUTALLY FIGHT A GRIEVER.  For all we know, they burst like a ripe fruit when hit, but we’ll never find out because no one is actually trying anything besides crying.  We already know they’re squishy and dumber than dirt, and we know the kids have FUCKING BOWS AND ARROWS, so what gives?