Module 8: Fantasy and Science Fiction

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins is a great and wildly imaginative book about a young boy named Gregor who finds himself in a world unlike his own in New York. Gregor follows his younger sister down a New York City grate and ends up in the Underland, a world being torn apart by different factions of creatures: fliers (bats) and their human-esque allies, crawlers (cockroaches), spinners (spiders), and the ferocious gnawers (rats). In order to save his family and make it out of the Underland alive, Gregor must face his destiny and make a choice that will change his life forever.

Collins, S. (2004). Gregor the overlander. New York: Scholastic.

Picture Credit: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/gregor_the_overlander__book_one_in_the_underland_chronicles_48384.htm

Impressions:
This book was fun to read and perfect for elementary to middle school aged students. The plot is easy to follow while still remaining enthralling and interesting. When he ends up in a different world, Gregor reacts the way most people would act: he tries to escape and does not accept everything that is told to him right away. Gregor resists being told that he's the Overland Warrior and remains skeptical until he is forced to make a choice. I really enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy also written by Collins and I wasn't sure how she would do when writing for a younger crowd. Compared to the Hunger Games, this book was not has heavy or dense and I think it made for a much more fun reade for younger students. Overall this book is enjoyable and serves as a great start to the series.

Reviews:

“What if Alice fell down an air vent in a New York City apartment building instead of down a rabbit hole? Collins considers a similar possibility in her exceptional debut novel, a well-written, fast-moving, action-packed fantasy. Eleven-year-old Gregor expects a long, boring summer of baby-sitting his two-year-old sister, Boots, and his senile grandmother. Distracted with thoughts about his father, who disappeared three years ago, Gregor belatedly notices that Boots has crawled into an air vent in the laundry room. He dives in after her, and the two are sucked downward into the Underland, a fantastic subterranean world of translucent-skinned, violet-eyed humans, and giant talking cockroaches, bats, spiders, and rats. Eventually, the terrified Gregor is transformed into a warrior hero who leads a successful battle against an army of invading rats and discovers his father, who has long been held prisoner by the enemy. Collins creates a fascinating, vivid, highly original world and a superb story to go along with it, and Gregor is endearing as a caring, responsible big brother who rises triumphantly to every challenge. This is sure to be a solid hit with young fantasy fans.”—Sullivan, E. (2003). No title. [Review for the book Gregor the Overlander by S. Collins]. Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“In this accessible, almost-cinematic fantasy, Gregor and his two-year-old sister fall into an amazing underground world. Taken in by people who have lived beneath the earth for centuries, the 11-year-old learns about the giant-sized talking creatures that also reside there, including bats, cockroaches, and vicious rats. Gregor just wants to get home, but a prophecy hints that he may be the "overlander" destined to save the humans from the warlike rodents. He is reluctant until he learns that his father, who disappeared from their New York City home a few years before, is a prisoner of the rats. Gregor is not an eager hero, but with common sense, quick thinking, and determination he grows into the role. His sister, who provides some comic relief, also plays a key part because of her ability to befriend creatures, especially the giant cockroaches. Plot threads unwind smoothly, and the pace of the book is just right. Exciting scenes and cliff-hanger chapters are balanced by decisions and interactions that drive the action. Gregor is not the most compelling figure at first, but as the story progresses he becomes more interesting, maturing through the challenges he faces. Supporting characters are generally engaging, particularly the enigmatic warrior rat that claims to support the protagonist's mission. This is an engrossing adventure for fantasy fans and for those new to the genre.”—Engelfried, S. (2003). No title. [Review for the book Gregor the Overlander by S. Collins]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:
This book would go perfectly in a display of alternate world sci-fi/fantasy book series. It is a fun book that is perfect for younger students and is an excellent example of fantasy. This would be a perfect jumping off point for middle school aged students to create their own stories about alternate worlds, complete with illustrations.