Call number
JF COL
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Scholastic Paperbacks (2013), Edition: Advance Reader's Edition, 336 pages
Description
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.
User reviews
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Eleven-year-old Gregor thought he was going to spend his whole summer sweltering in his NYC apartment babysitting his two-year-old sister Boots and his deranged grandmother. But when he and Boots fall through a chute in his laundry room, they end up in the Underland, a scary world filled with huge,
For the royal human family in the Underland thinks he is the long-awaited "Overland" warrior from a vague prophecy. The prophecy insists that Gregor--along with an odd assortment of allies that includes members of the royal family, spiders, cockroaches, bats, and even the dread rats--embark on a quest that may determine the survival of them all.
Even though he doesn't think he is the warrior, Gregor has a personal motive for going along with the prophecy: it's one way he can possibly discover what happened to his father, who disappeared years ago. That, and the thought of keeping Boots safe and getting back home to New York City, keeps Gregor along the path of mortal danger, and causes him to make decisions he never knew he was ready to make.
GREGOR THE OVERLANDER marks the beginning of a remarkably well-written fantasy adventure series for nine- to twelve-year-olds. It's been a while since I've read anything in this genre, so maybe I can't justifiably say that I thought characterization slightly lacking and the ending all too suden. Because I found tears pricking at my eyes at many touching moments in the book. Gregor is an admirable protagonist who grows throughout his adventure, and all of the supporting characters are interesting and unique in their own respects. Middle-school boys and girls alike will want to pick this book up, and for the rest of us who are anxiously awaiting the release of Collins' Catching Fire (the sequel to The Hunger Games), this is a great series that will engross us in the meantime.
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creepy critters, he doesn't realize that life as he knows it is going to completely change.For the royal human family in the Underland thinks he is the long-awaited "Overland" warrior from a vague prophecy. The prophecy insists that Gregor--along with an odd assortment of allies that includes members of the royal family, spiders, cockroaches, bats, and even the dread rats--embark on a quest that may determine the survival of them all.
Even though he doesn't think he is the warrior, Gregor has a personal motive for going along with the prophecy: it's one way he can possibly discover what happened to his father, who disappeared years ago. That, and the thought of keeping Boots safe and getting back home to New York City, keeps Gregor along the path of mortal danger, and causes him to make decisions he never knew he was ready to make.
GREGOR THE OVERLANDER marks the beginning of a remarkably well-written fantasy adventure series for nine- to twelve-year-olds. It's been a while since I've read anything in this genre, so maybe I can't justifiably say that I thought characterization slightly lacking and the ending all too suden. Because I found tears pricking at my eyes at many touching moments in the book. Gregor is an admirable protagonist who grows throughout his adventure, and all of the supporting characters are interesting and unique in their own respects. Middle-school boys and girls alike will want to pick this book up, and for the rest of us who are anxiously awaiting the release of Collins' Catching Fire (the sequel to The Hunger Games), this is a great series that will engross us in the meantime.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Eleven year old Gregor has been stuck taking care of his baby sister, Boots, for most of the time since his father disappeared two years before. When she falls down a hole in the laundry room, Gregor really has no choice but to go after her... which is how they find themselves far
Review: Mid-grade fantasy adventure can go either way for me. Some of it is fun, funny, and fast-paced, but sometimes I just don't connect with the humor, or the language or plot just skews too juvenile for my taste. Luckily, Gregor the Overlander was much more in the former camp. Sure, some parts of the plot were pretty predictable, and the resolution came a little too quickly and easily for my tastes. But Collins does deliver on an imaginative, interesting world, a fast-paced action story, and some interesting character choices both for Gregor and some of the secondary characters. (Also, she manages to make the giant cockroaches likeable, which is a feat all of its own, because: ew!)
Overall, I definitely enjoyed listening to this; it kept me engaged and wanting to listen to more. It didn't quite match up to The Lightning Thief, which is my new standard for excellent mid-grade fiction. Gregor the Overlander just wasn't as detailed and its humor wasn't as sophisticated; I think because it's actually geared for a younger age bracket, despite the protagonists being almost the same age. So, while I didn't absolutely love it, I thought it was enough fun to be interested in continuing to read the sequels. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Except for the quick pace, this book doesn't share a lot of similarities with The Hunger Games, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it just because it's written by Collins. However, it's a fun, fast, and imaginative little book, and worth picking up if you're in the mood for some reliably enjoyable fantasy adventure.
