Customer Reviews

Gregor The Overlander

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(62)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

In the sea of young adult fiction out there, Gregor the Overlander makes for one of the more pleasant anchorages. The book starts off quickly with Gregor and his two-year-old sister "Boots" falling through a gateway into the Underworld, a sprawling underground land populated by giant talking cockroaches, rats, bats, and spiders, along with several thousand pale humans descended from a 17th century "overlander" who led his small group into the Underworld then sealed the entrances. This descendant left a string of prophecies, including one which seems to point directly to Gregor as the one who may or may not save the humans in their ongoing war with the rats (as is often the case with prophecies, this one is somewhat lacking in clarity). Gregor has a more personal issue at stake; it turns out his father, who had disappeared a few years earlier, had also fallen through into the Underworld and has been held captive by the rats all this time as they seek to use his knowledge of science and engineering. Luckily, Gregor's desire to save his father dovetails with the prophecy and soon a band of rescuers is formed and the journey begun.
Being a young adult novel, the story moves along swiftly, without a lot of detailed description of either setting or society, but if the world is only sketched out, it is done so fully enough so that the reader never feels at a loss and is done so interestingly enough that the reader often wants to learn much more than is revealed.
The same holds true for many of the characters--Gregor, the young human princess and her cousin from the underworld, the grandfatherly diplomat who befriends and guides Gregor, even the bats who "bond" with their human riders. Perhaps the most interesting characters are a rat whose loyalties are not quite clear and two cockroaches who join the rescue mission, the latter interesting despite their relative few words in comparison to the others. Again, aimed as it is as somewhat younger readers, the characterization comes quickly and sometimes bluntly, but there are also some fine subtleties in here and some truly moving scenes whose emotional impact is as much due to the "humanity" of the characters Collins has created as it is to the situations she places them in. I'd even go so far as to say my favorite characters, the ones I found most compelling in speech and personality, were the non-human ones. His sister Boots is a wecome source of comic relief throughout the work, lightening the tone at times, though also used as a prop to create more tension at others.
Some scenes could and probably should be more fully detailed, but while a valid criticism, one can also take it as a compliment to Collins' writing since it's good enough for the reader to want more, not less. As it is, the book speeds along from Gregor's fall to his first contact with the various species of the underworld, to his growing acceptance of his responsibilities and a gradual flowering of inner qualities as the dangers of the journey unfold. All of which sounds quite positive, but it comes in fits and starts. Collins isn't afraid to give Gregor some unlikable moments and also does not shy away from the darker aspects of her tale--while some people (and I use that term loosely) rise to the occasion, others sink. And some of either kind do not survive. It's a good ending, but not necessarily a completely happy one. It's that kind of complex shading that makes Gregor rise above much of its competition. The ending also clearly points to a sequel and in this case, I can only say good. There is a lot more for Collins to mine here both in terms of the Underland society and these particular characters. I for one will look forward to seeing what happens to both.

Let me start off by saying I didn't think I'd like this book all that much. I read the book flap description and thought `giant rats and bats? Another quest fantasy?'. But, being the bookworm I am, I decided to at least give it a chance. I'm glad I did. And yes, it is a quest fantasy, and yes there are giant rats and bats and cockroaches too. Surprisingly, it all made for a very enjoyable read.

Gregor, our teenage hero is an ordinary boy fallen on hard times in New York City. His father vanished years ago and his mother works trying to make ends meet while he tries to take care of his siblings. All this changes when Gregor follows his baby sister, Boots, when she falls through a vent in their laundry room into an underground world with giant bugs and creatures. There are humans there too, and all of them seem to think that Gregor is the Overlander of one of their most powerful prophecies-the warrior who will unite them and bring them victory over the armies of the rats. Gregor is more interested in finding a way home, until he discovers that fulfilling the prophecy might also mean finding his father. But the prophecy is muddled and unclear-can Gregor survive the quest and make it home with his sister and father-or will it claim his life?

