Gregor the Underland Chronicles (5 Volume Set)

A very imaginative book. A whole other world is build up in a very believable way. The characters are great, and quite complicated for a children's book. I'm an adult, but i really loved all the books. I sincerely recommend it.

I thought that this book was awesome.It had so much detail and action. You know how when you Finished a series that you really liked and after you get sad because you want to read more of the series.That's what I felt.That means this book is AWESOME

I love Gregor the overlander its amazing I just wish the ending was better I want Gregor and Luca to marry each other and become king and queen. I don't want him going to Virginia I want him to stay in the Sunderland!!!?

I ordered these for my son. He is completely satisfied, therefore, I am as wel. This is a great collections for a wide age range. These books are very adventurous. I highly recommend for boys and girls!

After reading "The Hunger Games" I thought it would be interesting to read Ms. Collins' other works. The Underland Chronicles was an enjoyable read. Each book of the five took 2-3 days. The books were light and easy to read and even though they were for a younger audience I still enjoyed them. A nice story that I have recommended to a few younger readers.

I finished the first book in record time, as it was very entertaining and hard to put down! Just the right amount of fun, comedy, and action adventure to make this series great! I am getting back to the second book as soon as possible!

A very imaginative book. A whole other world is build up in a very believable way. The characters are great, and quite complicated for a children's book. I'm an adult, but i really loved all the books. I sincerely recommend it.

I thought that this book was awesome.It had so much detail and action. You know how when you Finished a series that you really liked and after you get sad because you want to read more of the series.That's what I felt.That means this book is AWESOME

I love Gregor the overlander its amazing I just wish the ending was better I want Gregor and Luca to marry each other and become king and queen. I don't want him going to Virginia I want him to stay in the Sunderland!!!?

I ordered these for my son. He is completely satisfied, therefore, I am as wel. This is a great collections for a wide age range. These books are very adventurous. I highly recommend for boys and girls!

After reading "The Hunger Games" I thought it would be interesting to read Ms. Collins' other works. The Underland Chronicles was an enjoyable read. Each book of the five took 2-3 days. The books were light and easy to read and even though they were for a younger audience I still enjoyed them. A nice story that I have recommended to a few younger readers.

I finished the first book in record time, as it was very entertaining and hard to put down! Just the right amount of fun, comedy, and action adventure to make this series great! I am getting back to the second book as soon as possible!

I purchased this series for my 70 year old mother. They were recommendation by my professor and other students in class. She loved them. She read them all in a week and wanted more. I am currently looking for another series similar to this one.

I read this 5 book collection in a week, couldn't put it down! I am the mother of two grown boys and am a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre. I would recommend these books to anyone young adult and above, too violent for the younger crowd. Lots of action and good character developement.

Good for older children and adults. Enough mature content to hold adults' attention but young enough in style and feel to remain accessible for kids. Kids learn about consequence and the importance of making their own choices.

All I can say about this book is wow! Suzanne Collins writes about two worlds colliding.She left me on the edge of my seat, hungry for more. Its about loyalty and hardships and a love story that both genders will absolutely love. I hope all of you will buy and enjoy this fantastic series!!

Read this because I loved the hunger games (same author). Can't wait till they try and make this into a movie! Great reading, fast paced and quite brutal at times what happens to different characters, don't read this to your little ones before bedtime!!!!

The most amazing series. Kept you on edge and guessing and th creativity behind the making of this series is outstanding. I recommend this series to everyone who likes fantasy and cliff hanging guesses. Loved every word no doubt!

Read the whole series with my kids and we all loved it. I admit to skipping over some of the more violent parts, but we have had some interesting conversations about fighting and wars. And the characters are wonderful.

Gregor the overlander is a book where you explore the imagination and mystical journeys of the underland. You will experience and read surprises and shocking events that will bring you closer and closer to the end of this amazing series!

These are wonderful stories of friendship hope and loyalty with deep meanings in their words. Be advised, though, as they are also riddled with danger, war and loss. Captivating and thrilling,the reason I became a reader.

I read this series as a preview to so if my younger children and niece would like it.
The vocabulary and pace were perfect for young readers. I read all five books in a week and found them to be exciting. I found myself not wanting to put the book down.

I love Gregor the Overlander!!!!!!!!!!!It is such an awesome book.Suzanne Collins is such a creative writer.I think Suzanne did a wonderful job of describing and details in this book.I love the whole story of Gregor following his little sister through a hole in the laundry room and falling into a whole other world down below. These books lead you into a fantastical adventure that never lets you down and keeps you wanting more. A great book for anyone wanting some adventure.

T his is a great series just like the Hunger Games. Yet it feels the audience for this book is more similar to the Harry Potter series. A childrens feel but darker and actually for adults. Very well written and will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I liked this book because it has a lot of emotion. Suzanne Collins was able to make you feel like you were a part of the book. I felt sorry for people and I felt peoples' loss and sadness. That is why I gave this book 5 stars.

Gripping Book - sending you on an adventure with different emotions at every turn of each page. Suzanne Collins writes in such a way that allows you to be transformed into one or more of the characters fighting the Underland War.

After reading the first two books in the Hunger Game series (and waiting impatiently for Mockinjay), I decided to try Suzanne Collins' Gregor books. I LOVED this series! I had to make myself stop reading so I could get some sleep for work the next day. The characters were well-developed and the story was a wonderful fantasy. Both of my daughters in their twenties devoured these books too. I have come to the conclusion that books with young protagonists are classified as young adult, even though they are enjoyed by all ages. Don't hesitate to buy this series!

I enjoyed this series even more than Hunger Games....I couldn't put it down....the story held my interest throughout. Every character was well developed and I cared for them and found good and bad in everyone.

I'm an adult and I loved Harry Potter so The Underland Chronicles were just as entertaining to me as they would be to a 13 year old. Matter of fact I'm thinking they would hold the interest of any-age reader.

I ordered this series after reading the "Hunger Games and Catching Fire" books. I wanted to see what else Ms. Collins had to offer. Even though the books are intended for children, I read the series with great interest. Found it hard to put them down and now my 13-year old is working thru the series and loving it!

