Review of "Gregor the Overlander"

"Believe me, boy, by this time, every creature in the Underland knows you are here."

     When it comes to big bugs and even bigger adventures, Suzanne Collins' Gregor the Overlander doesn't hesitate to impress. Gregor doesn't know what to do when he watches his sister, Lizzie, board the bus for summer camp. Instead of spending the months between school years having fun with his friends, he's stuck at home with his grandma and his baby sister, Boots, doing chores while his mom works. Nothing has been right since his dad disappeared. When Boots tumbles down a laundry chute, they both end up in the Underland, a mysterious, sunless world where humans and oversized bugs live in peace. The humans think Gregor is the Overland warrior foretold by a prophecy etched into their walls, which predicts a quest that will bring them light. If he is to get home, Gregor must do whatever he can to help them. But being a hero is no easy task, and saving the Underland will change him forever.

     Gregor is, at eleven, admittedly young to be a hero. He isn't big, strong, or brave. All he wants is to get himself and his sister home before their mom gets home and finds them missing, like she found his father missing. Then he meets the crawlers, giant cockroaches who practically worship Boots, and Luxa, the soon-to-be Underland queen. From them he learns an earth-shattering truth that turns his world on its head. Filled with a newfound purpose, Gregor embarks on a quest to rescue a long-lost Overlander in rat custody. This adventure does not only bring him hope for the future; it uses that hope to overcome his fears and shape him into a person worth reading about. His character arc is simultaneously subtle and dramatic, giving readers something personal to cheer on as his journey advances.

     The plot of Gregor's little tale is fairly straightforward. Though it takes a while for him to come around to the idea of fulfilling the prophecy set before him, once he starts there is no stopping him. Using the prophecy as a road map, they visit each major species in the Underland in order to collect everyone they'll need, refusing to move forward until they have the right number of people. It's actually kind of funny to see how devoted the questers are to getting things right, though that chips away at the realism of the whole piece. The prose is also bland enough to drain some of the excitement from the plot. Still, not everyone is willing to come quietly, and not everyone gets along--a fact that adds much-needed tension and character development to the restful scenes between battles.

     There isn't much to warn about in Gregor the Overlander. Gregor and Luxa, both well-rounded characters with fleshed-out backgrounds and personalities, must battle hoards of rats and spiders if they're to achieve their goal. Despite their difference in gender, there is no romance. No one curses or stops to ponder gore; every death occurs for a purpose and impacts the quest party greatly. The themes are hidden but powerful, a good combination for a children's book.

     I would recommend this book to young readers interested in a world where the fantastical is everyday. There are big bugs, talking bats, and some truly well-crafted characters to be had in the Underland, from a snotty queen to a curious baby to a boy who refuses to give up on hope. Even though the heroes spend a ludicrous amount of time trying to fulfill every last letter of the prophecy guiding them, Suzanne Collins managed to add some powerful, uplifting themes to the narrative. For adventure, an intriguing premise, and an interesting plot, Gregor the Overlander deserves three stars.