Gregor the Overlander: Underland Chronicles, Book 1

Fun, Adventure for all great book. Gregor is a good older brother for his two year old sister, Boots. The Bat Ares is loving and loyal.

I loooove this series. I HATE the last book. It was bad enough Ares died, but c;mon!? Where it says 'parting them forever', made me cry like a river. I read some fanfictions, but those just aren't as good as her. We should all e-mail her at once until she is forced to write another. I am considering writing a sixth book, under Suzanne Commins, just so that it will be in the same area. I have to use my super power imagination skills to make it seem as if 'parting them forever,' was what Gregor was thinking, and that they reunited and lived happily.

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!

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.