Call number
JF COL
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Scholastic Paperbacks (2007), Edition: Reprint, 343 pages
Description
Twelve-year-old Gregor returns to the world beneath New York City, where he joins forces with Princess Lexa and Ripred the rat to defend the Underlanders and the Nibblers from the army led by the adolescent rat king, the Bane.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jfoster_sf
This continues to be one of my favorite series I've ever read. This fourth book in the series adds a new layer to the story as Gregor starts to see Luxa in a new light. I can't recommend this series enough, really.
LibraryThing member willsl
In this Gregor book, we find Gregor learning more about the underworld. We also find Gregor working with his bat to learn more combat moves. This book will keep you on your seat.
LibraryThing member ondrejspursfan
Suzanne Collins captured my attention in this penultimath Underland Chronicles book. Gregor and Luxa find out that the rats are in jepordy. together, they must save them. Gregor has a lot of different feelings in this book then in the other books. His affection for Luxa, his rager feelings change
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as the final book draws near. Show Less
LibraryThing member JNSelko
Every bit as good as the first three books.
LibraryThing member laf
In this book, Luxa and Gregor have to find out what's killing the nibblers, or mice, and save them. Somehow, they start a big war with the rats.
I got bored reading this book, and didn't finish.
I got bored reading this book, and didn't finish.
LibraryThing member C.Vick
Up until this point, I think, the Underland Chronicles were simply entertaining, if somewhat typical, children's reads. Obviously, I enjoyed them -- I got this far, didn't I? But I was enjoying the fun of them, the adventure of them...
However, the fourth Underlander book gets serious. While the
Firstly, it's a pretty solid mystery. I felt the ultimate direction of books one to three were fairly obvious from the get go. Not so here. There's a greater sense of danger, as well.
Secondly, the comparisons to the holocaust simply must be made. And this is no light, easy introduction to the notion of genocide. It's grim and brutal.
Like the Harry Potter series, this one has grown with its readers -- fun if you happen to be around for it, not so fun when you are 8 and can't understand why mom wants you to wait to finish the series.
However, as a grownup reader of kids' books, I'm really enjoying it.
However, the fourth Underlander book gets serious. While the
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notions of family, justice, and fate that are emphasized in all the other chronicles are present here, this book has more weight for two reasons.Firstly, it's a pretty solid mystery. I felt the ultimate direction of books one to three were fairly obvious from the get go. Not so here. There's a greater sense of danger, as well.
Secondly, the comparisons to the holocaust simply must be made. And this is no light, easy introduction to the notion of genocide. It's grim and brutal.
Like the Harry Potter series, this one has grown with its readers -- fun if you happen to be around for it, not so fun when you are 8 and can't understand why mom wants you to wait to finish the series.
However, as a grownup reader of kids' books, I'm really enjoying it.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the fourth book in the Underland Chronicles. It was a great book as things really start to heat up in the Underland.
When one of the bats returns the crown that Luxa left with the Nibblers; Luxa knows the Nibblers must be in big trouble. Gregor is also making regular visits to the Underland
This was a great book. It ripped along at a very fast pace, was very entertaining, and hard to put down. I just flew through this book. This book is different from the previous books in that the book is not a contained adventure; this book ends in the middle of the action and leads right into book 5. So, I would definitely get book 5 ahead of time to avoid frustration of being stranded in the middle of the story at the end of this book. It is also different from the other books in that there is not a prophecy forcing the story forward.
There is more blood and violence in this book than the other books. As the characters mature, so do the things they are forced to deal with. Luxa and Gregor both grow a lot as characters and begin to accept their responsibilities. You get to see a lot more of Gregor's rager abilities and a lot more of Luxa making the decisions a Queen must make. Ripred and Boots are deeply involved in the story too; these are probably my two favorite characters in this series.
A great addition to the series. Leads you to the climax of these books; very engrossing and fast-paced read. I wasn't thrilled with this series after the first couple books; but the last two books have made reading the series all worth while!
When one of the bats returns the crown that Luxa left with the Nibblers; Luxa knows the Nibblers must be in big trouble. Gregor is also making regular visits to the Underland
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to visit his ailing mother; during these visits Gregor trains with Ripred to improve his echolocation and in one visit meets the Bane. The Bane has grown substantially since Gregor saved him and is becoming a creature to match his name. Frustrated with the slowness of the council Luxa convinces Gregor and crew to meet with the Nibblers, but the Nibblers have disappeared and Gregor and Luxa (accompanied by Howard and Boots) are in for another another adventure that leads to a climax in the Underdark that has so long been inevitable.This was a great book. It ripped along at a very fast pace, was very entertaining, and hard to put down. I just flew through this book. This book is different from the previous books in that the book is not a contained adventure; this book ends in the middle of the action and leads right into book 5. So, I would definitely get book 5 ahead of time to avoid frustration of being stranded in the middle of the story at the end of this book. It is also different from the other books in that there is not a prophecy forcing the story forward.
