Common Sense Media Review
One of the best of the post-Potter fantasies.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 18 parent reviews
Parents say the book is an engaging and beautifully written story that offers positive messages about family, friendship, and equality, making it suitable for both children and adults. However, some caution is advised due to its depiction of violence and more mature themes, which may not be appropriate for younger readers.
- positive messages
- relatable characters
- family themes
- exciting adventure
- appropriate for ages
- cautions about violence
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 60 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Gregor and his toddler sister, Boots, fall through a grate in their laundry room and land in the Underland, a world far beneath the earth's surface populated by humans, as well as giant intelligent bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders. Taken in by the humans who live in an underground city, at first they only want to find a way back home. But then Gregor learns that his father, who disappeared years before, is in the Underland too, held prisoner by the rats, who are about to launch a war on the humans.
The humans are allied with the bats, and the spiders and roaches are in the middle. But an ancient prophecy talks about the coming of a warrior from the Overland to unite them to defeat the rats, and the Underlanders think that Gregor is the warrior of the prophecy.
Is It Any Good?
In this first part of a planned five-part series, first-time children's novelist Collins gets it just right. There are strong characters, vivid descriptions, flawless pacing, breathless excitement, laughs and scares, and a vision that makes this fantasy very different from the flood of fantasies filling up bookstores since Harry Potter. This is one that will keep kids turning the pages and begging for the sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationships in the story and the book's anti-violence message. Why are the strong family relationships so important to the story? Was there any way Gregor could have succeeded in his mission without the use of violence?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : January 3, 2005
- Number of pages : 320
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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