GREGOR THE OVERLANDER
By: Natasha Chen
Book Talk-October 2015 (20151018)
After the fall down the narrow, dark hole, he found himself stuck in the Underland. He soon discovered that gigantic, talking rats (gnawers), spiders (crawlers), and cockroaches (roaches) lived uneasily beside humans. He was told about the "Prophecy of Grey", which was about the Underland's future. Gregor had an important role in this prophecy as 'warrior' because he was from the Overland.
Sources:
http://www.biography.com/people/suzanne-collins-20903551
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Collins
Names of Important Creatures from the Underland:
Ripred: A rat who is on the humans' side.
Temp and Tick: Cockroaches who befriend Boots very quickly.
Aurora and Ares: Bats who are bonded to Luxa and Henry in the beginning.
Gox and Treflex: Spiders who help the group on their quest.
Beginning
Humans from the Underland
Gregor is stuck at home for the Summer to look after his 2 year old sister Boots, while everybody about his age goes to camp. This was because his mother couldn't afford a babysitter and had to work everyday to support the family. One day, while he was doing the laundry, Boots found a passageway. He didn't notice because he was distracted by the thought about if his father was really dead. He was already too late when he noticed her crawling in. When he tried to get her out, he got pulled into it with is his sister.
The Prophecy of Grey
Beware, Underlanders, time hangs by a thread
The hunters are hunted, white water runs red.
The gnawers will strike to extinguish the rest.
The hope of the hopeless resides in a quest.
An Overlander warrior, a son of the sun,
May bring us back light, he may bring us back none.
But gather your neighbors and follow his call
Or rats will most surely devour us all.
Two over, two under, of royal descent,
Two fliers, two crawlers, two spinners assent.
One gnawer beside and one lost up ahead.
And eight will be left when we count up the dead.
The last who will die must decide where he stands.
The fate of the eight is contained in his hands.
So bid him take care, bid him look where he leaps,
As life may be death, and death life again reaps.
Queen Luxa: The future Queen of the Underland. She is about the same age as Gregor. Both her parents got eaten by the rats.
Henry: The cousin of Luxa who later on betrays the humans.
Vikus: The grandfather of Luxa, old, and wise. He is one of the only people that Gregor feels comfortable with in the Underland.
Bartholomew of Sandwich: (mentioned) He is the human who created the Prophecy of Grey.
Settings
Overland:
-New York City
-Laundry Room:
Underland:
-Regalia
-All the places where they fly to fight
The Underland Chronicles
s
This series is made of 5 books.
Author: Suzanne Collins
Other Facts:
Many people know award-winning author Suzanne Collins for her amazing Hunger Games Trilogy in both book, and movie form.
This book was published in 2003 and was listed as one of New York Public Library's 100 Books for Reading and Sharing.
This book is one of the 5 part series.
Characters from the Overland
At the back of the book, there are fun facts and activities related to the story.
Would I recommend this book?
I would recommend this book to people who appreciate books with complicated plots.
Although this book had a lot of action it wasn't to hard to keep up to because of the way Suzanne Collins wrote it.
This book was a great experience and it is really great!
Quote from the ending:
Genre
“A light was on in the kitchen. His mother sat at the kitchen table, as still as a statue. Her hands were clasped together, and she stared fixatedly at a small stain on the tablecloth. Gregor remembered seeing her that way so many nights after his dad had disappeared. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to scare her or shock her or ever give her any more pain.
So, he stepped into the light of the kitchen and said the one thing he knew she wanted to hear most in the world.
"Hey, Mom. We're home.”
This book has lots of adventure and mystery.
It is action-packed and involves lots of unforeseen surprises throughout the story.
Gregor: 11 year old boy from New York City.
Boots: Gregor's younger 2 year old sister.
Gregor's Dad: He had been missing from Gregor's family for 2 years and 8 months.
End
It's up for you to find out what happens in the end. After the group sets out for the quest, who will remain and who will die? Will Boots finally meet her father for the first time? Will Gregor be able to go back home to his mother and be a normal kid again?