I bought this book series mainly because I thoroughly enjoyed the Hunger series, and wanted to read more from Ms. Collins. Although it is a YA series, I will agree with several commenters who noted there is a lot of violence, perhaps a bit too much, for young readers. The development of these characters, the story as it progressed, did indeed want me to continue to read - but - to get to the last book and the last chapter. It is almost like she handed the last two pages to someone else, told them a bit about the book and told them to write the ending. My entire critique can be summed up in one word and it is - What?

I really thought maybe I was missing some chapters, maybe there's hint of another book, but no, after everything she takes the characters through (and these are the ones who survive), she abruptly just ends the book. In her mind she may have thought is was a good ending, but for someone who read through and was expecting some lingering questions to be answered, she just didn't. So fair warning, if you invest the time to read this series, just keep in mind that there is nothing satisfying at the end. After five books, that is a waste.

There must be a lot of Suzanne Collins fans out there reviewing with their hearts, because there's no way the books I just read deserve the glowing reviews they are receiving. There plot holes are SO big...The dialogue is SO dry...The conflict resolution is SO lazy...I can't even see the 10-year-old crowd the books were meant for really getting into them.

Except the for the debacle of the third book, the story itself wasn't so bad. There were even some exciting parts, especially in the 5th book. But nothing could make up for the lame series ending, where Collins gave we us the same soapbox message as she tried and failed to deliver in that other series of hers. These books are written for children, remember!

Boo. I'm glad I'm done.

This 5 book series reminds me very much of Rick Riordan's Percy and the Olympians series. Both are 5 book series created around an 11 year old boy. In both series each boy must face a series of "prophecies" or "quests" with his friends that appear in each book. The Underland Chronicles may be a bit more scary/exciting than the Olympians, but suitable for middle school kids 0just find. The Underland Chronicles is really fun for all ages, it's being passed around my family and co-workers now. It seems to me that it is for a slightly younger crowd than Suzanne Collins excellent trilogy "The Hunger Games". (I have book 3 on pre-order now) The Underland Chronicles is truly an excellent Adventure for all readers.

I read the whole series to my seven year old son and I'd be hard-pressed to think of a book with more memorable characters or hilarious dialogue. It also gives an incredibly visceral and emotional depiction of the horrors of war.

The books follow an 11 year old boy, Gregor after he has fallen miles underground with his exuberant 2 year old sister Boots. He is drawn into complicated interspecies conflict between multiple groups of huge talking animals and humans. The humans were brought underground centuries ago by a leader "Earl of Sandwich" who had visions of the future which he carved into the stones as prophesies. Gregor and his sister seem to be named in the prophesies.

Of the books themes which seemed to impact my son were:
1. The responsibility of taking care of the vulnerable (This is also some of the funniest scenes in the books as he tries to look after Boots)
2. How much can be solved if you can communicate with others. (A gifted child is able to speak the languages of several of the creatures and avoid disaster)
3. Nothing is inevitable, especially war.

The writing is beautiful.. this is the author that went on to write the Hunger Games/Catching Fire. (In that way I wouldn't compare it to the pedestrian Lightning Thief). A closer analogy would be Garth Nix.

A word of caution. Some of the battle scenes are truly horrifying and I did end up skipping some sentences for my son's benefit. Also, major characters do die. While some would complain about the lack of a truly happy ending (it's happy enough, considering all that happens) I found it more satisfying and realistic than most YA books.

After my daughter recommended the Hunger Games series to me, I really enjoyed them and I looked to see if there were other books by Ms. Collins as well that I could pick up for her to read. the store was offering a discount purchase on the Gregor the Overlander Collection of books and I figured it fit the bill. My 12 year old, who had devoured the 3 Hunger Games books in under 2 weeks, could not get into the Gregor books and I didn't think much of it, but one day when I was looking for something light to read I started in on the series. I was pleasantly rewarded for picking up the book.

Gregor lives with his mother and younger sister, his father has been missing for some time. When he and his younger sister fall into a hole in their building laundry room they find themselves falling and falling until they arrive in an underground, hollow-earth land called Regalia with giant bugs and rats as well as intelligent cockroaches and bats large enough for humans to ride. There is an entire civilization of people that has been living under the ground for generations. Much to young Gregor's surprise, his arrival in the Underland has been foretold in a prophecy and he is now expected to fulfill his destiny - as a warrior - even though all he wants to do is get back home. But wait, could his Father be down here as well?

This is not a "feel-good" story, but it is a very good series and although the characters experience love and loss you can't help but root for the young people in the middle of battle - much like her later HG series it touches on some very dark subjects and puts young people at the front lines to protect those they love.

As the books progress the stories become more complex and the work that Gregor is expected to do becomes a weight and a burden on him although he continues his best to do the right thing.

Sometime after I had read these books a friend with a 12 year old son was asking for book recommendations and I suggested these books - they got them from the library and he absolutely loved them and found that he enjoyed them more than the Hunger Games books. I definitely recommend these!

First four books were interesting and I enjoyed tremendously. At that point you should just stop and make up your own ending. The last book forced a dystopian point of view over the entire series that was to some degree a suprise and sickening.

Now I am waiting for a new series about Gregor. Ending the book the way it ended was absolutly amazing, and it also left so many possibilities. I am a 20 year old kid that loved this book and would recommend to any looking for a series that will leave them wanting more. Suzanne Collins is am amazing author and I can only hope she makes a new series.

I bought this box-set after having read The Hunger Games trilogy, and I so wanted to read more by Suzanne Collins. I didn't really know much about the series, other than Collins had written it.

Now, I absolutely adore this it. The writing is stunning and the premise is perfectly to my liking. The MC, Gregor is a great kid, his little sister, Boots, is adorable and Rip Curl, is quite possibly the best non-human character I have encountered yet. In fact, I feel like giving credit to all the characters for once. Even, but definitely not least, the cockroaches.. I had so much fun reading these books, that I actually read the entire series back-to-back, and made sure to recommend it to every book loving kid I know. I even turned temporary fan-girly and read reviews and articles about it AFTER finishing the series, in the hopes that a movie was in production.

