Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods

This might be where I stop with this reread, though I'm not committed one way or another at time of writing. While the first two books of the series were fun thrill rides, this, the third installment, feels conflicted. The depth of the issues the characters are facing is in conflict with the maturity of the intended audience, and I only see that conflict increasing further as events become more intertwined with complicated political developments. It's not often that children's and middle grade media deals well with, and let me refer to the book to make sure I've got it right, ah yes ... the ostensibly 'good' guys secretly manufacturing biological weapons of mass destruction with an eye towards the complete extinction of several other show more entire species. Uh huh.

In addition, the vehicle driving the plot forward in these books, namely, the various prophecies that seem to hold the Underworld in their vice grip, is well and truly exhausted at this point. I do not know if the next book is also centered around a prophecy, as the first three were, but I really hope not.

As a device, the prophecy is useful in a children's book because it promises the reader a happy ending, way at the beginning at the point the prophecy is introduced. Of course the reader doesn't know how exactly the prophecy will be fulfilled, nor who may wind up injured or killed in the process, but they do believe that the prophecy will come to pass, and therefore, technically, so too will the 'happy end'. For instance, as the reader, I was never once worried that our plucky band of heroes would fail to find the cure , though of course I did not know when or how. Makes for somewhat stakes-free reading, particularly when the two main characters, Gregor and Boots, have plot armor. I'm putting this under a spoiler despite my complete and total confidence that my assertion that the main character and his 3 year-old baby sister have plot armor is not, in fact, really a spoiler. Kill the baby, Suzanne, I dare you. Touch Boots and we are done, I will never read the Hunger Games prequels, I swear. Ahem. She's the only likable character who isn't also our main character, in my defense. show less

she started to introduce this in the last book, but in this one she really made clear the complication of the "good guys" doing awful things and the "bad guys" doing good things. the leaders of the ones you're supposed to be rooting for have intentionally created a plague that would prove to be an excellent tool of war or of leverage to retain power. of course this comes back to hurt them, but whether or not it did it is such an eye opener for young readers to see the good guys doing this. it's a sadly accurate introduction to government and how it all works. also how natural enemies sometimes work together for a common aim, and how natural allies don't always agree.

i think, too, that this was less about the quest and more about the show more relations and inner workings of the relationships. we understand more about how and why the rats and humans relate as they do. the prophecy and the quest almost took a backseat to the rest. this one is my favorite so far, in a series that has been consistently really good. (and as an aside, while i've liked the naming references to mythology, i especially enjoyed the naming of hamnet and judith in this book.) show less

The third volume of The Underland Chronicles is another ripping yarn but also one where the quest is really a metaphor. Revelations of the Underland's past are made and the morality of the human's position in Underland society is questioned. Gregor's family also become a greater part of the story, as Gregor's mother visits the Underland for the first time and also succumbs to the plague that afflicts the mammals of the Underland. It's great that Collins can maintain the high quality of adventure while unfolding the ongoing plot of the chronicles.

11-year-old Gregor's mom joins him and Boots on this trip to the Underland. Gregor expects to make the trip quick, but when someone close to him catches the plague that's sweeping through the Underland, he must help a group of Underlanders quest for the cure.

This installment in the Overland Chronicles had quite a twist. One of the best things about this series (from a grown-up's POV) is that in every book Gregor must parse an ancient prophecy and try to figure out what it means to him. Great for kids who are working on reading comprehension to follow a young hero solving prose puzzles while his life's in danger!

A boy and his toddler sister return to a fantasy world at war.

3/4 (Good).

It's darker and heavier - near full Hunger Games levels of trauma and horror. As a side effect, it loses the sense of humor that seemed so important to me in making a story about talking animals and a Prophesied Hero work. This is an objectively better book than the first two, with complex issues and Big Emotions, but it's probably my least favorite of the series so far.

In the third book in the Gregor the Underlander series, Gregor finds himself once again returning to the Underland to fulfill his role in a prophecy. This time there is a plague that threatens to wipe out all warmblooded creatures in the Underland. In order to save those he loves, Gregor must join together with rats, bats, cockroaches, and Regalians on a dangerous mission to find the cure. My eight year-old son really loves this series. It has humor, adventure and giant cockroaches. What could be better than that. I am impressed at how Collins tackles real world ethical issues involving war and conflict. Many of the situations that the Underland people find themselves in are echoes of conflicts throughout history and current events. show more There are the ethics of biological warfare, withholding humanitarian aid, when to fight and when to try to achieve peace. In this book alone I found myself discussing Israel and the Middle East and the way Native Americans were treated by European settlers and the American government with my son. The series offers us many teachable moments and offers views of both sides of tough issues involved with war. show less

Gregor is again called down to the Underland to participate in another quest. This time his mother insists on accompanying him to make clear her feelings on the Underlanders demands of her son and family. Unfortunately this time the quest invovles a plague and Greogor's mother falls a victim to it, so he once again finds himself on a quest where his family is at stake.

I was super excited about getting to meet a Hisser and to catch a glimpse of the Nibblers in this book. The jungle that Gregor and his fellow travelers go through is amazing, it's almost it's own character particulalry since it is so hazardous.

***Spoiler***
Getting to meet more of Luxa's family was definitely interesting although I felt it was unnecessary for one of the show more characters to get killed off, particularly since I would have like to have seen that character return to Regailia. Also I was happy to see the return of Luxa. (yay)
***Spoiler Ends***

Again I find this book darker then the last. I feel like there were things I found funny in the first one and now there aren't any longer any glimpses of humor. That being said I do still enjoy the books and I can't wait to find out what happens next. show less