The story presented here is fairly well tread ground, a reluctant hero from another realm, a quest that requires a gathering of several different creatures, a prophecy that is suitably ambiguous and a dangerous enemy to be overcome. What makes it work is that the author brings the characters to life in delightful ways; the roaches, rats, bats and spiders all have their own styles and customs. As long as the reader is willing to suspend their disbelief that such things can exist, it's a very fascinating a rousing adventure tale with a very satisfying ending. Once the quest is set in motion, events happen very quickly, and our hero becomes the warrior he's required to be. And the twists and turns in the prophecy make certain that this won't be an easy ending to completely figure out. There isn't a great deal of world-building here, although there's enough to make the underground world seem real and realistic in its geography. And while the non-human characters receive some excellent characterization, I found that some of the human characters were less well fleshed out, although Boots is very charming in her way and some of the human characters are better revealed as the story progresses. Perhaps my greatest complaint with this story was that at the very end, a teaser is placed in the story for the sequel in a rather clumsy way. There's suddenly the announcement of "oh, by the way, there's another prophecy . . ." as if it were pulled out of a hat and dropped into the plot. Despite this little add on, the story itself is decent and enthralling and should keep a reader entertained until the end.

This book is dark at times, and may be a bit scary for younger readers, but most young teen and preteen readers who enjoy quest fantasy will likely enjoy it. Older readers may find the characters a bit too young for their interest -this is definitely not a universal read, but it works well for its age group. Readers who enjoy this will want to go on to read GREGOR AND THE PROPHECY OF THE BANE, which is the next book in the series. Other types of books these readers may enjoy will be THE DARK IS RISING sequence by Susan Cooper and SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD by Diane Duane.

Happy Reading! Shanshad ^_^

[Fun: 3/5] [Learning: 3/5] [Suitable: 4/5]

Gregor the Overlander has become a rather popular series, and justifiably so. This is an original tale of a boy who somehow finds himself underground with his little sister, deep in the earth where giant cockroaches, rats, and spiders live alongside humans who have never seen the light of day. Gregor sets off on a quest to rescue his father, who had disappeared in the same manner years earlier. The story is inventive and highly entertaining, even with the perhaps disturbing creatures that live below the surface. The story shows familial loyalty and bravery, and does contain some violence from battles and such. The story has an epic quality to it, which at times can make it feel a bit long and dry, but for readers who enjoy being immersed in a new world and all its complexity, it may be fun to guess where the story goes based on the prophesy the characters are following. A fun read for lovers of sci-fi/fantasy.

Audience:
* Middle Readers (Grades 4-7)

Positive Themes:
* Caring for family
* Encourages bravery

Objectionable Content:
* Giant rats, cockroaches, and spiders
* Some violence

My Recommendations:
* Kids who love Gregor may also enjoy the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, as well as The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Bookmom - Get involved in your child's reading!

Hey all you young readers,
you're in for a treat
The adventures of Gregor
are really quite neat

Sucked into the sewers,
and then far beneath
Away from the sun
where big rats have large teeth

To fulfill the carvings
The Prophecy of Gray
Gregor and his sister
have key roles to play

An overland warrior
in search of his dad
There isn't much doubt
that the future looks bad

The roaches are friends;
he can ride on a bat
But the spiders attack
at the drop of a hat

The rats are the worst,
always ready to fight
But one old wise rodent
can help with their plight

A dozen begin,
but not all live to tell
This enchanting tale
with a sewer-y smell

I'm telling you now,
and I'll tell you again
Buy this one now,
then The Prophecy of Bane.




Amanda Richards, August 24, 2005

My name is Luke, and I am in the 5th grade. I read a book named, Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins. It is an action-packed adventure story. Once you start reading, you can't put it down. I don't usually love to sit and read, but this book made me want to read for hours and hours!

Gregor the Overlander is about a boy named Gregor, his little sister, Boots and his missing Dad. Gregor and Boots fall though a hole in the washing machine and they are taken to the Underland (a land miles under the ground). The people there think he is a great warrior that is supposed to save their land from six foot tall rats that want to destroy them. An ancient prophecy told them that an overlander (someone who lives above ground) would come and help them. Gregor does not think he is the warrior but goes on the quest hoping to find his father.

I liked this book because it is exciting. There is a lot of suspense and action. You never can tell what will happen next. Gregor the Overlander is also a very imaginative story. It is full of animals that are many times their regular size like 5 foot long ants, 3 feet tall spiders and human-sized roaches!

Gregor the Overlander is a really inspiring book too. Gregor looks after his little sister like a hawk. He was willing to die for her. When I read this book I felt like I should take better care of my brothers. Gregor was also really nice and helpful to creatures that other people looked down on. It reminded me to treat others the way I want to be treated, not like other people treat them.

I think kids who like animals and are creative will love this book. Also, if you like adventure, suspense and action this is the book for you!

I loved this book and can't wait to read the rest in the series!

Amazing. Rats and other wonderfully creepy creatures fill the story's dark underworld , but what makes this book so wonderful is how human it is. Gregor and Boots are such brilliantly written characters that when they take you into a strange new world you really feel that you are there. Wow.

