Novel: Gregor the Overlander
Author: Suzanne Collins
Target Audience: 8 to 12 years
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Year: 2003
Setting: Underland (world beneath New York City); contemporary
A Favorite Quote: “His dad said even the cavemen had geniuses among them. Somebody had thought up the wheel.”
My One Sentence Summary: When Gregor’s two-year-old sister falls through a grate in the laundry room, Gregor goes after her and discovers an entire world of bats, rats, roaches, and humans whose fragile truce is on the verge of fracturing.
What I loved about this book: I’m a sucker for stories about children saving their siblings or parents. I love Gregor’s affection for Boots, his two-year-old sister, and his quest to find his missing father. I also liked his friends in the Underland (particularly Luxa and Ripred who are complex characters). There is rich humor, smooth dialogue, and a vibrantly imagined world.
Major themes: Devastating effects of war and violence; Loyalty and the consequences of betrayal
Who should read this book: Described as a modern-day, American Alice in Wonderland, this book is great for readers who enjoy a fast-paced, exciting adventure novel. Filled with giant cockroaches, bats, and rats, as well as some depictions of violence, this story is probably best for non-squeamish readers.
Series
- Gregor the Overlander
- Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
- Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
- Gregor and the Marks of Secret
- Gregor and the Code of Claw