by Suzanne Collins
So, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has finally arrived at my house. I had read it before, but Friday, my son had it in his hands. He had finished The Odyssey in class and made his new choice from his teacher's library. Today, he made it home with Cathching Fire and I am sure Mockingjay won't lag too far behind. This series and the phenomenon it has created has been discussed here and in many other places. Today, I thought I would tell you about another series written by the same author.
Gregor the Overlander is a story about a boy and his adventures in a place known to him as the Underland. We first meet Gregor as he is reminiscing about his father, who has been missing for over two years, and the life he had before he went away. For Gregor, there were good times spent with family, fewer responsibilities and a chance for summers spent as a child. But, times have changed, and he will be watching his baby sister for the summer while taking on the role of a caregiver. While doing laundry one day, Boots, Gregor's sister, finds her way into a vent on the wall. Gregor tries to catch her but instead they are both now falling down the hole. Perhaps a rabbit hole.
Underland does remind me a little of Wonderland. Gregor, like Alice, finds himself a reluctant hero, and the Underlanders need help fending off the Rats who wish to take over. The adventure begins with a prophecy told by the founder of Underland. Gregor is not convinced of his roll in the goings on of Underland, but he knows he has to get home with his sister.
The tale is a satisfying one. What I like best is that it ends in such a way as to make clear that Gregor's travels were no dream. If you have a fan of The Hunger Games series, give this series a try. The stories are not alike, but the writing is creative and original and well worth any reader's time.
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