Module 8: Gregor the Overlander

Book Summary:

Gregor is a young eleven-year-old boy who follows his little sister down a mysterious air shaft in their New York City apartment building’s basement laundry room. They find themselves in a new world full of unusual giant talking creatures. They also discover the kingdom of Regalia with pale skinned people called Underlanders. The Underlanders believe Gregor to be the subject of a great prophecy and he sets out on a quest to save this new world and his father from the rats.

APA Reference of Book:

Collins, S. (2003). Gregor the Overlander. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Impressions:

This was an interesting story of fantasy and adventure. I’ve had this book on my to-read list for some time. The interactions between the Gregor and all of the Underland characters were enjoyable to read.  It was great fun to experience this new and different world. The gigantic roaches, bats, rats, and other creatures were described very well which made them seem so real. The descriptions of the Underlands were vivid enough to give the reader a good mental picture of this land. The adventure kept me interested and wanting to see what would happen to the characters. The story captured my attention and interest enough that I will probably continue reading this series.

Professional Review:

In a cavernous world beneath New York City, humans who long ago emigrated from the "Overland" live side-by-side with super-intelligent bats and loyal giant cockroaches. In a charming tip of the literary hat, debut novelist Collins introduces her young heroes Gregor and his little sister Boots into a wonderland through a trip down a long hole—in this case, an opening in a wall of their apartment building's laundry room. While passionately trying to find a way back home, 11-year-old Gregor learns about the Underlanders, their history and their unusual customs. Before long, Vikus, the noble patriarch of the Underlanders, reveals to Gregor an ancient prophecy—and why he believes that the boy is the foretold "overland warrior," come to liberate them from the giant rats. The relationship between Gregor and two-year-old Boots embodies much of the book's charm, and Gregor himself grows up before readers' eyes. His love for his lost father factors heavily into his personality; in a stunning turn of events, he discovers the reason for the disappearance of his father—who also plays a role in the prophecy. Collins does a grand job of world-building, with a fine economy of words—no unnecessary details bog down either the setting or the invigorating story. In her world, a child singing "Patty-Cake" can change the course of history and a stoic rat can mourn the fact that although he is able to read, he cannot write because he has no thumb. Unlike Gregor who cannot wait to leave, readers will likely find it to be a fantastically engaging place. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly. (2003). [Review of Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins]. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-439-43536-9.

Library Uses:

Gregor the Overlander can be used to help students work on their visualization skills. Students will construct or draw a scene from the novel and all scenes will be placed together to show a summary of the novel. This will help students understand what the story was about.