How Old Are The Characters In The Maze Runner

So, I was at this book club meetup the other day, right? And we were all discussing The Maze Runner, you know, that thrilling series by James Dashner. And suddenly, someone asks, "Hey, how old are these kids in the story anyway?" And I thought, "Well, that's a good question!" So, let's dive into the Glade and find out, shall we?

First Things First: The Maze Runner's Timeline

Alright, so the series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, and we're not given a specific year, but we can make some guesses. The events unfold over about three years, starting with Thomas's arrival in the Glade. Now, the boys in the Glade have been there for a while before Thomas shows up, so let's focus on them.

We know that the oldest boy, Alby, is around 18 when Thomas arrives. And since Thomas is 16 when he gets there, we can assume that the boys in the Glade are roughly between 14 and 18 years old when the first book starts.

Wait, What About Thomas?

Now, Thomas is a special case. He's 16 when he wakes up in the Glade, but he's been living in the real world before that, right? So, he's actually older than the other boys, but he's just as clueless about the world outside the Maze. Isn't that a twist?

And speaking of twists, did you know that Thomas's birthday is on September 14? Yeah, it's mentioned in The Death Cure. So, if you're reading this around that time, happy belated birthday, Thomas!

The Maze Runner Summary, Trailer, Cast, and More

And the Girls?

Now, let's not forget about the girls from The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure. They're all around the same age as the boys, so they're teenagers too. Teresa, for instance, is 16 when she meets Thomas again. And Janson, the evil mastermind, is in his late 20s or early 30s, making him the oldest character in the series.

So, Why Does It Matter?

You might be thinking, "Who cares how old they are? They're just characters in a book!" And you're right, but it's still interesting to think about. Their ages help us understand their motivations and how they react to the crazy stuff they go through. Plus, it's fun to imagine what they'd be doing if they were real people in our world.

The Maze Runner - poster

For example, if Thomas were real and he survived the Maze and the Scorch, he'd be in his early 20s now. Would he be in college? Working? Still trying to save the world? The possibilities are endless!

Anyway, that's enough about ages. I'm off to reread the series and imagine what the characters are up to now. Until next time, happy reading!