Gregor the Overlander

Underland Chronicles, Book 1

By: Suzanne Collins

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

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

When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, and cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it, until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.

©2003 Suzanne Collins (P)2005 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Collins introduces her young heroes Gregor and his little sister Boots into a wonderland....A fantastically engaging place." (Publishers Weekly)
"Collins creates a fascinating, vivid, highly original world and a superb story." (Booklist)

Recommended for under 20

Would you consider the audio edition of Gregor the Overlander to be better than the print version?

Better than the printed version, but the Narrator does a really bad impersonation for boots, it got quite annoying....

Would you recommend Gregor the Overlander to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend it to young friends...

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Not impersonate Boots!!!

Disappointed

I listened to it because Ms Collins did such an amazing job writing the Hunger Games. This book is very inferior. Hunger Games comparisons aside, this story is about a boy in the underworld with giant roaches and rats and spiders. Way, way over (or should I say under) the top. Also, the reading seemed very inferior to the audible standards I am used to. This did not qualify as a narration or performance, but simply a reading of the text.

Super fun story for all ages

Loved this story & cant wait to start the next book. Reader was excellent!! Sharing w my 8 year old, too!

Great read

I was finally able to finish this series, loved the story. Great for teens and adults!

Entertaining

I think this book is meant for young teens. But it was entertaining enough. Good story.

Wonderful fantasy and extremely well written.

I teach, therefore I am:)
I love this book and am so excited to start the next book!

such a underrated and hidden gem!

i love this series! To me, it's very interesting with all kinds of twists and turns. really had me wanting more and more.
Also, I was hesitant about the voicer at first but really grew to enjoy and like him! he does a great job at the different voices.

Great Entertainment

We travel a great deal and so we use audio books with novel units as part of our schooling. My 11 and 13 year old typically get bored 2-3 chapters in but not with this book!

It had adventure, comedy, suspense and great life lessons intertwined. Instead of asking me if they were done, they would ask for just one more chapter.

I cannot recommend this book more. Oh! And I quite enjoyed it myself as well!

Great book. Great vocal read. 5/5 from us!

OK for a listen with kids

Would you try another book from Suzanne Collins and/or Paul Boehmer?

I listened to the Hunger Games and enjoyed them. We were looking for something to listen to with our kids on a road trip and picked this one out. It was OK, but not great.

Would you ever listen to anything by Suzanne Collins again?

I've already did the Hunger Games, so no. We didn't find this book compelling enough to continue the series.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, the narration was well done.

Could you see Gregor the Overlander being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

It was OK and it held our kids attention. However, in the end we didn't find it to be especially memorable or worthy of continuing on in the series.

A book of courage, sibling love, and fantasy

My kids and I listened to this on a road trip and rather than be aching to get out of the car, we couldn't wait to get back in after each stop and listen some more! Time flew by and so did the story, so we were sad to have it come to an end. I was impressed with the narrator/reader and think he really contributed to the experience. For those with younger children, be aware that this story has mention of deaths and some bloody moments (sword through a rats neck, slicing a spider in half, and rats "exploding on the rocks" after a fall, for example). These are not frequent and are briefly and succinctly described, but there nonetheless. The story kept us interested, moved quickly, and left us sitting in the car for several minutes after we arrived at our destination, with no one wanting to pause it and get out!