Obviously I really, really liked it, or more accurately I loved this series to the moon and back, times 5!! I love it on the same level as I will always savor Narnia, The Brothers Lionheart and The Neverending Story, all of which are full of nostalgia and epic-ness to me. It's much like Harry Potter, actually.. In the sense that I read both HP and Gregor as and adult.. And loved both nonetheless. And like any of the books, this is an adventuresome tale filled with great characters, awesome quests, solid world building and an urban fantasy setting, although IMO there might be most of a Narnia-feel to it, though, sort of.

I definitely wouldn't want anything to be different in this story. For me it was truly perfect. Although this might be categorized as a middle grade read, I recommend Gregor the Overlander to ANYONE looking for great storytelling. I might also mention that this would be and absolutely delightful read-aloud choice, for parents of both girls or boys, as it isn't a gender specific type of book.

*Contains Mild Spoilers*

All the positive reviews of this series are spot on, but I would throw out one caution to parents who are trying to decide allow this series for their children. The violence level in the books is about on par with the Harry Potter books (which I've allowed my son to read), but the ending lacked emotional resolution. Basically, Gregor returns from the "wars" the equivalent of a wounded veteran, suffering from what appears to be PTSD, and is left with an uncertain future.

On the one hand, it is a much more realistic than your typical fantasy novel, and I have to give the author credit for not glamourizing war. On the other hand, it left my then 8-year old son sobbing and ultimately very unsatisfied with the series. It's always been hard to find appropriate books for him, since he reads above his grade level, and I did read the first one all the way through before letting him read this series. Just wish I had jumped to the end - I would have held off on this a couple of years until his emotional maturity caught up with his reading skills.

The series is action packed, exciting, but a little violent at times...but no worse than Harry Potter; and for sure, it is far less the Hunger Games series which really put me off because it was children killing children. I pre-read all the books I give to my grandchildren for age appropriateness before sending, as well as having something to discuss with them later. I want them to be excited to read, with things to discuss after they have read them, why the author did this, was this person dying necessary to the story, etc. The kids are all over ten, and it gets them excited over something other than their phones and video games when you can find 'just the right read.' We pretend we are our own 'book club.' Going out to lunch for our 'book meeting.' The Gregor series did just that. The series allowed us to share many things, how some people have so little and have struggles to get by, how good families are, and how we are sad when a character dies, even if they are not real. I loved how each book in the series had a wealth of things we could discuss. Plus, if you are a kid at heart, the books are enjoyable to you, as well. We all, young and the 'senior youths,' had a great time with this series.

This 5 book series reminds me very much of Rick Riordan's Percy and the Olympians series. Both are 5 book series created around an 11 year old boy. In both series each boy must face a series of "prophecies" or "quests" with his friends that appear in each book. The Underland Chronicles may be a bit more scary/exciting than the Olympians, but suitable for middle school kids 0just find. The Underland Chronicles is really fun for all ages, it's being passed around my family and co-workers now. It seems to me that it is for a slightly younger crowd than Suzanne Collins excellent trilogy "The Hunger Games". (I have book 3 on pre-order now) The Underland Chronicles is truly an excellent Adventure for all readers.

I read the whole series to my seven year old son and I'd be hard-pressed to think of a book with more memorable characters or hilarious dialogue. It also gives an incredibly visceral and emotional depiction of the horrors of war.

The books follow an 11 year old boy, Gregor after he has fallen miles underground with his exuberant 2 year old sister Boots. He is drawn into complicated interspecies conflict between multiple groups of huge talking animals and humans. The humans were brought underground centuries ago by a leader "Earl of Sandwich" who had visions of the future which he carved into the stones as prophesies. Gregor and his sister seem to be named in the prophesies.

Of the books themes which seemed to impact my son were:
1. The responsibility of taking care of the vulnerable (This is also some of the funniest scenes in the books as he tries to look after Boots)
2. How much can be solved if you can communicate with others. (A gifted child is able to speak the languages of several of the creatures and avoid disaster)
3. Nothing is inevitable, especially war.

The writing is beautiful.. this is the author that went on to write the Hunger Games/Catching Fire. (In that way I wouldn't compare it to the pedestrian Lightning Thief). A closer analogy would be Garth Nix.

A word of caution. Some of the battle scenes are truly horrifying and I did end up skipping some sentences for my son's benefit. Also, major characters do die. While some would complain about the lack of a truly happy ending (it's happy enough, considering all that happens) I found it more satisfying and realistic than most YA books.

First four books were interesting and I enjoyed tremendously. At that point you should just stop and make up your own ending. The last book forced a dystopian point of view over the entire series that was to some degree a suprise and sickening.

I bought this box-set after having read The Hunger Games trilogy, and I so wanted to read more by Suzanne Collins. I didn't really know much about the series, other than Collins had written it.

Now, I absolutely adore this it. The writing is stunning and the premise is perfectly to my liking. The MC, Gregor is a great kid, his little sister, Boots, is adorable and Rip Curl, is quite possibly the best non-human character I have encountered yet. In fact, I feel like giving credit to all the characters for once. Even, but definitely not least, the cockroaches.. I had so much fun reading these books, that I actually read the entire series back-to-back, and made sure to recommend it to every book loving kid I know. I even turned temporary fan-girly and read reviews and articles about it AFTER finishing the series, in the hopes that a movie was in production.

Obviously I really, really liked it, or more accurately I loved this series to the moon and back, times 5!! I love it on the same level as I will always savor Narnia, The Brothers Lionheart and The Neverending Story, all of which are full of nostalgia and epic-ness to me. It's much like Harry Potter, actually.. In the sense that I read both HP and Gregor as and adult.. And loved both nonetheless. And like any of the books, this is an adventuresome tale filled with great characters, awesome quests, solid world building and an urban fantasy setting, although IMO there might be most of a Narnia-feel to it, though, sort of.