Joel
11/17/05
Recently, I read Gregor the Overlander, a marvelous book by Suzanne Collins. It is a reasonably long book, 308 pages (on the copy I read), and each page of it is equally exciting. I highly recommend reading this book.
In this book, a young New York City boy, Gregor, lives an average life. He has been forced take some of the tasks of the family, because he is the oldest child and his father has mysteriously disappeared. One day, doing laundry, Gregor discovers a vent in his apartment. As he crawls behind a washing machine to nab his baby sister, nicknamed Boots, he is sucked through this mysterious vent. He falls and falls, and eventually lands in a dark area. As he looks about, he is surrounded by nothing other than...giant cockroaches! Brought to a city by these beasts, he soon learns he is in what is called the Underland. From giant cockroaches, to a pair of snobbish royalty, you will meet the citizens of and explore the lands of the Underland, and unfold their secrets.
Only wanting to get home, he gets caught in a war of the races. What else lives in the Underland, and are they friends or foes? Who will win this? Will he ever get home? Mostly, though, what part will he play in this struggle? As you read on you will learn of his adventures, and the meaning of the mysterious Prophecy of Gray.
It is almost impossible to decide a favorite part out of this book, for all were wonderful. It is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, really. Even though, I have to admit I was the most excited when Gregor met up with Ripred, the giant, lethal rat. Just the descriptions of him are enough so raise your hairs. What are his motives? The main question is, can he be trusted, especially after his displays of strength?" ...A pair of rats sprang from around the bend. In an impossible move, Ripred tore out one's throat with his teeth and blinded the other with his back feet..."
When I was given this book, I was currently in the middle of my favorite book, The Fellowship of the Ring. I reluctantly put it down for Gregor the Overlander, but I soon found that I had made the right decision. This book was marvelous! It actually reminds me of the book The City of Ember, for they both take place mainly underground, with a main character trying to solve a puzzle, with many adventures throughout, to save the city from a sure doom.
This book is amazingly descriptive, so much so that you feel like you actually take the place of one of the characters. As you explore the secrets of the Underland and the human city of Regalia, the book becomes more luring and suspenseful. Around each turn of his journey, new problems arise and old ones grow more intense. Wondering how the book will turn out, the pages fly by, as well as the time. This book is truly breathtaking and I definitely would read this again. You as well should read it...experience its wonders...solve the Prophecy of Gray.
Go Cockroaches!!!!!!!!!

Having read the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins in a matter of days, I bought the first book in the Underland Chronicles series. I was hoping to find another great series. This is not a book for you if you are looking for something like the Hunger Games! The story told in this imaginary world is OK, but not gripping. I will not be reading the other books in the series.

As a caveat, I feel I need to say that I am not a young adult reader, being in my 20s. If you are buying the book for a teenager, this might not be the review for you.

I was having some serious Harry Potter withdrawals when I happened to look upon this book. I don't know what exactly made me pick it up, but after reading the back cover I thought I would give it a try. I absolutely loved it. I grew up fascinated by the movie "journey to the center of the earth" and Alice in wonderland. This book is a wonderful melding of the two. Gregor, who is 11, lives with his mom and two sisters, his father has been missing for years. One day, after his sister goes to camp and his mother off to work, he is left in charge of his two year old sister Boots. He isn't remiss about the responsibility, he actually really adores her. They head on down to the laundry room, where boots somehow falls into a hole, of course he follows her and they go down, down, down, down, into the underlands, into the unknown. They are met by gigantic roaches (crawlers), which happens to be my biggest fear! The roaches are about to trade them to the rats (gnawers), when they catch a whiff of Boots diaper and think she MUST be a princess to smell that yummy. So they take them to the Underlanders, who are humans that ride sentient giant Bats (flyers) and are told they cannot go back to the topside. Gregor, of course, thinks otherwise and after trying to escape and failing, is told of a prophecy, and he is thought to be the warrior they have been waiting for. He also figures out that his father, is being held prisoner by the rats and thus begins an amazing Quest. I was so pleasantly intrigued, and held captivated by this story. Even though it's a short one, 311 pages, it is packed with adventure, humor, and heart wrenching peril. I NEVER thought I would learn to love roaches, but after reading this I might think twice about squashing them. There are 5 books in this series, and that makes me a happy girl, and even though this is written for 4-5 graders, it has enough substance to make this 34 year old want more.

My teacher gave me this book and said that he thought it was good, now that i have read it i am hooked to the series. I think that it is a really good book if you like really fiction books i think this is great