I'm a 4th grade teacher and love to seek out new fantasy books and this series (I've read them all) is delicious! It has it all, but caution, there is a lot of violence!!! Don't recommend this to sensitive kids, but if your students can handle Harry Potter, hand them this! One of my 4th grades finished all 5 books in 2 weeks!
Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, Book 1)
(2005, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Suzanne Collins)
Have you read it? 
Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Loved this series!!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
Exciting Page-turner!
I was dubious at first with this book. Cockroachees that talk? Rats larger than humans? Bats that are ridden by people with violet eyes who live underground? But I soon got over these thoughts and fell in love with the book. In fact, I've read all five and wish there were more to read! If you're looking for excitement, adventure (and quite a bit of violence) then this series is for you!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
An excellent, highly-entertaining series
I have read books 1-4 of the Gregor the Overlander series and have loved them. My fifth grader is on book 7 of the Harry Potter series and I am giving her this series to start on next. The books do have chilling violent scenes (the creatures in the Underland are at war) and death is a common occurence which is not minimized. For that reason, I would recommend the book only for ages 10 and up. The social message, valuing courage only when it is mixed with empathy and resistance to stereotyping, is a wonderful one.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Suzanne Collins started an excellent series
My son got hooked on the first book and now is reading the FOURTH book already. It's an awesome series if it can keep my kid entertained through the whole series!
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Awesome!
This whole series really spins your way of thinking about creatures such as rats, bats, and cockroaches, and really is STELLAR in provoking the imagination of anyone who picks up these books. I can't rave about them enough.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
5th grade teacher raves about "Gregor!"
As a teacher, I am always looking for books that will grab the attention of my more reluctant readers. "Gregor" was such a title this year. I purchased and read my copy when the Texas Bluebonnet list chose it as one of its nominees for '05-'06. Two of my students were reading right along with me and our enthusiasm for the book caused many others in my class to get on the library's waiting list. Then we all spent time on-line checking out when book 2 of the chronicles would be available! The characters in this book were vivid and the story line moved quickly. The vocabulary was excellent, the more challenging words being easy to understand using context clues. Many kids were captured by the fantasy aspect, but since magic was not a part of it, those parents who object to the "Potter" series should be OK with the "Gregor" books. With the title character facing trials in his life such as poverty, poor housing, an absent father, and having to care for his younger siblings, many of today's kids will see themselves in Gregor, and others will possibly develop some understanding of classmates who face such difficulties. All around, an excellent book and I plan to start this coming school year with "Gregor the Overlander" as my first read aloud!
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Fantastic stuff!
This book is worth the time, and the sequel is equally successful. The action is well paced, and I was pleasantly surprised at the humor. I look forward to the last three books in the Underland Chronicles.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Alice & Wonderland for Boys
This was a marvelous fantasy read. First time author Suzanne Collins gets this one right and we can look forward to more adventures with Gregor. This adventure is a great example of Alice & Wonderland that boys and girls will both love. The bond and nuturing attitiude that Gregor has for his sister is a pleasant touch. The world that Gregor and his sister tumble into is not so different from our own in the problems that occur between the societies. This would make a great kids book club book with many issues to discuss.
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
it can be read at any age above 10
I think it is a good book because it shows great character
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Amazing Series
I read this book a couple years ago and absolutely loved it. In fact I have 2 copies of this book, one of them fell apart from too much reading. One of the best series there is.
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
This Series Is Great!
It's great fun, but sort of directed to a younger auidence, in a way. It's confusing in that aspect. It could be so awesome if there was a little more...something. Detail and substance. It has an evolved and older storyline, but is pretty much written in a fifth grade style. A fun read anyway!
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
baby boots,big bats, bigger bugs
i loved this book. there was plenty of abventure! almost everyone on my battle of the books team liked it. It felt like you were in the book!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Sucks you into the story, while stopping you from ever putting it down.