I definitely wouldn't want anything to be different in this story. For me it was truly perfect. Although this might be categorized as a middle grade read, I recommend Gregor the Overlander to ANYONE looking for great storytelling. I might also mention that this would be and absolutely delightful read-aloud choice, for parents of both girls or boys, as it isn't a gender specific type of book.

After my daughter recommended the Hunger Games series to me, I really enjoyed them and I looked to see if there were other books by Ms. Collins as well that I could pick up for her to read. the store was offering a discount purchase on the Gregor the Overlander Collection of books and I figured it fit the bill. My 12 year old, who had devoured the 3 Hunger Games books in under 2 weeks, could not get into the Gregor books and I didn't think much of it, but one day when I was looking for something light to read I started in on the series. I was pleasantly rewarded for picking up the book.

Gregor lives with his mother and younger sister, his father has been missing for some time. When he and his younger sister fall into a hole in their building laundry room they find themselves falling and falling until they arrive in an underground, hollow-earth land called Regalia with giant bugs and rats as well as intelligent cockroaches and bats large enough for humans to ride. There is an entire civilization of people that has been living under the ground for generations. Much to young Gregor's surprise, his arrival in the Underland has been foretold in a prophecy and he is now expected to fulfill his destiny - as a warrior - even though all he wants to do is get back home. But wait, could his Father be down here as well?

This is not a "feel-good" story, but it is a very good series and although the characters experience love and loss you can't help but root for the young people in the middle of battle - much like her later HG series it touches on some very dark subjects and puts young people at the front lines to protect those they love.

As the books progress the stories become more complex and the work that Gregor is expected to do becomes a weight and a burden on him although he continues his best to do the right thing.

Sometime after I had read these books a friend with a 12 year old son was asking for book recommendations and I suggested these books - they got them from the library and he absolutely loved them and found that he enjoyed them more than the Hunger Games books. I definitely recommend these!

*Contains Mild Spoilers*

All the positive reviews of this series are spot on, but I would throw out one caution to parents who are trying to decide allow this series for their children. The violence level in the books is about on par with the Harry Potter books (which I've allowed my son to read), but the ending lacked emotional resolution. Basically, Gregor returns from the "wars" the equivalent of a wounded veteran, suffering from what appears to be PTSD, and is left with an uncertain future.

On the one hand, it is a much more realistic than your typical fantasy novel, and I have to give the author credit for not glamourizing war. On the other hand, it left my then 8-year old son sobbing and ultimately very unsatisfied with the series. It's always been hard to find appropriate books for him, since he reads above his grade level, and I did read the first one all the way through before letting him read this series. Just wish I had jumped to the end - I would have held off on this a couple of years until his emotional maturity caught up with his reading skills.

The series is action packed, exciting, but a little violent at times...but no worse than Harry Potter; and for sure, it is far less the Hunger Games series which really put me off because it was children killing children. I pre-read all the books I give to my grandchildren for age appropriateness before sending, as well as having something to discuss with them later. I want them to be excited to read, with things to discuss after they have read them, why the author did this, was this person dying necessary to the story, etc. The kids are all over ten, and it gets them excited over something other than their phones and video games when you can find 'just the right read.' We pretend we are our own 'book club.' Going out to lunch for our 'book meeting.' The Gregor series did just that. The series allowed us to share many things, how some people have so little and have struggles to get by, how good families are, and how we are sad when a character dies, even if they are not real. I loved how each book in the series had a wealth of things we could discuss. Plus, if you are a kid at heart, the books are enjoyable to you, as well. We all, young and the 'senior youths,' had a great time with this series.

This is one of my favorite book series. I love the devotion that Gregor has too his siblings, and I like the strong family aspect. I like the themes/morals (whatever you want to call them) that can be drawn from this story. I would caution younger readers. I was listening to the audio books with my siblings. The first book is fine for all ages, but the others are a little too graphic for my younger two sisters (8-10). So, I stopped listening to it with them. (I, however, eagerly finished the series).

As for the ending, I agree with Greenlady (another reviewer)that it is not your typical fantasy novel. It doesn't end with a "happily ever after". I liked and hated this ending at the same time. As a reader, I wanted a "happily ever after", but, I did appreciate the realistic-ness of the ending. In my personal opinion, there are no such things as "happily ever after". There will always be struggles; you will have your ups and your downs; your good times and bad. So, this book ends in a sort of realistic perspective. However, BIG HOWEVER, it is not without hope. The last scene of the book is perhaps my favorite and the most memorable of all the scenes because Gregor finds his reason for living - for persevering in the face of despair. And, it is for this reason, that I think the book is very, very good. In my opinion, the entire series deserves 5 stars.

Okay, so story time! Once I was in a library, I looked for "The Hunger Games" which I still haven't read. It wasn't there but the first book in this series, "Gregor the Overlander" was. I read the back, checked it out and became obsessed with this amazing series! It's the best book series I've read...so far! The only problem was there wasn't too much description with the characters. I wish that one of the characters hadn't died, because they didn't deserve it. But then again nobody ever does. The best book were the first two, the third was also great but lacked a bit, the fourth was pretty good and the fifth was an amazing conclusion to this epic series. These books are so good that you won't want to stop reading. Another problem is that the fifth's ending didn't really solve anything. It didn't finish in a good way because we never found out what happened after the war. Nonetheless, it's a really good book and I recommended it to anybody alive. I don't think it's that inappropriate for kids...actually, yes it kind of is. There's lots of death, at least two characters per book. I hope that Suzanne Collins eventually sells the rights to make this into a movie because it's so much better than The Hunger Games but it seems she doesn't like to acknowledge that. Kind of like when a movie maker makes a really good, cheap, unpopular movie and then they make a big, also pretty good movie and don't mention the other film. Honestly, it's a better book than THG (To be fair, I've only seen The Hunger Games, read the literal last page of Catching Fire and maybe a quarter of Mockingjay)

Just like Richelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid series, I read this series because I loved The Hunger Games (also by Suzanne Collins) so much. The Underland Chronicles are definitely for younger teens/children. They are nice little adventure books but are not deep or thought-provoking for adults. They are fast but enjoyable reads. I'm glad that I borrowed these from the library because I would definitely not ever reread them.

