Breakdown of Scorch Trials by James Dashner

ONE Sentence summary:
Thomas' story continues with the next phase of the trials where he must travel 100 miles across a scorching hot desert and overcome many other tests.


TWO Things I would have done differently:
I would have made getting information from the characters a little bit easier.
I would have explained more about the origin of the jargon used at the glade.  

THREE Titles that if you liked...you will like this:
Breakdown of Maze Runner


FOUR Reasons to care:
1.) If the first one is going to be a movie, the second one will be too.
2.) This plot is kind of the "opposite" of the last book.
3.) This book is also written well.  
4.) Spoiler alert, it leaves you on cliff hanger so get the third one at the same time as the second, if you can.


FIVE Facts about the author:
Breakdown of Maze Runner


SIX Emotions I felt while reading:
Nervous, excited, stressed, mad, hopeful, frustrated, pissed


SEVEN Thoughts:
1.) Why would they put kids through this?
2.) How scary can a past possibly be?
3.) What role do memories play in who you are, as a person?
4.) At what point do you forgive a betrayal?
5.) How can you not trust your senses?
6.) When is it okay to give up?
7.) Are the lives of many worth the human race?


EIGHT Buzzwords:
quest, adventure, tension, brain, trust, tests, subjects, scientists


NINE Plot device/writing techniques/tools/tricks:
1.) Third person limited point of view
2.) Information characters
3.) Clues, codes, breadcrumbs, trails
4.) Perception
5.) Memory (VERY limited, therefore more important)
6.) Females vs males
7.) Run-on sentences to represent the 100 miles they had to travel.
8.) Paragraphs of questions to make the reader feel as if the author had no answers either.
9.) Healthy descriptions of disaster.


TEN Point plot summary:
1.) Thomas and the Gladers wake up trapped in a facility with no food, only water, for several days. After food magically appears, a man in a white lab coat gives them their next trial, which is to travel 100 miles north to reach a safe haven. He also tells them that they have the disease they are trying to cure.
2.) The Gladers travel through a portal which brings them to a completely dark underground boobytrapped tunnel that they travel through for miles. They eventually reach some stairs, open the trapdoor, but are shocked at what they find.
3.) Once they adjust, they use what little supplies they have to prepare for their new surroundings and the quest ahead.
4.) The Gladers walk for miles and sometimes come to buildings where strange things happen. Thomas eventually meets Theresa, but they split up again.
5.) At one specific building, more people are added to their group.
6.) They continue on together to the safe Haven.
7.) Theresa’s group captures Thomas with the intention to kill him. They decide not to, after a couple of conversations. 
8.) Once they arrive at the safe haven, there is a huge final battle.   
9.) WICKED takes all them to their next trial.
10.) Read on to find out about the next trial!

Breakdown of Fifty Shades Freed

ONE Sentence summary:
Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, now married, wrestle with being newlyweds and the obstacles that come with being in the limelight.

TWO Things I would have done differently:As I have now read all three books, I would definitely have condensed the books down to one book. Also I would have altered the endless repetition and same conversations.


THREE Titles that if you liked...you will like this:Breakdown of Fifty Shades of GreyBreakdown of Fifty Shades Darker


FOUR Reasons to care:1.) It’s been the top bestseller for quite a few weeks.2.) The plot is significantly more complex than the first one.3.) If you have made it through the first two, I can guaranteed the ending is satisfying.

4.) The dynamics of a marriage are explored.


FIVE Facts about the author:Breakdown of Fifty Shades of Grey


SIX Emotions I felt while reading:Annoyed, frustrated, relieved, happy, amused, shocked.


SEVEN Thoughts:1.) What makes sex ‘taboo?’2.) If you are a bad communicator, are you bad at sex?3.) When is okay to be dishonest?4.) Is trust explicitly important in a relationship?5.) How thin is the line between pleasure and pain?6.) What role does time play in a relationship?7.) How do Dom/Sub relationships actually function?  


EIGHT Buzzwords:relationships, love, passion, lust, trust, sex, pain, pleasure


NINE Plot device/writing techniques/tools/tricks:1.) Written in present tense2.) Emails/text as a way to reveal information3.) healthy descriptions4.) Repetition5.) Nicknames or monikers for other things6.) Past into present7.) Internal voices to add depth to first person8.) Color as metaphor9.) Witty dialogue as plot device


TEN Point plot summary:1.) While on their honeymoon, Ana reflects on the past couple of weeks with her new husband.2.) The Greys explore the power dynamic within their relationship.3.) The honeymoon ends and it’s back to work for them.4.) The power dynamic fights continue, but when there is a break-in at the Grey house, emotions run high.5.) Christian decides a getaway trip to Aspen will calm their nerves.6.) Ana’s dad gets into a car accident and is in a coma over her birthday weekend. Christian throws a party after they learn he’s going to be okay.7.) Ana’s doctor meets her at her office and demands she take a pregnancy test.8.) Christian’s reaction to the news is less than calm.9.) The person who broke into the Grey house contacts Ana and blackmails her.10.) Ana fights the person and ends up in the hospital. Read the final chapter in the Fifty Shades Series to make sure she’s okay!