Gregor the Overlander

In the first installment, readers are introduced to the Underland, an entire civilization with people, rats, cockroaches, spiders, bats, and other creatures. As with any collection of large populations, there are fights, and in the Underland, the two big combatants are the humans and the rats. A prophecy has long foretold of an Overland warrior who will be instrumental in ensuring the humans are not exterminated by the rats, and when Gregor comes to the human city of Regalia, it quickly becomes apparent - to everyone but Gregor - that he is the subject of the prophecy. And so begins a daring adventure with a unique cast of characters.

I love so much about this book. The world is well-constructed, detailed but not overbearing. The plot show more moves along at a perfect pace for a YA-middle grade adventure novel. Collins' has an artful way with words that really draws me in to the story, and I really appreciate the humor she intersperses throughout. Ultimately though, it is the characters that really stand out to me.

Gregor follows many of the same characteristics as the typical reluctant hero; however, his reluctance doesn't come off as angelic humility, but rather very human modesty. Accompanying him is his sister, Boots, a precocious two-year-old that immediately captured my heart and tickled my funny bone. She is wonderfully open and accepting in the way of two-year-olds, and has no compunction about reminding Gregor, great warrior that he is, that he still needs to take time out from saving the world to change her diaper. Love it.

The Underlanders that join Gregor and Boots on their adventure are just as intriguing. Luxa is the heir-apparent to the thrown, just years away from taking the crown as Queen of the humans in the Underland. Henry, Vikus, Ares, Aurora, (two humans and two bats), Tick and Temp (cockroaches who worship Boots), seriously the list goes on and on with interesting characters culminating in Ripred, a battle-hardened and skilled rat who is siding with the humans in an attempt to overthrow the current Rat King and bring peace to the warring nations.

Even though I told myself I would read the series through at a much slower pace than the first time, I am right now fighting the urge to pick up the second book in the series and dive right in, plowing through in one day just like I did the first time around. If you enjoy action-packed, entertaining, and well written adventure stories for younger adults/older kids, you should definitely pick up this series! show less

It's a rare child (or teen) protagonist that doesn't annoy me at least a little as a reader, but Gregor never did. He is perhaps not all that interesting, but he is likable, sensible and never whines no matter how crappy his situation gets.

The book is a "child discovers a hidden world" fantasy where 11 years old Gregor and his 2 years old sister fall into a hollow earth-style land deep below New York where societies of sentient oversized animals (rats, cockroaches, bats and spiders, though others are hinted at) live in harmony, peace, tentative trade and/or open conflict with a subterranean race of humans. They have a prophecy, of course, and wouldn't you know it, Gregor qualifies.

Admittedly nowhere near as gripping or real-feeling as show more Collins' more famous later work "The Hunger Games", "Gregor the Overlander" is aimed at a decidedly younger audience, and does a really good job of making an engaging story with some depth to it out of a very fairy tale-like premise. I even found my eyes watering a bit during some of the more emotional moments at the end of the story. Considering I'm decades away from being in the target demographic for this, that is in itself rather high praise. I wasn't sure for the first half of the book if I'd end up reading the whole five-book-series, but I think I will. If I rather like this at age 35, I'd surely have loved it at age 11, and so I think I owe my younger self to read it through to the end. show less

Just finished a reread of one of my favorite books from childhood. The cover art is forever seared into my brain, probably because I’d grab it from my cousin’s bookshelf every single day of summer break to admire the sparkling city, dreaming of finding my own magical world, just like Gregor.

This is one of those books, like Suzanne Collins’s other work (i.e. The Hunger Games series), that just gets better with time. I nearly cried twice while reading it because it’s just so endearing and powerful and cool. It’s about family, friendship, and equity. It’s about a kid who grew up too fast, and who had so little, but who would do anything for anyone, simply because it’s the right thing to do. It’s about accepting every being, show more human or otherwise, for what they are at their core.

Some folks look down on “middle grade” books as schlock because they are “simple,” but I think that’s the best thing about them. The accessibility of the ideas is what makes them so universal and powerful. To write something that can have a profound impact on the life of the reader, regardless of age, is the coolest thing ever. As I continue to write my own novel, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with the books that shaped my childhood, and I always leave feeling inspired to continue writing my own accessible fiction. I guess, in that sense, I did find my own magical world after all. show less

I read this as a kid and loved it. Along with only a couple other series, this one has stuck with me as one I still think about as an adult.