Suzanne Collins says on her website that The Underland Chronicles are a parallel to Alice in Wonderland, except instead of falling down a rabbit hole, Gregor falls down a sewer grate in New York and discovers a world underneath the city. The story is very unique, well-written, and entertaining. I really enjoyed the series, even though I wasn't sure at the beginning how I'd feel, reading about six-feet tall rats, huge roaches, bats, and more. Basically, every creature that would live in a sewer, lives in the Underworld and is human-sized or bigger!

I went into reading this because I had just read Hunger Games and I wanted to see what else Suzanne Collins had written. I was worried that this would end up being too childish, and yet I fell in love with the characters and the story. I would highly recommend this to readers of any age. Children will love the similarities to Alice in Wonderland (that is to say a character falling down a hole and discovering a new world filled with over large animals and situations that one would not discover in the real world) and the older readers will appreciate the storyline and (I hate to say) the action sequences. I admit the one problem I had with this series was the idea of prophecies. The reason I have this problem is that... in the first book Ah! Look at this prophecy! Now watch as that foreshadows the rest of the book! For me that was okay. It started being a problem when the second book followed that same formula. Look! Another prophecy that we neglected to tell you existed in the first book! Watch while that foreshadows the rest of the book! Third book. Oh! ANOTHER prophecy! And so on. In the end this was addressed by a character who shared my skepticism, and the series ended up being good enough that I was able to overlook what was, to me, a major flaw. I would definitely recommend reading this.

I read these books from the library and totally loved them. I started reading the first one and literally couldn't put it down until I was done with the third book. They are very exciting and detailed.
My aunt got me this set for my birthday.

There is a bit of violence in these books. I am 14, and would say that they are targeted at people 12 and up. Many people think these are children's books and not for adults but I disagree. There are hundreds of reviews by people 30 years and up saying they love the books.
The fourth book has codes and coded messages. I think it's great that you have to decode the messages yourself.
I am a little disappointed with the ending of the last book. The future of all of the characters seems uncertain. It would be great if Collins came out with a sixth book.

This is my favorite book series. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone looking for a great book series.

When I read the first book in the series, I admit it was a little bit of a reach to imagine a huge underground civilization full of thousands of people and gigantic talking animals. But, the first book was good enough for me to try the second, and then the third, and then in a frenzied rush, the final two. This is one of those rare series that gets stronger in later books. I loved the characters, and I empathized with Gregor's moral decisions. Ripred the rat was a riot, a wise-talking, fearless tough rodent, who was a true friend to the end. The prophecies that drove each story reminded me a little of Brian Jacque's Redwall books, and I found myself trying to solve the mysteries myself. I could not wait to get to the final book, and it was the most powerful of all, bringing up so many issues like the horrors of war, self-sacrifice, the importance of friendship and family. Yes, at first the ending disappointed me a little, but on reflection, I think it was the ending most true to the story line. I sincerely hope that someday the author will revisit the series, perhaps bringing Gregor back as a teenager. There are so many possibilities for continued adventures.

Awesome, but we sure wish there were more books! These books were completely enthralling for myself and my 9 year old. Lots of really fascinating themes about war and society, and the way the stories we tell ourselves influence the way things happen in "reality." Beautiful book about empathy and seeing from other perspectives, where good and evil are not quite so simple to discern; and the incredible responsibility every person holds for their responses. Really, such an insightful series. I personally wish they had left out the romantic themes, but I think my 9 year old really liked that part.

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 and stuff. 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 NY, NY 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 for over two years after his father disappears, and continues to do so after Gregor rescues his father, who is too ill to go back to work. They have a mysterious, yet boisterous neighbor, an ostensibly well-off lady who reads tarot cards. She offers repeatedly to read his 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 he and 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!

I found the set of books at the local library while I was looking for something to read out loud to my kids (ages 6&9). I was first drawn to the book because I've always had a soft spot for taking simple, everyday people and putting them into extraordinary situations and seeing how they cope. The idea of two children finding themselves in the mists of such an adventure left me scrambling to proof read the first book in less than a day. I was hooked. I have sense read all 5 books and let my 9 year old daughter read the first 2 for school reports. I'll be buying these books for our home collection very shortly and, just to let you know, my son (age 6) is a little infatuated with the lovable Boots and her giant friends the roachs lol.
If your looking for a set of books that is safe for children, engaging for young adults and leaves this mother hopeful for the future of children's literature, this is one to check out. While some areas are sad and the overall theme is based on interspieces wars, it brings out the potential of man that can and, if given the chance, will blossom into a hope for a better tomorrow.

Overall it was a good story. It draws you in, it is great, but this author doesn't seem to know how to write a good ending! The ending of the book kinda sucks! You need to give us at least a little more information! So, he never goes back? You left too many holes at the end! I did not enjoy the ending at all! I read on a kindle, and didn't even realize it was the end, until it abruptly stops with them at the park!

I have been enjoying the books in this series as I read them to my seven-year-old son (we have not read all of them yet). However, you should be aware that this is NOT a "boxed" set, despite the product description. It is a collection of five books, but it does NOT include a box. This was disappointing to me as I prefer to buy boxed sets, when possible.

Wonderful. One of my favorite series. If you ever wondered what it would be like if many of what we call "pests" were human sized with our intelligence, this is it. Full of fun, danger, laughs, sorrow; beautifully written. Bittersweet at times, and the last book is a truthful telling of an all out war. I would caution younger readers might not appreciate this series (although it is written seemingly for middle school age). I enjoyed it thoroughly as an adult and think others will too.

