The Fever Code

Dashner, James. The Fever Code. Book 0.6 of the Maze Runners series. 2016. 347p. ISBN 9780553513097. Available at FIC DAS on the library shelves.

The story told in The Kill Order set up the flares and the history behind the Maze Runner, and introduces DeeDee, who becomes Teresa. In The Fever Code, a young boy named Stephen is captured by soldiers of W.I.C.K.E.D. and taken to a facility in remote Alaska. There he is inflicted severe physical pain until he accepts his new name of Thomas. As Thomas grows up he is introduced to Theresa, a girl of about his own age. Both of them are being carefully studied by W.I.C.K.E.D. scientists who are determined to discover how the flare affects the brain and why some people, like Thomas and Teresa, are immune.

As the two grow up, they progressively become more involved in planning the Maze, a large labyrinth that will be filled with other children so that scientists can study them as well. These kids are already at the facility, and Thomas and Teresa manage to sneak away to meet Newt, Minho, Alby and Chuck. A friendship emerges, but must be concealed. A plan is devised. The group will attempt to escape from the facility, despite the odds of being captured or harmed by the Cranks outside.

When the attempt fails, Minho is severely punished. As teens get sent to the Maze, Thomas grows increasingly weary at W.I.C.K.E.D.’s attempts in solving the flares. Their methods are draconians and harsh, and as teenagers begin to die, Thomas must decide whether his loyalties lie with his friends or with the organization that captured him these many years ago.