Gregor and the Code of Claw

The Underland Chronicles, Book 5

By: Suzanne Collins

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Rich in suspense and brimming with adventure, the New York Times best-selling Underland Chronicles unfold the fate of the Underland and the great warrior, Gregor. Suzanne Collins is also the author of the best-selling Hunger Games trilogy.

Everyone has been trying to keep Gregor from seeing the final prophecy, The Prophecy of Time. It says something awful: It calls for the warrior’s death. The warrior being Gregor, of course. Now, an army of rats is quickly approaching and Gregor’s mom and little sister, Boots, are still in Regalia. The entire existence of the Underland is in Gregor’s hands and time is running out. There is a code that must be cracked, a new princess to contend with Gregor’s burgeoning dark side, and a war designed to end all wars.

In this suspenseful final installment in the acclaimed Underland Chronicles, Suzanne Collins unfolds the fate of the Underland and the great warrior, Gregor the Overlander, in a manner that can only be described as masterful.

Download more Underland Chronicles.

©2008 Suzanne Collins (P)2008 Listening Library

Fabulous Series - get them all!

I loved Gregor from the opening of the first book to the closing of the last book. Every scrap and tussle proved that Gregor is a very real boy in a weird world under the city of New York. I wanted the series to go on and on. Keep writing, Suzanne, you are a gifted storyteller.

Good

Loved book one. This was good, too, but loved the first one. Listen to them all with my 11 y.o. son who didn't care for the romance in book 5.

They kissed. They parted. Fantasy meets Reality.

Would you consider the audio edition of Gregor and the Code of Claw to be better than the print version?

With multiple listenings of the audio, I have not felt the need to read the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ripred impressed me with his insights, honesty and devotion. He was Gregor's mentor, a reality check for the Regalian royalty, the hope of the rats even when they did not know it, and the one person who could handle prophecy as it ought to be.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

Paul Boehmer gave enough vocal distinction to make most characters seem differentiated and real. I especially liked Boots, Mrs. Cormaci and Ripred. His style and diction made the story easy to listen to, which I did several times.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved to breathe a sigh of relief when Luxa refused to come above ground and the rock was replaced. Luxa, tender and loving at moments, also revealed herself to be a young Solovet. And if the royal-commoner divide does not doom a relationship with Gregor, her warrior predisposition and ability to stand by and watch him die in quicksand certainly are not good omens. Gregor needs Mrs. Cormaci's healing touch much more than he needs Luxa's hand. Fantasy meets reality.

Any additional comments?

Not many sword and sorcery fantasy books paint a picture of battle as realistic as Collins has here. Gregor spends more time in the hospital than in battle, and ends the book needing much healing. The children in the story, though, seem a wee bit older than their stated ages, and I think the story has a lot to offer readers/listeners a wee bit beyond Gregor's thirteen.

A teenager no more

Where does Gregor and the Code of Claw rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a great book, probably in the top 10, but not the top 5.

What other book might you compare Gregor and the Code of Claw to and why?

Suzanne Collins has a pattern. She makes her beloved characters suffer a lot, and she always kills someone dear to him / her in the end, which might suck for people who like happy endings. And also, her characters suffer extreme poverty and hunger, but they are loyal and true to what they believe.

Have you listened to any of Paul Boehmer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, to all of Gregor's stories. Paul Boehmer is a great narrator, although he made some slips with some of the minor characters by changing some of their voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, because I wanted to know the end of the saga.

Any additional comments?

Although I've read some comments saying these books might seem like the Harry Potter ones, they DO NOT! There is the similarity of extreme suffering, but Suzanne Collins shows political concepts and ideals in her books which are not seen in the Harry Potter ones.
I think they are worth reading, and if you read Gregor you will have lots of adventures, and you'll even llok at bugs differently, but do not read them if you are expecting something similar to Harry Potter or The Hunger Games. Gregor brings a different story. Pleasant and adventures. I recommend it.

sorry it's over

the kind of series that makes you anxious for the next book and sad when it's over.

Great series!

What did you love best about Gregor and the Code of Claw?

I liked that Gregor was dealing with the reality of being torn between two places. I also love that the main characters are loyal to each other.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gregor and the Code of Claw?

When you find out that someone is or is not dead. I don't want to give up a good part of the story.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

The different voices that he uses are very entertaining.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely! The entire family has listened to the book. 11 years old to 60 years old.

Any additional comments?

As a parent I search for books that we all can listen to. It is rewarding to find a series that we can share. The conversations that go on about the book have been fascinating. The fact that we have something in common to talk about is great. My husband is always behind us in the book and he often listens in the car after we are done with the book. He is not a big reader but is always asking, what's next?

A childhood favorite

Be prepared to cry, a childhood favorite of mine that still holds up as an adult. Definitely have tissues available for the ending of this series.

I love this book and the series

This is a amazing series and an amazing book and I recommend this book to everybody. Although I think there should be 1 more book explaining what happens next

Great book, bad ending.

The book is soooooooooooooooo good such a great plot, but the ending is not very good at all.

A new world

What made the experience of listening to Gregor and the Code of Claw the most enjoyable?

Unexpected interaction between the Underland and Overland.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a new and unexpected world to imagine.

What about Paul Boehmer???s performance did you like?

Great narrator.

Any additional comments?

Although it is a book for youth, it is quite enjoyable. I love the idea of a world under our feet: Underland. The imagined interaction between the Underland and the Overland is fun. A great narrator and great author. I am looking forward to the entire series and more books from Ms. Collins.