This is a really good book. I'd like to recommend it to all kids aged eight and above. I loved how Boots was the small and adorable toddler we all love, but she also had the beginnings of an emotional hero.
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Limbs get hacked off, BUT A TOTALLT SWEET BOOK!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
loved it
i loved this book when my teacher read it to us. at first i didn't think i would like it but when she read it to me, i liked it.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
One of the Best Series Ever
I am an extensive reader and I will tell you that this is an action packed book with a great plot. Its back cover is not exactly attractive but it is a much better book than it seems. I finished the entire series in a week after my cousin got me hooked on GREGOR THE OVERLANDER!!!!! It is a must read.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
a great book
this is an awesome book i really want suzanne collins to make another book please ...and maybe a movie wont hurt.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I've already written a review on this...
Although I've already written a review on this (Ripred age 11) I HAD to make another review on this! It has been a nearly 7 months since I read this book and I'm still upset!! Me and my friend even bought little plastic bats in memory of Ares. Lots of people agree with my old review. That's good, but we need to actually contact her! Everyone has put they want to contact her but we haven't done anything about it! ( me included) Anyone who figures out anything about her (email, address, etc.) should make another screen name and put it in a new review. We can all bombard her with letters then she'll have to write us another book! Ha! so there!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A Must Read For All 9 -10 up
My Best Friend Kept Pushing That I Should Read The Series and I Kept Lookin at Her Lyk She Was Crazy. A Book About Giant Rats and Bats and Dead Lookin People Didnt Sound Lyk A Pleasing Book. But I Started Them Anyways and Realized That They Were Really Good Books and They Were Really Gripping. How Much Gregor Loves Boots Is Really Heart Touching and its Amazing How The Author Put All The Books Together To Forn Such A WonderFul Series .
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Suzanne Collins has to write more Gregor books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shehas to write more Gregor books!I mean Gregor can't move!!!Ok I think that Gregor can't moove for some reasson Gregor dosn't moove and he has to go to the underland agin.There has to be another way to the underland where he mooves!!!WRITE MORE SUZANNE COLLINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
i LOVE the Gregor books!!!
I think Suzanne Collins shuold continue writing her books. I want to get her emial so I can try to tell her to make another one. I just finish reading her 5th book. i think her 6th book shoul be that Luxa comes to the NYC and Gregor and his fam,ily have to stay because she is not going to leave until they say that there not moving.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
awsome series ,sucky ending
this is a great series,i recommend it to all but the ending of the 5th book sucked!!!!who cares if his sister can finally say his name right she needs to right another book
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
This series just needs to keep going, the ending was not good enough. He never sees any of the underlanders ever again!!! and they have got to make a movie out of this it seems like common sense to make one!!!!! this series was in my opinion better than Narnia or Spiderwick and is right up there with Harry Potter.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A-must read book for any kid!
This book was the best book i've ever read. Any one who wants a good adventure will like this book. It does get violent, but that is part of the adventure! this series is one that will change your life! I especially like Ripred!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Must-read
I love this book. It's one of my favorites.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
This bok is awsome!!!!!
This and the entire series is awsome!!!! It NEEDS to have a better ending; I mean, what kind of ending to a series is this? Gregor's family is moving to Vergina so he will never again be with the one he loves, Luxa. I think we should all email Collins saying "WRITE MORE UNDERLAND BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
i liked it.
i liked it. <3
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
She has to write a sixth book or I will die!
She just can't stop writing Gregor books! It can't work that way! I cried for hours when it said they were leaving the Underland for good! I mean Gregor loved Luxa! And you'd think he'd be way more upset about Ares. What'll happen to Ripred and Luxa will they get along? What about the cutters? How is Gregor supposed to move out to Virginia and forget all about the Underland? 'Cause that's not gonna happen!Are Sandwiche's prophecies real or are they just a coincidence? We need to write Mrs. Collins tell her we can't live without more Gregor books. 'Cause if she writes another book Gregor will not be pleased just sitting in Virginia and planting tomatoes!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
