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Title: Gregor the Overlander
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure,
Youth Length: 308 pages (paperback)
Sensitive Content: Some Battles
Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Gregor is not your typical New York City tween. He is spending his summer at home taking care of his grandma and baby sister Boots while his mom is at work and his middle sister is at camp. Gregor understands his need to help his family ever since his father disappeared about two years ago.
When a family friend stops by to sit with his grandma, Gregor takes Boots to the laundry room as he had promised his mom that he would complete that task before she returned home from work. Gregor and Boots are playing with a "bouncy ball" while he is taking care of the laundry. He realizes Boots has been quiet for some time and sees that she's near an air vent. He chases after her as she goes through and they begin to fall.
Once they land, Gregor realizes that they are someplace else. Cockroaches, extremely large cockroaches, find Gregor and Boots. They decide to take them somewhere, but Gregor doesn't know where. They end up in an arena of sorts where humans and bats, again large bats, are playing a game. The cockroaches negotiate Gregor and Boots' release to the humans, which is agreed upon.
Gregor and Boots are taken to the Underland city of Regalia where he is trying to determine if he is a guest or a prisoner. After an attempt at escape, he learns that several believe he is The Warrior as told in The Prophecy of the Gray. It is decided that Gregor must fulfill this prophecy, even if he doesn't believe it.
My boys recommended this book to me after both of them read it. As a book targeted towards middle school, I found that it kept the pace that is needed for my boys to continue to be engaged and want to go back to the book after it's been set down. The characters are appropriately developed and act their age based on the responsibilities that are required of them. I enjoyed Gregor's dedication to his family, especially his baby sister. I also felt that he grew as a character where in the end he shared that he wanted to help find peaceful solutions and have war be the last resort.
I'm certain that I will read the other books in this series as they are brought home.
When a family friend stops by to sit with his grandma, Gregor takes Boots to the laundry room as he had promised his mom that he would complete that task before she returned home from work. Gregor and Boots are playing with a "bouncy ball" while he is taking care of the laundry. He realizes Boots has been quiet for some time and sees that she's near an air vent. He chases after her as she goes through and they begin to fall.
Once they land, Gregor realizes that they are someplace else. Cockroaches, extremely large cockroaches, find Gregor and Boots. They decide to take them somewhere, but Gregor doesn't know where. They end up in an arena of sorts where humans and bats, again large bats, are playing a game. The cockroaches negotiate Gregor and Boots' release to the humans, which is agreed upon.
Gregor and Boots are taken to the Underland city of Regalia where he is trying to determine if he is a guest or a prisoner. After an attempt at escape, he learns that several believe he is The Warrior as told in The Prophecy of the Gray. It is decided that Gregor must fulfill this prophecy, even if he doesn't believe it.
My boys recommended this book to me after both of them read it. As a book targeted towards middle school, I found that it kept the pace that is needed for my boys to continue to be engaged and want to go back to the book after it's been set down. The characters are appropriately developed and act their age based on the responsibilities that are required of them. I enjoyed Gregor's dedication to his family, especially his baby sister. I also felt that he grew as a character where in the end he shared that he wanted to help find peaceful solutions and have war be the last resort.
I'm certain that I will read the other books in this series as they are brought home.
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