Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, Bk 1)
Author:
Genre: Children's Books
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: Children's Books
Book Type: Hardcover
Sarah P. reviewed on
At first glance, there is little to set Collins' *Gregor the Overlander* from other youth books. The plot is straightforward and hardly original, the setting is not particularly unique either, and the writing, though tolerable, is not the stuff of classics. What sets this book apart from others, though, is its supreme treatment of its story, setting and especially its characters.
The Underland manages to be a fascinating place. Though the presence of talking animals and a 500-year old human civilization is more than a bit unbelievable (as is the neat fact that they all speak understandable non-Shakespearean English), it never ventures beyond the bounds of young adult fantasy. And apart from the language caveat noted above, there are a number of nice differences between the Underland culture and Gregor's.
The story keeps you interested, and there is no unrealistically tidy ending. Gregor's reunion with his long-lost dad is not everything he dreamed it would be. The treachery of another has real, painful consequences to those on the receiving end of it. And just because Ripred the rat is an ally and has 'awes0me fighting skillz' does not mean he is immediately a trusted friend.
Though, the main characters are well-developed and noticeably *grow* throughout the story. I don't consider it a flaw that the rat-villains remain mostly vague, scary and somewhat cartoonish; the bulk of the story and character development is focused on the 'questors', as it should be. The heroic characters have flaws, and the more villainous characters are not irredeemable. We don't need to be told that humans and rats hate each other or that most creatures look down on the cockroaches; it is clearly seen in the actions.
Most importantly, the book is enjoyable. At the end, I wasn't disgusted by the obvious 'plot hook' for a sequel; i was looking forward to another visit to the Underland, particularly with Collins' characters. Better yet, the series improves in more ways than one as it continues. *Gregor the Overlander* is a stand-out beginning to a great young adult series.
Recommended.
The Underland manages to be a fascinating place. Though the presence of talking animals and a 500-year old human civilization is more than a bit unbelievable (as is the neat fact that they all speak understandable non-Shakespearean English), it never ventures beyond the bounds of young adult fantasy. And apart from the language caveat noted above, there are a number of nice differences between the Underland culture and Gregor's.
The story keeps you interested, and there is no unrealistically tidy ending. Gregor's reunion with his long-lost dad is not everything he dreamed it would be. The treachery of another has real, painful consequences to those on the receiving end of it. And just because Ripred the rat is an ally and has 'awes0me fighting skillz' does not mean he is immediately a trusted friend.
Though, the main characters are well-developed and noticeably *grow* throughout the story. I don't consider it a flaw that the rat-villains remain mostly vague, scary and somewhat cartoonish; the bulk of the story and character development is focused on the 'questors', as it should be. The heroic characters have flaws, and the more villainous characters are not irredeemable. We don't need to be told that humans and rats hate each other or that most creatures look down on the cockroaches; it is clearly seen in the actions.
Most importantly, the book is enjoyable. At the end, I wasn't disgusted by the obvious 'plot hook' for a sequel; i was looking forward to another visit to the Underland, particularly with Collins' characters. Better yet, the series improves in more ways than one as it continues. *Gregor the Overlander* is a stand-out beginning to a great young adult series.
Recommended.
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