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underground, facing four-feet-tall talking cockroaches. The cockroaches are only one type of creature that inhabits the Underland, and they soon bring Gregor and Boots to a human population that's been living down there for centuries. Gregor's anxious to return to the surface, but even if he could find his way, there are the rats to worry about - rats that have been at odds with the humans for a generation. The humans want Gregor to stay, because they think that he might be the answer to an ancient prophecy. Gregor certainly doesn't feel like a great warrior, but when he finds out that his father might still be alive, and stuck in the Underland, he might not have a choice.Review: Mid-grade fantasy adventure can go either way for me. Some of it is fun, funny, and fast-paced, but sometimes I just don't connect with the humor, or the language or plot just skews too juvenile for my taste. Luckily, Gregor the Overlander was much more in the former camp. Sure, some parts of the plot were pretty predictable, and the resolution came a little too quickly and easily for my tastes. But Collins does deliver on an imaginative, interesting world, a fast-paced action story, and some interesting character choices both for Gregor and some of the secondary characters. (Also, she manages to make the giant cockroaches likeable, which is a feat all of its own, because: ew!)
Overall, I definitely enjoyed listening to this; it kept me engaged and wanting to listen to more. It didn't quite match up to The Lightning Thief, which is my new standard for excellent mid-grade fiction. Gregor the Overlander just wasn't as detailed and its humor wasn't as sophisticated; I think because it's actually geared for a younger age bracket, despite the protagonists being almost the same age. So, while I didn't absolutely love it, I thought it was enough fun to be interested in continuing to read the sequels. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Except for the quick pace, this book doesn't share a lot of similarities with The Hunger Games, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it just because it's written by Collins. However, it's a fun, fast, and imaginative little book, and worth picking up if you're in the mood for some reliably enjoyable fantasy adventure.
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LibraryThing member kcslade
Good fantasy novel about a boy and his baby sister who enter an underground world and help to fight evil.
LibraryThing member hailelib
A debut novel and a quick read with an 11 year old hero, Gregor. Collins said that part of her inspiration for this book was wondering what a modern 'Alice down the rabbithole' adventure for urban kids would be like. I had been eyeing this book at the library for some time and finally brought it
Gregor follows his sister thru a grate in their apartment building (in the laundry room) and falls into a fantastic world of humans, giant crawlers (aka cockroaches), spinners (spiders), fliers (bats), and gnawers (rats). These are intelligent animals who not only talk but are either allies or enemies of the humans. The book follows Gregor's adventures in this strange land.
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home with me. Recommended for middle school readers and for adults who like the occasional YA fantasy.Gregor follows his sister thru a grate in their apartment building (in the laundry room) and falls into a fantastic world of humans, giant crawlers (aka cockroaches), spinners (spiders), fliers (bats), and gnawers (rats). These are intelligent animals who not only talk but are either allies or enemies of the humans. The book follows Gregor's adventures in this strange land.
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LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
I read the book several years ago and wanted to give the audio a try. The story's an action-packed fantasy adventure that explores war between humans and rats in the Underland - a land far beneath the streets of New York. The narration was okay, but this wasn't one of my favorite audiobooks. Still,
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I might pick up the next book in the series... Show Less
LibraryThing member MomsterBookworm
A fall-through-the-rabbit-hole-into-an-alternate-world story. Specifically, falling through a grate behind the dryer in a laundry room and landing in an underground city populated by humans who cohabit the same space with giant-sized cockroaches, bats and rats -- of of which talk, by the way. The
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'warrior' from up top (aka: Overland) has to go on a quest and fulfill a prophecy. This has a much simpler plot than Narnia and is targeted for younger readers (lower middle school, at least by my estimation), but I've got a thing about other-worldly-type stories and now that I've started on this 5-book series, I'll read my way through it. Show Less
LibraryThing member BeckyJG
Gregor is eleven years old. He lives with his mom, grandmother, and two little sisters, Lizzie, seven, and Boots, who's just two. His dad--a fun, gentle, sax-playing, intellectually inquisitive man--vanished while his mom was pregnant with Boots. It's the beginning of a hot, sticky New York summer,
On the very first day of summer vacation, after watching the neighborhood kids get on the bus to camp, Gregor dutifully gathers up the laundry (and Boots) and heads down to the laundry room to do his chores. Somehow Boots manages to fall through a grate in the the wall and Gregor must go after her. Instead of simply being able to pull her out and get back to business, Gregor finds himself falling downward, a long way downward, much like Alice when she falls down the rabbit hole.
When he hits the bottom Gregor discovers a whole world below (which he later learns is called the Underland). There are people there, pale and violet-eyed, but there are also giant anthropomorphic cockroaches, rats, bats, and spiders. Gregor, apparently the "warrior" in a prophecy made long ago, finds himself on a quest, the goal of which seems to be to find his father and to avert a war.