Suzanne Collins is the author of the phenomenally successful - and phenomenally good - young adult series, the Hunger Games, which began with The Hunger Games, continued in Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) and will conclude with Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games), due in August, 2010. (Can't wait!) I hope fans of the Hunger Games series will be willing to give Collin's earlier series, offered here as a box set, a try. Though aimed at a slightly younger audience than the Hunger Games, the story is, IMHO, equally absorbing and unforgettable.

If someone would have told me that I would fall in love with a series of children's books featuring giant bats, giant rats and giant cockroaches among other creatures, I would have been very skeptical (to put it mildly). In fact, after I found the first book in the series, Gregor The Overlander (Underland Chronicles, Book 1), in a used bookstore and picked it up to see if it should be added to my growing library of children's books, it sat in my to-be-read pile for more than a year. When I finally sat down with it, though, I was less than half way through when I set it aside just long enough to drive to the bookstore so that I could buy the rest of the series. I knew that I would want them on hand so that I could finish the series in one big rush - which is exactly what I did. Then I ordered the entire set in hardcover for myself, gave them a prominent place on my keep forever shelf and mailed the paperback editions to my adult daughter for her to enjoy. She did. I am now sharing the series with my oldest grandchild, who is also loving it.

In the Underland Chronicles, Suzanne Collins has created a wonderful alternative world that exists side by side with our own. Well, okay, it exists underneath our own, far underneath. Collins is a master at describing that world, enabling me to perfectly envision each new landscape as our heroes move from one area of their diverse world to another. The vast sea, the poisonous jungle, the searing heat of the volcanic wastelands - everything still remains vivid in my mind. And Collins accomplishes this without taking pages and pages to do so.

There's a simplicity to the books - not only does Collins never over-describe the world, she allows readers to use their imaginations regarding the characters as well. In fact, I'm not quite sure if she ever gives a physical description of eleven year old Gregor at all. But just as as I could imagine the vistas, I could picture the wonderful characters - Boots, Ripred, Luxa, Ares and Temp among so many others - as well and very clearly.

There's love and caring in this series, family, friends, humor and sorrow, duty, prophecies, adventure and, of course, a world to save. The Underland Chronicles (which is sometimes referred to as the Gregor the Overlander series in recommendation threads) deals with war and does a very good job of forcing readers to look at both sides of the disputes underlying the conflict. (Parents should be cautioned that in the course of the series, more than one beloved character dies.)

The complete series is offered in this box set and should be read in order:
Gregor the Overlander
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Gregor and the Code of Claw

My only complaint about the Underland Chronicles is that I found the ending of the series vaguely unsatisfactory. While I appreciate that, with what Collins has given me and how she left things, I can create my own future for the characters, I know I'd still love to read more stories set in this world, perhaps 15 years or so down the road. If Collins does not want to revisit these specific characters, I'd still enjoy another trip to this world, with a catch up as to the fate of the characters we met in these volumes revealed somehow as part of the Underland's history. I can only hope. :-)

In the growing number of fantasy series aimed at children, I would, if asked, place The Underland Chronicles firmly in third place, just behind Harry Potter and the wonderful Faeries of Dreamdark series (Blackbringer (Dreamdark) and Dreamdark: Silksinger (Faeries of Dreamdark) by Laini Taylor. (Psssst - if you haven't read these yet, run now and check them out - fabulous writing & storytelling with unforgettable characters!). I'm often surprised that the Underland Chronicles doesn't seem to be as well known as some of the other series currently crowding the shelves.

Very, very highly recommended.

More of an allegory than fantasy. I thought this series was more in the tradition of C.S. Lewis and that genre of fiction than it was in the category of children's fiction. The main character struggles with responsibility in the face of adversity, coping with personal loss, and also inevitably with the unresolved question of how do we go on afterwards. There was no flinching from addressing the deeper ethical issues and questions that we (adults) encounter in the world and events outside of this narrative. The human and non-human characters make these fundamental issues easier to emotionally grasp by children reading the narrative and to intellectually consider by adults who might be reading these stories to the children. Months after having read this series I find myself wondering what Gregor is doing today. In many ways, I found this series to be more compelling intellectually than the Hunger Game narrative which while entertaining was not contemplative.

I began this series with a bit of hesitancy for boys ages 4 and 6 (having read the Hunger Games which would be too violent for boys so young). Both boys being early readers- and having read Harry Potter and other series- they were ok- but probably wouldn't recommend for your average 4 year old (note there are parts that are very violent and some main characters die- have to know your child and what they are comfortable with). What I have to say- is we all love Gregor- he is flawed and searching- he makes mistakes, he is endlessly kind to his younger sister, he grows through the stories- and it is the perfect story for young boys finding their way in the world. As my 4 year old has been struggling with rage and anger and hitting- the stories provided lots of opportunities to talk about rage- and self- control- and choices. What ultimately ends up being an anti-war book- brings into context all these issues- kids contend with in families and in the world around them- in a fantastic way that they can wrap their heads around. Getting a 4 year old to sit through 5 chapter books- and not only follow along- but cheer Gregor on- and ask lots of questions is the hallmark of a great book for me. The whole family is hoping that book 6 will be written- or a prequel. Thanks for the great adventure!

After Harry Potter, my 9 year old struggled to find books that were as engaging yet age-appropriate (apologies to the author but i nixed The Hunger Games as age-inappropriate). These were the perfect solution. The premise and characters were beautifully imagined and written. The themes provided so many wonderful discussions for us - ranging from the inevitability of war to biological weapons to diplomacy. Truly a page-turner series. I can't recommend highly enough. My only warning might be that there are a number of rather violent scenes and some major characters die so guide appropriately

I'm a 42-year-old childless auntie. I started reading "Gregor the Overlander" because I liked "The Hunger Games." I was instantly sucked into this terrific adventure series about a boy who discovers another world underneath New York. The characters are wonderful (I especially loved Ripred, the rat -- a spiritual forebear of "Hunger Games"' Haymitch, for sure), the writing is good, and the stakes are high: characters we care about can and do die.

I bought these books for my 8-year-old nephew. I also recommended them to my husband. Really, anyone who likes urban fantasy should read these. They are awesome.

