Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, the bestselling author of the Hunger Games, is a children’s fantasy story about a young boy and his baby sister who fall from their New York City home into an underworld infested by massive bats, rats, and insects, as well as humans with nearly transparent skin.
The story is very simple and straightforward, but very enjoyable, especially for children. The concept is interesting, the characters are generally likable, and the plot is simple with a few twists. The most interesting parts of the story are the dynamics between the characters, most notably Gregor and his baby sister, Boots, as he attempts to explain the world they are seeing while she sees everything through the eyes of a small child. It has some decent action sequences, and the intrigue of the world and Gregor’s goal keep the story moving forward.
Gregor the Overlander is a simple yet enjoyable story about an underworld infested with massive bugs, bats, and rats. It is for a much younger audience than the Hunger Games also by Suzanne Collins, and lacks much of the politics and relationships, but is a ⅗ book and a great choice for upper elementary school and lower middle school students.