Gregor the Overlander is a delightful intermediate level novel. Though the burdens placed upon young Gregor are heavy, he shoulders them with aplomb, and learns much along the way. Young readers will absorb (with a spoonful of sugar) such lessons as the importance of believing in oneself and trusting others, not to judge people based on appearance (or species!), and following through on commitments. Charming, often funny (but sometimes scary), and well-written, Gregor is the first installment in the Underland Chronicles.
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and Gregor has to stay home to take care of Boots while mom's at work and all the other kids go to day camp.On the very first day of summer vacation, after watching the neighborhood kids get on the bus to camp, Gregor dutifully gathers up the laundry (and Boots) and heads down to the laundry room to do his chores. Somehow Boots manages to fall through a grate in the the wall and Gregor must go after her. Instead of simply being able to pull her out and get back to business, Gregor finds himself falling downward, a long way downward, much like Alice when she falls down the rabbit hole.
When he hits the bottom Gregor discovers a whole world below (which he later learns is called the Underland). There are people there, pale and violet-eyed, but there are also giant anthropomorphic cockroaches, rats, bats, and spiders. Gregor, apparently the "warrior" in a prophecy made long ago, finds himself on a quest, the goal of which seems to be to find his father and to avert a war.
Gregor the Overlander is a delightful intermediate level novel. Though the burdens placed upon young Gregor are heavy, he shoulders them with aplomb, and learns much along the way. Young readers will absorb (with a spoonful of sugar) such lessons as the importance of believing in oneself and trusting others, not to judge people based on appearance (or species!), and following through on commitments. Charming, often funny (but sometimes scary), and well-written, Gregor is the first installment in the Underland Chronicles.
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LibraryThing member Jaie22
Good. Skews a bit more to childrens than YA, which is not a criticism, just a fact. Really enjoyable.
LibraryThing member whitreidtan
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
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.
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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 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.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
I discovered this book after reading Stephanie's review of it. Having loved both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I knew I wanted to read some more of Ms. Collins' work. The fact that I could then pass it along to my son to assuage his passion for reading was a definite bonus. I was not
There were a few issues I found with the book. Gregor is not completely fleshed out as a main character. While he is sympathetic, I never felt true concern with his plight. At no point in time was I fearful for him and knew without a doubt that the ending would be a happy one. As with other Collins' works, the happy ending is not without its price, which also did not come as much of a surprise.
Spiders, bats, cockroaches, and rats - oh my! Ms. Collins does a great job of bringing them to life, instilling a personality into each of them that I never would have considered possible. I never would have considered cockroaches as particularly endearing, or bats for that matter, but Ms. Collins found a way to do so. This is a testament to her writing ability.
In general, this was another excellent, fast-paced read. I devoured the book in just a few hours and have been pressing my son to pick it up since then. There is an amazing message about family and what it means to be a phenomenal brother and son that is valuable for any child to learn. I would definitely recommend this to other kids, even though I would hesitate to recommend it to other adults. Actually, it would be a great book to read together to discuss the implications of Gregor's actions and truly drive home the message about family. Thank you, Stephanie, for recommending this book!
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disappointed. In fact, I can see where Ms. Collins has had so much success with The Hunger Games. While her writing ability is not polished, her ability to weave a story and create an entire world is spectacular.There were a few issues I found with the book. Gregor is not completely fleshed out as a main character. While he is sympathetic, I never felt true concern with his plight. At no point in time was I fearful for him and knew without a doubt that the ending would be a happy one. As with other Collins' works, the happy ending is not without its price, which also did not come as much of a surprise.
Spiders, bats, cockroaches, and rats - oh my! Ms. Collins does a great job of bringing them to life, instilling a personality into each of them that I never would have considered possible. I never would have considered cockroaches as particularly endearing, or bats for that matter, but Ms. Collins found a way to do so. This is a testament to her writing ability.
In general, this was another excellent, fast-paced read. I devoured the book in just a few hours and have been pressing my son to pick it up since then. There is an amazing message about family and what it means to be a phenomenal brother and son that is valuable for any child to learn. I would definitely recommend this to other kids, even though I would hesitate to recommend it to other adults. Actually, it would be a great book to read together to discuss the implications of Gregor's actions and truly drive home the message about family. Thank you, Stephanie, for recommending this book!
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LibraryThing member craigwsmithtoo
Gregor lives in New York with his mother, grandmom, and sister...Boots. It looks to most people like his father ran off a couple of years ago, but Gregory won't believe this about his dad.
