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Ultimate Gregor the Overlander
- GenresChildrens
1706 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2020
About the author
Suzanne Collins
53 books132k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.
Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles. Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.
The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award.
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.
Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles. Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.
The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 18, 2021
Okay, so Suzanne Collins had done it again. After hunger games, another legendary book Series- The underland chronicles's first book, ‘Gregor: the overlander' has proved that all your expectations can go in drain as this book is an absolute gain.
A wonderful book that can't calm you down until fully read. An unexpected plot is definitely included. The ending has been kept open for the next book in series.
A book worthy of your time and money. One of the great books, I have ever read.
A wonderful book that can't calm you down until fully read. An unexpected plot is definitely included. The ending has been kept open for the next book in series.
A book worthy of your time and money. One of the great books, I have ever read.
December 21, 2022
This is a wonderful story, told in a much different way than The Hunger Games trilogy but with many of the same themes. It is written in past tense (easier to read than the present tense of THG, imo.) You should definitely read these before you give them to a child and be prepared to talk about it because there's a lot of heavy stuff in there. The later stories reminded me of the graphic novel Maus. No cursing or sexy stuff, but graphic violence. Death. It is also educational, introducing new words and using the storyline to define them ... and the Code of the Claw, in which you have to decode a few messages yourself if you want to know exactly what it says. Pretty cool brain stuff, plus a secret code for notes ;) I know a lot of people complain about the end, but I thought it was just fine. Nothing ever completely wraps up ... life has to go on, even after the adventure ends. but the adventure was the story. Although I wouldn't mind more books, if Collins wants to write 'em! Maybe about Boots when she is Gregor's age...? Just a thought.
So here is how I described it to my friend (who has an 11 year old daughter, which is probably the target audience):
This is the story of Gregory the Overlander (a five-book series), an eleven year old "overlander" who chases his toddler sister, "Boots," (a nickname) down a loose grate in their NYC apartment building. They end up in Underland, where a complicated society of various creatures (with several unlikely heroes) and humans are constantly on the brink of war...
This story is about prophecy, about conquest, genocide... War, above all. Harsh realities forced on a boy by sheer circumstance... or is it?
This story is about Gregor, Boots, his other sister, Lizzie, and between stages of adventure it focuses on Gregor's family situation, both while at home and while being stranded in a land far underground where there is no sun or sky. His mother keeps them supported after his father disappears. They have a mysterious, yet boisterous neighbor, an ostensibly well-off lady who reads tarot cards. She offers repeatedly to read Gregor's cards but he never takes her up on it.
This story is about Underland, where long ago a man descended and built a city for his people to inhabit. The first creatures Gregor and Boots run into are giant cockroaches, or "Crawlers." There are huge, vicious rats (Gnawers); bats that carry and bond to humans (Fliers); spiders large and small, called "Spinners" ... to name a few.
An epic tale of adventure, of loss and heartbreak, of bravery and philosophy. I would have loved these books when I was younger, and I love them now. Highly recommended!
So here is how I described it to my friend (who has an 11 year old daughter, which is probably the target audience):
This is the story of Gregory the Overlander (a five-book series), an eleven year old "overlander" who chases his toddler sister, "Boots," (a nickname) down a loose grate in their NYC apartment building. They end up in Underland, where a complicated society of various creatures (with several unlikely heroes) and humans are constantly on the brink of war...
This story is about prophecy, about conquest, genocide... War, above all. Harsh realities forced on a boy by sheer circumstance... or is it?
This story is about Gregor, Boots, his other sister, Lizzie, and between stages of adventure it focuses on Gregor's family situation, both while at home and while being stranded in a land far underground where there is no sun or sky. His mother keeps them supported after his father disappears. They have a mysterious, yet boisterous neighbor, an ostensibly well-off lady who reads tarot cards. She offers repeatedly to read Gregor's cards but he never takes her up on it.
This story is about Underland, where long ago a man descended and built a city for his people to inhabit. The first creatures Gregor and Boots run into are giant cockroaches, or "Crawlers." There are huge, vicious rats (Gnawers); bats that carry and bond to humans (Fliers); spiders large and small, called "Spinners" ... to name a few.
An epic tale of adventure, of loss and heartbreak, of bravery and philosophy. I would have loved these books when I was younger, and I love them now. Highly recommended!
October 10, 2026
Ultimate Gregor the Overlander brings attention to Suzanne Collins's imaginative storytelling and the appeal of adventure-driven children's fantasy. The title connects naturally with readers who enjoy stories featuring young protagonists, unfamiliar worlds, extraordinary challenges, and the courage required to face the unknown.
What stands out about the Gregor the Overlander series is its combination of fantasy, adventure, friendship, and personal responsibility. Gregor's journey into an underground world opens the door to encounters and challenges that test his judgment and determination. These elements can appeal to younger readers discovering fantasy for the first time, as well as families and educators looking for imaginative stories that encourage discussion about bravery, loyalty, and difficult choices.
What makes this title particularly interesting from a reader-discovery perspective is its connection to Suzanne Collins, whose work has attracted a broad audience across age groups. Readers who enjoy immersive fantasy, quests, and character-driven adventures may find the title appealing, while parents, teachers, librarians, and children's book clubs offer additional pathways for discovery. It is a promising subject for readers interested in exploring the author's work beyond her best-known dystopian fiction.
What stands out about the Gregor the Overlander series is its combination of fantasy, adventure, friendship, and personal responsibility. Gregor's journey into an underground world opens the door to encounters and challenges that test his judgment and determination. These elements can appeal to younger readers discovering fantasy for the first time, as well as families and educators looking for imaginative stories that encourage discussion about bravery, loyalty, and difficult choices.
What makes this title particularly interesting from a reader-discovery perspective is its connection to Suzanne Collins, whose work has attracted a broad audience across age groups. Readers who enjoy immersive fantasy, quests, and character-driven adventures may find the title appealing, while parents, teachers, librarians, and children's book clubs offer additional pathways for discovery. It is a promising subject for readers interested in exploring the author's work beyond her best-known dystopian fiction.
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May 19, 2022Ok
January 7, 2024
My 11 year old son and I read this together, and both of us really enjoyed it. The storyline is easy to follow for kids, and it was entertaining for me too. Great adventure story.
Read
January 18, 2024Awesome adventure story! I wish
this had been around when I was
young. All the magic of Narnia but a
completely unique "hidden world". I
have to read the whole series now.
Loved this!
this had been around when I was
young. All the magic of Narnia but a
completely unique "hidden world". I
have to read the whole series now.
Loved this!
May 31, 2023
One of the saddest and noblest tales I’ve ever read. It still rends my heart, though I read it like 7 years ago. There are not many things I can cry over, but I can cry just at the memory of this. I would bawl like an infant if I read this again.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews