Underland Chronicles: Gregor the Overlander

I gladly recommend this book :)

Reader reviewed by Dede

Gregor's, who is 11, father disappeared a little over 2 years ago.  Since then, he has pretty much taken care of his mom and his little sister, Boots, who is now 2 years old.  One day while he is in the basement laundry room with Boots, they both fall through a grate into a totally different world, the Underworld.  They meet up with some giant cockroaches, called Crawlers, who then take them to the "Queen" of the Underlanders, a sometimes royal pain in the rear - Luza.  Luxa's grandfather Vikus takes Boots and Gregor to their castle and give them a room.  They hint that there are huge dangers for Boots and Gregor, them being Overlanders, but Gregor only wants to go home with Boots.  They try to escape and find out just how dangerous the Underworlds creatures are for them.  Boots is sweet and gets along with almost everyone and every creature.  When Vikus tells Gregor that his father fell years ago and is rumored to still be alive, kept prisoner by giant rats, called gnawers, and that ther is a prophecy that foretells of Gregor coming and saving not only his dad, but also all of the Underland.  Humans in the Underland live on a thin rope in the land of crawlers, gnawers, giant spiders - called spinners, and giant bats.  The bats are human allies, humans actually fly on their backs.  Gregor doesn't truly believe he is the warrior that the prophecy foretold of, but he agrees to go on the quest just to save his father.  Is his father really still alive, if not - how will Gregor react, if he is still alive - will he be the same great father or will he have sided with the gnawers.  The quest Gregor takes with other Underland humans and creatures is told in an exciting and transfixing way and I was really interested in what was going to happen.  There were setbacks, sadness, trials, betrayals and hope. 
I would recommend this book highly and am looking forward to reading the second in the series - The Prophecy of Bane. 

Reader reviewed by Steph Su

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, 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.

Reader reviewed by Katie

I've reread the book eight times. There's something about it that makes me feel comfortable and safe. I've never had a book that matches my personality and taste of descrption- not even Harry Potter. My best friend introduced me to the first book. Now, I don't read anyhting but series. I could feel and understand what Gregor was going through, and I respected the way the people in the underland spoke- my friends would laugh and find it to lingful, but that's their loss, and I actually take pride in knowing that they're a bit dimmsighted. I don't just love this book, I want to live it. Sometimes, I wish that I could escape into a sea of words upon pages. I'd love to go on a dangerous quest or adventure.

Reader reviewed by Mina

This book is about a boy named Gregor who goes after his sister when his little sister falls down a dryer vent.They realize there is a city under there.


They quickly realize the city's worst enimes are giant rats, They fly giant bats,and they are friends with giant cockroaches.

I really loved this book.It takes about 1 and a half chapters to get really exciting but it's worth it!!!!!!!