Bibliography:
Collins, S.(2003). Gregor the Overlander. New York: Scholastic Press
Book Summary
Eleven year old Gregor is at home doing laundry and minding his two year old Boots when she falls through a grate in the laundry room at their New York City apartment. In attempt to rescue her, he falls through the vent as well and ends up in an underworld. In this underworld pale looking humans live with giant talking roaches, bats, rats, and spiders. The humans coexist uneasily with the insects and rodents. Gregor just wants to go home before his mum discovers them missing but he gets sucked up into a prophecy that says that he is among the chosen group to help the humans settle their ongoing conflict with the rats. Gregor also discovers that his father who has disappeared two years earlier was in the underland held captive by the rats.
My Impression
The plot is easy to follow. There is a lot of suspense throughout. The author makes the characters likeable such as the roaches that protect Boots and Gregor. There are some gruesome incidents such as when the spiders attack the underlander and their gruesome feeding incidents. The rats are the villains, and yet one of their own helps the underlanders and Gregor on their quest.The story line moves quickly. There is a lot of interesting incidents thoughout the story. This book is a good read for kids ages 9-12.
Reviews
School Library Journal:
Gr 4-8 –In this accessible, almost-cinematic fantasy, Gregor and his two-year-old sister fall into an amazing underground world. Taken in by people who have lived beneath the earth for centuries, the 11-year-old learns about the giant-sized talking creatures that also reside there, including bats, cockroaches, and vicious rats. Gregor just wants to get home, but a prophecy hints that he may be the "overlander" destined to save the humans from the warlike rodents. He is reluctant until he learns that his father, who disappeared from their New York City home a few years before, is a prisoner of the rats. Gregor is not an eager hero, but with common sense, quick thinking, and determination he grows into the role. His sister, who provides some comic relief, also plays a key part because of her ability to befriend creatures, especially the giant cockroaches. Plot threads unwind smoothly, and the pace of the book is just right. Exciting scenes and cliff-hanger chapters are balanced by decisions and interactions that drive the action. Gregor is not the most compelling figure at first, but as the story progresses he becomes more interesting, maturing through the challenges he faces. Supporting characters are generally engaging, particularly the enigmatic warrior rat that claims to support the protagonist's mission. This is an engrossing adventure for fantasy fans and for those new to the genre.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR --Steven Engelfried (Reviewed November 1, 2003) (School Library Journal, vol 49, issue 11, p134)
Use in a Library Setting
Have the children choose two animal characters from the underland. Ask them to research their real life characteristics and list any differences or similarities. They can look at lifespan, feeding habits, habitat etc. and can use a chart to record the information and present this to the class.
References:
Book image from Barnes & Noble at: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Gregor-the-Overlander/Suzanne-Collins/e/9780786280858/?itm=4&USRI=gregor+the+overlander