There is more blood and violence in this book than the other books. As the characters mature, so do the things they are forced to deal with. Luxa and Gregor both grow a lot as characters and begin to accept their responsibilities. You get to see a lot more of Gregor's rager abilities and a lot more of Luxa making the decisions a Queen must make. Ripred and Boots are deeply involved in the story too; these are probably my two favorite characters in this series.
A great addition to the series. Leads you to the climax of these books; very engrossing and fast-paced read. I wasn't thrilled with this series after the first couple books; but the last two books have made reading the series all worth while!
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LibraryThing member CourtneyCrawford
In this fast paced book by Suzanne Collins, a boy named Gregor returns to Regalia in a place underground called the Underland, to take his sister to her friend's birthday party.When there, Gregor's friend Luxa recieves an urgent message from her nibbler friends. (Nibblers are giant mice in the
They definitely didn't find what they thought they would. They actually found many dead nibblers and go through a lot of trouble. They make friends with giant scorpians, get thrown through caves by winds currents, and after getting caught hearing a speech from a giant white rat called the Bane, are chased all the way to a volcano. What they heard from the Bane was that he was declaring war on the humans as the humans have to the rats. Once they make it to the volcane trying to find the remaining nibblers, they do find them. But not in any way they could of ever imagined. They were stuck in the empty volcano struggling. For what Gregor could not figure out until they were all starting to lay motionless on the ground. They had been killed by poisonous fumes that the volcano gave off. Gregor and his friends excape just in time and make it back to Regalia. Now they must wait for the rats to invade, and thats all they can do.
I think this book was well written and full of all sorts of surprises. I do think the author could have done better with not leaving the audience very clueless on what was happening. I think Gregor and the Marks of Secret should be read by anyone who loves a good old fiction or fantasy book.
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Underland)They need her help. So to cover up that they are going to help the nibblers, Gregor and Luxa say that they are going on a picnic. Before they even got a chance to leave a couple people found out and came to help them.They definitely didn't find what they thought they would. They actually found many dead nibblers and go through a lot of trouble. They make friends with giant scorpians, get thrown through caves by winds currents, and after getting caught hearing a speech from a giant white rat called the Bane, are chased all the way to a volcano. What they heard from the Bane was that he was declaring war on the humans as the humans have to the rats. Once they make it to the volcane trying to find the remaining nibblers, they do find them. But not in any way they could of ever imagined. They were stuck in the empty volcano struggling. For what Gregor could not figure out until they were all starting to lay motionless on the ground. They had been killed by poisonous fumes that the volcano gave off. Gregor and his friends excape just in time and make it back to Regalia. Now they must wait for the rats to invade, and thats all they can do.
I think this book was well written and full of all sorts of surprises. I do think the author could have done better with not leaving the audience very clueless on what was happening. I think Gregor and the Marks of Secret should be read by anyone who loves a good old fiction or fantasy book.
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LibraryThing member ammie
This series got better and better!
SPOILER ALERT!!
I am still tickled that Mrs. Cormaci was invited into the family secret, and DELIGHTED that Lizzie was brought into the Underland! Of course we knew she was the code cracker, but it was utterly charming to see it happen. I also loved Ripred's
SPOILER ALERT!!
I am still tickled that Mrs. Cormaci was invited into the family secret, and DELIGHTED that Lizzie was brought into the Underland! Of course we knew she was the code cracker, but it was utterly charming to see it happen. I also loved Ripred's
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confession about his use of the prophecies, and Luxa's indulgent awareness of Ripred's deceit. The characters became rich and full in this book, and the moral tension (to fight or to refuse, to help one's family or to help one's friends) resolved itself perfectly. This was an utterly enjoyable (and fast) read. Show Less
LibraryThing member cenneidigh
Loved this series, each book was better then the last and I hope that she writes more. Gregor is quite amazing for how young he is, but he has had to be the man of the house for quite sometime. Great series for any age.
LibraryThing member ChrisNelsonsmartkid
The next to last book of The Underland Chronicles is complete. In this book, Luxa, the princess of Regalia, is looking into the disappearance of the mice. So Gregor, Luxa, Howard, and a few small children are looking into this mystery. Unfortunately, a cave fell in and they can’t go back. So they
What a exciting book this is. Suzanne Collins fails to disappoint. I liked this book because it was action-packed and you never knew what was going to happen next. Also I liked the story line of this book. I just thought that the worst was going to happen and they were going to die. The last reason that I liked this book is how good the cliff hanger was and you know what is going to happen in the next and final book, the war of the humans and rats. I can’t wait to read the last book in the Underland Chronicles.