Upon reread, the main thing that sticks out to me about this opening into the Underland Chronicles, is how our hero is essentially a pacifist. I did not particularly associate him with any weapons in my memory, but I still expected Gregor to pick up a sword or get some kind of training montage or something. I think this may happen later in the series, not sure, but I'm happy to report that no, indeed, the 11 year old does not become a skilled warrior overnight, or even over many nights, in this book. He is offered the chance to a sword, and while it is perhaps a little unrealistic that any 11 year show more old would refuse such a blatantly cool thing, he does, thinking on his recent close calls with violence and his lost friends. Side note, this remains to this day the only book that can make me tear up over a dead cockroach. RIP Twig Tick. I did forget your name and have to look it up, but you will be remembered, in action, at least.

In all, I plan to continue my reread of this series. Various details started coming back to me as the story progressed, and I'm eager to find out what I remember that's accurate, and what twists and turns there will be. show less

Suzanne Collins' newer series is the biggest buzz book of the YA book world right now (at least as far as I can tell) but in a rare show of fiscal prudence, I didn't rush right out to buy it. Instead I decided to settle in with the first book in her Overlander series, which we conveniently enough already owned. It is fascinating to me that I will accept fantasy in children's books but shy away from it in adult books. There must be some bit of charm or magic that loses its potency for me when making the leap from kid to adult writing. And while charming and magical are perhaps not the best words to describe this particular book, I was happily engrossed in Gregor's world for the better part of a couple of hours and hope I can convince one show more of my fledgling readers ("No, I don't like to read," says one child who then has to be told to put the book down and finish dinner so the rest of us can escape the table and go about our evenings) to read it because I think they'd like it, not that they'd ever admit it to me.

Gregor is minding his two year old sister Boots when she falls through a grate behind a dryer in their apartment building. Of course he has to follow her but instead of an air duct, they find themselves falling down a long way into the Underland. Discovered by giant cockroaches, they are taken to the humans where they learn a bit about the world into which they've fallen. This is a world where there exists an uneasy detente between giant spiders, bats, roaches, rats, and humans. But Gregor and Boots' advent, long prophesied, will lead to all out war. Gregor wants no part of the Underland until he learns that there is a possibility that his father, missing for more than two years now, might be alive and trapped somewhere in the Underland. And with that knowledge, Gregor will lead the quest that holds the fate of all the creatures in the land. There is adventure, morality, and entertainment galore in this middle grades book.

Gregor is well drawn as a conflicted kid who wants to escape to save his mother the heartbreak of another disappearance but who wants to charge to the rescue of his beloved father, if the rumors of his capture and survival are true. He is a lucky and thoughtful boy, both traits which will come in handy on his quest and he is loyal beyond all accounting. None of the characters are drawn as unquestioned heros, with all of them having flaws and weaknesses. They are recognizable as kids first and foremost and as warriors on a quest secondarily. In addition to good, complex characters, the book offers some moral commentary on the nature of war but it is done so well and so subtlely that it won't bore the reader, instead inspiring thoughts about when and why war might be justified and when and why is isn't. Some readers probably won't pick up on the subtext, choosing to read this purely as an adventure story but the more sophisticated will at least notice the undertones.

If the much raved about Hunger Games is as subtle and interesting as this book for the younger set is, it is probably a very worthwhile read. show less

Started this series in an attempt to impress a middle school crush, finished it because it was one of the most original worlds with the most relatable characters I've ever encountered in YA. Something about the way Collins captures experience of growing up poor made me feel so connected to the protagonist and the escape he finds.

You know what? This is no time to be star-stingy because I freaking love this book. The whole series, actually. I'm leading the kids' book discussion on this tomorrow, so I re-read it to refresh myself (I listened to the whole thing on audio in my pre-GoodReads days). Suzanne Collins knows how to pace a story, and how to write a war story for children.

Also, as the parent of a 2-year-old now, I found Boots to be more engaging and adorable than I did at the time, mostly because I was hearing her dialogue in my son's voice.

Most importantly--it's such a subtle thing, and a total non-issue, but it's nice to see another African-American hero of a fantasy series (but this time a series that kids/teens are still likely to read, unlike show more Earthsea). I'll bet the fans will be pissed when they find out. show less