I read the first two books to my 9 year old son. We each loved them. I decided to let him read the 3rd book on his own, "Curse of the Warmbloods." It had some flesh-eating mites or fleas that would swarm it's prey and de-flesh it in moments. This so scared my son that he could not sleep for a couple of long nights. I love the Underland world that the author created and the quests and the characters, however, I think she needed to keep in mind that some material may be unsuitable for younger readers. Still, my son says he'll continue with the 4th book and also the 5th. :)

This series has few rivals. When asked about favorite books, it is always the first out of my mouth (along with Fablehaven). It is so good, I am dismayed that she hasnt written any others. Total originality, fantastic dialogue and engaging peril/action.

Congratulations! You have probably finished the Underland Chronicles by now. So for my first words in this; WHAT ABOUT LUXA?!?!? So Gregor is just going to leave her? HELLO?!? you might ask. It is all because of Lizzie that they can't stay in the Underland. All because of her stupid panic attacks.
I have to thank my teacher for getting me into the series. Originaly, one of my classmates read halfway through the first book, and for some reason was bored by the book. So I took over.
In, "Gregor the Overlander", after reading the first chapter, I found myself not being able to stop reading. I especially liked the part when Gregor leaps off the chasm and Ares rescues gregor instead of Henry, who is his bond. I'm glad Henry died. I never liked him anyway(gasp!).
In, "Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane", like the first book, I could not stop reading. I liked the suspense, the action, and Twitchtip(she was mean at times and could not stand the smell of humans). I liked it when Gregor found out that the Bane was a baby, and when Goldshard and Snare faught.
In, "Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods", a plague is on the loose in the Underland snd can only affect warmbloods(warm blooded creatures), which includes humans. I loved everything about it. I loved the part when Gregor and his team encounter quicksand and come across Luxa.
In,"Gregor and the Marks of Secret", the nibblers are in some mysterious trouble, and are driven out of their homes by gnawers. It was action-packed, with plenty of mystery. I liked when Gregor figures out that the nursury rhyme was actually a prophecy. Awesome.
In the last installment,"Gregor and the Code of Claw", Gregor's feelings for Luxa finally are released. The gnawer army is on their way led by the Bane, who is now so twisted with evil and cannot keep a straight mind. This book was violent and action-packed with loads of suspense. I loved the book. Just awesome. I loved it when Gregor heads in to help the two divisions that were in the firelands against orders. When the war was over and the Bame killed, Luxa and Ripred threaten to start a new war, and Gregor is so angry he breaks Bartholemew the Sandwich's sword. When he and his family go to the Overland, they cannot go back to the Underland. They plan to move to Virginia(or at least Gregor's mom does) and the story ends with that.
Okay, maybe I left out a lot, but overall, I think Suzanne Collins is the best author who ever lived.
Those 5 books are all there is, and I hope not forever. So this is the end of my review.

I haven't enjoyed reading since elementary school, I'm currently in college. I told this to one of my teachers who made me read at least one book over winter break. My friend had all 5 books on her kindle and let me borrow them. This was definitely the first time I enjoyed reading a book. I read all five books in about a week. I would never have imagined myself reading for pleasure but this series keeps you engaged and makes you never want to put the book down! I highly recommend this for anyone who hasn't found reading very fun because this will take you to another place in your mind. I also think that these books would make for a great movie because I could visualize the details in my mind. Love this series and this author and I can't wait to start the Hunger Games now! =]

I truly enjoyed this series because I could never put it down. I also enjoyed it for it's enticing plot and twists and turns in the story line. My favorite book in this series is the 4th because background characters become more developed and became more entwined into the story. My least favorite book is because (Spoiler Alert) it brought tears to my eyes when Gregor's bond Ares dies and Gregor must leave the Underlanders. I really wish she would write more books in this series.

The old-fashioned term swashbuckling fits this series of books. One exciting adventure after another. Even though there is almost constant war in these books, our young protagonists learns empathy, love, and what's most valuable in life. The series of book ends with an anti-war message. Exciting books for kids and adults.

I've been re-reading this series since I was in elementary school. (I'm now 16) And I still love these books to death. Because of this writer, I'm making my own stories now with epic characters. I used to always imagine one of my characters fighting alongside Gregor and his friends, it was the best. These books were my childhood and I'm going to suggest them to everyone I know. c:

I don't want code of claw to be the end! make more books and I will love them all! Maybe there could be a another group of books. There could be another enemy with a leader more powerful than The Bane.

The very 1st book, (or book series) I ever read. I absolutely LOVED this story! I remember reading the first in the 5th grade and continueing to read them (impatiently) as each came out. This is the series that got me hooked on reading. Naturally when I learned of Hunger games I had to read them as well.

Suzanne Collins is a very creative writer, I love her. If you are interested in this book get it because it addicting and draws you in the book. If you like suspense and adventure, you will adore it.

I love the book in all ways. Recommend to EVERYONE.
It really plops you in there as if you are a quester with all the gang.
My favorite part is the book Gregor and the curse of the warmbloods.
I hope that more will come.

Patrick Ethan donovan

Back when I read this book in 4th Grade, it was the best book I had ever read. I even read it twice. I was very disappointed in the ending on the last book though. It made me sad. I wish Suzanne Collins would write a continuation. Still a very great series.

Started reading this series to check that it was okay for my 11 year old to read, and found that I couldn't put it down, thoroughly enjoyable the right mix of action, adventure and the hero discovering himself and his beliefs. I want to know what happened next....

This series is awesome! I read these to my 2 boys (ages 8 and 6) every night straight, and we absolutely loved them! It's especially fun to see a character like Gregor, a normal boy who doesn't think he's anything great, become something great because of his love for his family. I would recommend this series a hundred times over!!!