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found out where some of the mice went to, the rats forced the mice off a cliff to their deaths. That’s when Luxa had it, she declared war on the rats. They eventually come to find where the other mice had gone to, they were being forced into a volcanic pit where poisonous gases were suffocating the mice. They got out of there, but when they got back, the Regalian people learned about what Luxa did and were not so thrilled about it. What a exciting book this is. Suzanne Collins fails to disappoint. I liked this book because it was action-packed and you never knew what was going to happen next. Also I liked the story line of this book. I just thought that the worst was going to happen and they were going to die. The last reason that I liked this book is how good the cliff hanger was and you know what is going to happen in the next and final book, the war of the humans and rats. I can’t wait to read the last book in the Underland Chronicles.
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LibraryThing member sylvatica
(Whole series) When Gregor falls through the hole in his laundry room, he ends up in a world under New York, populated by giant cockroaches, rats, bats, and very pale humans. Collins says she set out to write an urban Alice in Wonderland, and she generally succeeded. The series is fairly formulaic
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– Gregor gets a prophecy at the end of each book that gives us a hint for the next book. Not to be a spoiler, but the ending is fairly predictable and a little disappointing. But the characters are great (even the roaches!), and the adventures are real and engaging. (pannarrens) Show Less
LibraryThing member rata
I'm left asking myself if i have overead this series because this book did not grip me as much as books 1 & 3. The storyline is predictable and follows the lines of the last 3 books whereby they face danger and Boots' (although 3 has the intelligence of a much older child, but the age appropriate
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clumsiness) eagerness sends them all catapulting into a new danger within the existing danger. The new twist to the story in this book is a budding romance between Gregor and Luxa. Ironically although there are the predicted storylines i will read the final book so that i can say i've read the series and perhaps book 5 being an odd numbered book will be gripping book like numbers 1 & 3. Show Less
LibraryThing member AshRyan
Collins continues her descent into age-inappropriate material with a Holocaust story, complete with gas chambers and a Hitler-figure.
LibraryThing member porch_reader
This is the 4th book in the Gregor the Overlander series. I've been listening to these on audio, and Book #3 was so exciting that I had to go right on to Book #4. This is another good entry in the series, with adventure and danger around every corner. Gregor is growing into his role as the Warrior,
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and Luxa is getting used to being the Queen. As the pressure mounts and war becomes increasingly likely, their friendship becomes somewhat strained. But in the end, they are united against a common enemy. While this book was good, much of it was dedicated to laying the groundwork for the final book in the series, #5. I've really come to like these characters, and can't wait to see how the series wraps up. Show Less
LibraryThing member MissEve
A holocaust book, this is an exciting addition to the Underland series. Gregor is forced to ride on another search and rescue mission but this time it is to save the Underland mice from the Bane. Terrors await Gregor and his company and when they finally realize the truth it is almost too late.
LibraryThing member librarybrandy
The penultimate book in the Underland chronicles, and this suffers a bit from Penultimate Book syndrome--the plot slows down a bit to set up everything that will happen in the last book. Still, it's an exciting, fast-paced book, lots of action sequences and character/team building. Also, this book
Even when I try to get away from reading books about the holocaust (I've been working on a cheery booklist for the 8th grade), I still end up reading a holocaust book. Poor little nibblers.
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just ends, with no resolution--I'm not totally sure it's supposed to or if my ipod ate a track that might have involved the words "This is the end of Book 4." Even when I try to get away from reading books about the holocaust (I've been working on a cheery booklist for the 8th grade), I still end up reading a holocaust book. Poor little nibblers.
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LibraryThing member StefanieGeeks
An excellent reading for the series. Much more fun to listen to than to read on ones own.
LibraryThing member Othemts
The Underland Chronicles continues its compelling story. This one is set apart from it's predecessors as it doesn't follow a quest. Instead it finds Gregor and his family in everyday interaction with the Underland, only falling into adventure to solve mysteries that crop up eventually leading to
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war between the Underland humans and the rats. The story continues to grow dark with imagery reminiscent of the Nazi Holocaust and the killing fields of Pol Pot. This book is also essentially a two-parter leading right into the final book Gregor and the Code of the Claw. Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Gregor is visiting his mother, still recovering from the events of Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, in the Underland, when a series of disturbing events start to occur. First, he meets the Bane, the baby white rat whose life Gregor had saved, but who is now grown to enormous side
Review: While I don't love these books, they're reliably fun fantasy adventure stories, and this one was no exception. This book was slightly different from its predecessors in that it doesn't feature Gregor being forced into his adventure against his will in order to fulfill the terms of a prophecy. It also seems a little less goal-driven than the previous - the party that leaves Regalia are not setting out to find or retrieve something before time runs out, it's more of an investigative journey, and so the plot doesn't seem quite as urgent. There's also less of a puzzle to solve - there are some aspects of that still, but the "Marks of Secret" of the title aren't explained very well, nor do they play a particularly large role in the plot, so that felt a little underwhelming. This book also has a sense of being a lead-in for the next (last) book in the series, rather than a start-to-finish adventure of its own, which may have been why this one wasn't quite as robust of a story as previous. (At least Gregor figured out the contents of the central prophecy in the next book, the one that every one gets cagey about and refuses to mention; I might have given up if he remained clueless.) It's also not quite as fun as previous ones, as the storyline gets substantially darker… darker than I was expecting for the target age range of this book. But it was an engaging and quick-paced adventure story, and an easy way to spend some listening time. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Only for those that have read the previous books in the series, and that have the last one easily available, as it only briefly summarizes the events of the previous books, and reading this one on its own does feel kind of unfinished.
