Customer Reviews

The Underland Chronicles Book Five: Gregor and the Code of Claw

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One of the most gruesome books (for people of any age) I have ever read. Interestingly, all the disturbingly graphic violence is included as (hopelessly simple-minded and naive) propaganda for pacifism. Not that propaganda as such is necessarily wrong, but targeting at children is (even if it's true, which in this case it's not). In any case, this series is absurdly inappropriate for its target audience---except, PERHAPS, for those relatively few (in this country, at least) unfortunate nine- to twelve-year-olds who've actually experienced war first hand (say, those who lived in New York City during September 2001) and are coping with its aftermath. But something like this might actually be even worse for them, I couldn't say one way or the other.

It's not that I didn't enjoy the series at all---there are parts that I did---it's just that it's wildly inappropriate as children's literature. The Hunger Games is in some ways even darker, but in other ways more hopeful---and at least it's not targeted at such young kids. And it's somewhat better written than The Underland Chronicles.

Gregor is 12 years old and he has already experienced the horrors of war. Add to that the knowledge of his own death, how would you handle carrying that secret around? Someone very close to him dies and yet as soon as his mother comes back from the fount hospital she wants to take him home. Just pick-up and leave as if the past 15 monthes never happened. As if Gregor can go back to the life he had before he & Boots fell. His body full of scars he has to keep hidden. The emotions running through him after losing a very close friend. Ask yourself how you would feel after the adventures he experinced. This book series is second only to the Harry Potter book series. All five books are well written but they do get better as Gregor grows up.
Gregor has experienced Love & Loss in the "Code of Claw". He learns how to fight in the dark without light from Ripred. Ripred is more of a father to Gregor than his real father. Both of Gregor's parents are bed ridden in the last book and so his two little sisters look to him for guidence. Lizzie finally has a much larger part in this story and Boots is nothing but comedy relief but the comedy comes at just the right time. Ares shows everybody what kind of worrior he really is (About time).
I just wish Suzanne Collins had a little more closure. What will happen to everybody in the future. What happens to Howard & Nike, Luxa & Hazards, Temp, Aurora and finally Ripred? How does Gregor grow up, what does he become in the future. His sisters Lizzie & Boots what happens to them? Does Boots retain her ability to talk in crawler? Does Lizzie learn ecolocaion herself? This series is so good that you become emotionally attached to these people and creatures, you care about what happens to them. So please I incurage you to read all five of these books, but please read them in order, its well worth your time.