Study Guide for : The Kill Order by James Dashner & Comprehension Test

The Kill Order
by James Dashner
About_
The Kill Order by James Dashner is a gripping prequel to The Maze Runner series, following Mark and his
companions as they struggle to survive in a world devastated by sun flares and a deadly virus. This study guide
helps students explore the characters, events, and themes of the novel through carefully designed questions and
activities. It supports close reading, discussion, and critical thinking at every stage. This study guide contains 65
questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus
Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 7-9
Teacher Note_
This study guide gives your students a clear path from basic comprehension to deeper critical analysis, helping
them engage confidently with a fast-paced and thought-provoking novel. The ready-made questions, answer key,
and activities save you valuable preparation time so you can focus on meaningful classroom discussion. Thank you
for inspiring a love of reading in your students!
About the Author and the Series
James Dashner is an American author best known for writing The Maze Runner series. The Kill Order is a prequel to that
trilogy, telling the story of events that happened before the original books begin. Readers who know the series will find
familiar ideas, while new readers can enjoy it as a stand-alone survival story.
A World Changed by Disaster
The novel is set in a future where massive solar flares have scorched the Earth and wiped out much of civilization. Survivors
must cope with extreme heat, scarce food, and the loss of loved ones. Stories like this ask us to imagine how people might
behave when everything familiar has been taken away.
Themes to Watch For
As you read, look for themes such as survival, friendship, loyalty, and the struggle to keep one’s humanity under pressure. The
book also raises questions about trust, power, and the choices people make in the name of survival. Paying attention to how
characters respond to fear will help you understand their motivations.