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and is dangerously unstable. Then Luxa receives word that the mice that helped her in the jungle are in trouble. Gregor isn't immediately tied to these events via a prophecy that describes his fate as the Warrior, but he still cares about what's happening to his friends, so he and Luxa set off to investigate… and along the way, they find several clues that point them towards a horrifying realization - and a danger that could threaten the entire Underland realm.Review: While I don't love these books, they're reliably fun fantasy adventure stories, and this one was no exception. This book was slightly different from its predecessors in that it doesn't feature Gregor being forced into his adventure against his will in order to fulfill the terms of a prophecy. It also seems a little less goal-driven than the previous - the party that leaves Regalia are not setting out to find or retrieve something before time runs out, it's more of an investigative journey, and so the plot doesn't seem quite as urgent. There's also less of a puzzle to solve - there are some aspects of that still, but the "Marks of Secret" of the title aren't explained very well, nor do they play a particularly large role in the plot, so that felt a little underwhelming. This book also has a sense of being a lead-in for the next (last) book in the series, rather than a start-to-finish adventure of its own, which may have been why this one wasn't quite as robust of a story as previous. (At least Gregor figured out the contents of the central prophecy in the next book, the one that every one gets cagey about and refuses to mention; I might have given up if he remained clueless.) It's also not quite as fun as previous ones, as the storyline gets substantially darker… darker than I was expecting for the target age range of this book. But it was an engaging and quick-paced adventure story, and an easy way to spend some listening time. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Only for those that have read the previous books in the series, and that have the last one easily available, as it only briefly summarizes the events of the previous books, and reading this one on its own does feel kind of unfinished.
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LibraryThing member stevealtier
Another great story by Suzanne Collins. This entire series has been very entertaining. I have enjoyed the characters, along with all the plot twist that are common in one of her books. The story was very well written and well paced. I found this like the other in this series, very hard to put down.
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The minute I finished this book I went right into book number five. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Gregor and Luxa set out with the others for a "picnic" although really they are going to check on the mice who helped Luxa survive in the jungle. They believe that they are not following a prophecy and everyone seems to dread telling Gregor about the next prophecy, however all is not what it seems.
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
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This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Gregor and Luxa set out with the others for a "picnic" although really they are going to check on the mice who helped Luxa survive in the jungle. They believe that they are not following a prophecy and everyone seems to dread telling Gregor about the next prophecy, however all is not what it seems.
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
Show More
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Gregor and Luxa set out with the others for a "picnic" although really they are going to check on the mice who helped Luxa survive in the jungle. They believe that they are not following a prophecy and everyone seems to dread telling Gregor about the next prophecy, however all is not what it seems.
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
Show More
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Gregor and Luxa set out with the others for a "picnic" although really they are going to check on the mice who helped Luxa survive in the jungle. They believe that they are not following a prophecy and everyone seems to dread telling Gregor about the next prophecy, however all is not what it seems.
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
Show More
This book is clearly drawing parallels between the Bane and Hitler and the Jews and the mice. The scenes regarding the decimation of the mice are completely gut wrenching.
There is a lot of internal focus for Gregor on whether or not war is ever the right answer. Boots again serves as a reminder that sometimes you have to give things a chance.
I found the death of Thalia frustrating. Collins creates all of these phenomenal characters and very quickly kills them off. There is a point where a. it just feels to me like this is too much bad for one person and b. what I love is character development and I feel like I get to see very few characters develop.
At the end of this book you clearly see that Gregor is getting a little obsessed and just not handling everything well and honestly who could. I am also beginning to wonder about Solovet and Vikus and find myself curious as to whether their marriage was arranged or whether it was a love match. Politically the relationship is sound but they no longer seem like a good balance as they did in the beginning of the series.
Show Less
Awards
Waterstones Children's Book Prize (Shortlist — Best Book — 2006)
CCBC Choices (2007)
Pages
343
ISBN
0439791464 / 9780439791465