This was a wonderful series and is very well written. It is full of well developed characters, an excelently riveting story, and an ending that literaly leaves me begging for more. I do hope that suzanne keeps adding on to gregor's wonderful world. perhaps she could make another series that tells you of what happens to gregor but follows another character and his adventures. but more than that i would love suzanne just to continue gregors tale. i would highly recomend this series to anyone of any age.

best sieries ever! Boots is adorable! I wish I was a rager! Gregor is brave, responsible, kind, generuos, and mostly AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish gregor really existed, me and him would be best friends killing rats like crazy. My brother is reading gregor the overlander and we agree that it is better than the hunger games. I hope they make a movie of it.

Well conceived and beautifully told. Collins is a master at her craft. If you loved Harry Potter, you will love Gregor and his family. Thrilling adventure, wonderful creatures, humor and pathos. Perfection!

I liked the Hunger games series and the movies so I wanted to see what else Suzanne Collins had written. I found the first book in the library but not the others so I bought the whole serie.
It is cute and a entertaining to read. It is originally a children's book but it doesn't show. I at least in my early 20's liked it a lot.

Many people say that these books are inappropriate for underage kids but that's a bunch of garbage I think its a great book for all ages and the reason I say this is because I'm a 5th grader with an 8th graders reading level.

ALA the Narnia series, by CS Lewis, these books are fun to read and packed with adventure. Great for the young or young at heart! By the same author as Hunger Games, but far less violence and far more fantasy.

It's not The Hunger Games. It is fun, if meant for young readers instead of teens. Anyone who likes this author should click Inside the Book and read the sample.

The story is good, and the characters are interesting, if sometimes annoying. Hey, it's meant for little kids.

wonderfully written and a well thought out book
gregor truly deserves the warrior title he is constanly dragged into battles that endanger him and his family through the ecpirients of facing these he changes i to a wise and yet young boy.

i officially love everything Suzanne Collins has written. i find it next to impossible to think of more than three other series that had me in tears as often as the Underland Chronicles. both from amusement and sadness. i find myself comparing my own personality with Luxa. this is a WONDERFUL series!

This series is a delightful read for me, it kept my attention and interest and as I had read The Hunger Games by the same author I was excited to read another collection of hers, although this was different in nature from The Hunger Games, I really enjoyed it and was not at all disappointed.

A very intresting book and of corse has lots of detail because its written by the auther of the hunger games triology suzanne collins. It contains so much mystery, action, and many animals that we have today but with a twist. Read and enjoy all five of these books!

The series starts out pretty good. As you get further into the books it seems that the author only has one real story line which she repeats time and again. Quite a few of the times she ends the line in only a few pages to start all over again. At the end, she just cuts off the story line as if she plans to write future books. Since these books were written so long ago I take it that she will never continue. These books show her more earlier writings and are not on a level with hunger games. Although you will note in Hunger Games how our heroin has to save Peeta over and over again. Read for lighthearted experience noting that the story line will repeat itself over and over. I skipped the book on the ants.

I have been reading this series and enjoying it, the story is entertaining. The problem is that in "The Code of Claw" pages 189-220 are missing and replaced by duplicate page of 125-155. So about 30 pages are missing from the story. I wasn't able to find any other posts about this problem so decided to put one out there.

The Gregor the Overlander Series is as good, and as much a political commentary, as the Hunger Games. Collins is an author worth reading. I think it is as much a warning of a possible future world as any of the classics - 1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm.

i was crazy about this book! i read the last 3 books in les than two weeks , i could not put it down! so suzanne , when is the next great work from you expected?? ive now read al your books big fan . fly you high overlanders ;)

An interesting premise, based on a twist of Lewis Carroll's Underland ("Wonderland"), as Suzanne Collins asked herself what kind of a world a city kid would find underground. The first couple books in the series are decent, but after that Collins plunges it into material that may be much too dark and gruesome for the recommended age of nine. By the third book, apparently no longer content just to gratuitously kill off multiple major characters as she did in the first couple, Collins has escalated to full-scale biological warfare---and of course, the humans are the bad guys. In book four, Collins continues her descent into age-inappropriate material with a Holocaust story, complete with gas chambers and a Hitler-figure. And the final book is one of the most gruesome books (for people of any age) I have ever read. Interestingly, all the disturbingly graphic violence is included as (hopelessly simple-minded and naive) propaganda for pacifism. Not that propaganda as such is necessarily wrong, but targeting it at children is (even if it's true, which in this case it's not). In any case, this series is absurdly inappropriate for its target audience---except, PERHAPS, for those relatively few (in this country, at least) unfortunate nine- to twelve-year-olds who've actually experienced war first hand (say, those who lived in New York City during September 2001) and are coping with its aftermath. But something like this might actually be even worse for them, I couldn't say one way or the other.

It's not that I didn't enjoy the series at all---there are parts that I did---it's just that it's wildly inappropriate as children's literature. The Hunger Games is in some ways even darker, but in other ways more hopeful---and at least it's not targeted at such young kids. And it's somewhat better written than The Underland Chronicles.

If you're a parent considering getting these books for your child to read, I suggest that you might want to read them yourself first and see.

You should NOT buy these books under any circumstances! I bought these books are started reading, then after a short time glanced up to make sure my daughter was ok(she's 4). But she's not there. And as I look around I see that the house is strangely empty. Turns out, I'd been reading for 4 days straight and not going to work or acknowledging my family! So my wife packed up and took my daughter to their new home with her mother in Virginia. This book cost me my family, but at least I have time to read now! The want adds aren't as interesting as these books were, however, and I must say it was not a fair trade-off. STAY AWAY FROM THESE TOMES OF EVIL!

This book is spectcular! I love it,but the only sad part is the uncertain and sad ending. There is action, adventure, suspence, and a little bit of romance in this story. This book is by far my favourite!!!!

An excellent page-turner. I bought this series for my 10 year old son. The large rats, spiders & cockroaches kind of freaked him out in the first book so we agreed to have him wait a couple of years to read the rest but I continued on and really enjoyed the books. After reading the last book, I'm glad my son waited - subject matter is probably more appropriate for a 12-13 year old level. I would highly recommend the series though. Extremely entertaining and I soaked up the entire series over the Thanksgiving holiday break. Wish the author had more out there to read!