One day Boots falls into a shute in the laundry room. Gregor goes in to retrieve her, and they both fall deep
Is Gregor the answer to the prophesy about a warrior who would defeat the rats? What about his father?
After I read this book, I read two or three more from the series. They were fun. Great characters.
One day Boots falls into a shute in the laundry room. Gregor goes in to retrieve her, and they both fall deep
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into the earth. They land in an underground city where the people are at war with the rats. Giant cockroaches roam the land. (They are the good guys.) Is Gregor the answer to the prophesy about a warrior who would defeat the rats? What about his father?
After I read this book, I read two or three more from the series. They were fun. Great characters.
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LibraryThing member laf
Gregor the Overlander is a good book about a person that goes underground through a hole in the laundry room and finds himself in the Underworld where he must rescue his dad. He must overcome giant rats, giant cockroaches, and giant bats. It is full of exciting adventures, and I was on the edge of
I highly recommend this book to anybody at all!
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my seat reading this thrilling story.I highly recommend this book to anybody at all!
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LibraryThing member superblondgirl
We really enjoyed this - very dramatic, very exciting. There was a LOT of violence, though, so if that's not your thing or you don't want your kids exposed to it, beware! The story is great, though, and a lot of fun, and you get totally invested in the characters and their well-being. My son is 5,
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so a bit under the recommended age, but he did well with it and we had a few great conversations about events and characters in the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member eduscapes
Book One in the Underland Chronicles, this fantasy adventure was recommended to me by a class of fifth graders from Oregon. Featuring an eleven-year old boy and his little sister, the story takes us from New York City to the hidden world of Underland. While Alice in Wonderland fell through a rabbit
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hole, Gregor falls through a hole in the laundry room of his apartment building into a land of giant spiders, bats, cockroaches, and rats. Full of adventure, I've got to read the others in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Gundrum
This is my favorite book to read to 4th and 5th grade students. I love to put on the voices of the characters...and the kids cannot get enough of this book. They will sit for over an hour if they could just listen to the reading of this wonderful novel.
LibraryThing member yarmando
Listened to one disk. The story and the reader were both adequate, but I didn't care for either enough to keep listening. It's a personal taste thing with me: I'm not a fan of stories were people travel out of the normal world into a fantasy one and back again. I prefer the fantastic elements to
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intrude on the real world. Show Less
LibraryThing member willsl
This is the first book in the Gregor series. We meet Gregor a poor boy with his father missing and his mother working too many jobs. Gregor is sent to the laundromat and finds himself looking at a vent when he suddenly is sucked into another world. This book shows Gregor that he is stronger and
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smarter than he thinks. Show Less
LibraryThing member numbert
This is a pretty good series with okay charectors and plot. It's got a good plot line ,but it's a little to jumbles for my likeing. It get's much better as the series progresses. Still it is deffinetly worth reading.
LibraryThing member Minihelen
Gregor fights only to save his family and protect his little sister. At the end of the series, he gives up fighting altogether. This is a great message to be found in an action series.
LibraryThing member missgin
The first in a series called The Underland Chronicles, this is an incredible fantasy written with amazing character develoment. While it is considered juvenile fiction, I think adult fantasy fans would find it a fun and quick read.
LibraryThing member zeegirl
This is the first in a series of 5. Gregor accidentally falls into the Underland. He is a troubled young man and a caring brother. He meets unusual creatures and learns about himself.
LibraryThing member mariaft
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.
Thumbs up!
Thumbs up!
LibraryThing member Yoshikawa
This is a fun and rather quirky book that really took me off-guard. It has tons of charm though, and is especially recommended for anyone who likes the color purple!
LibraryThing member 99sheriff
really cool. i especially like the bats and rats.
LibraryThing member bickle_1538
When Gregor and his baby sister fall through a vent in their apartment, they fing themselves in a world of giant bats and cockroaches, evil rats, and strange humans. And in the middle of it all is a strange, ominous prophecy that will change the Underland forever...
Gregor the Overlander is a very
Gregor the Overlander is a very
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well written book Show Less
Awards
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Honor — 2007)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee — 2006)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2007)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Honor — 2006)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 2006)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 2007)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2005)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Children's Fiction — 2005)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2006)
Sasquatch Book Award (Nominee — 2006)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Junior — 2006)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2005-2006)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2006)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Bluestem Award (Nominee — 2015)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — 2006)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 2007)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2008)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — Elementary — 2006)
Flicker Tale Award (Nominee — Juvenile Books — 2007)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee — 2007)
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee — Junior Book Award — 2007)
CCBC Choices (2004)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Middle School — 2006)
Pages
336
ISBN
9780439678131