Gregor the Overlander

Let me start with the bad news (at least for me): Giant spiders, bats, cockroaches, and rats play a prominent role in Suzanne Collins's Gregor The Overlander (Underland Chronicles). I learned this from the back cover and almost read no more. I had my fill of giant cockroaches during my Louisiana childhood. But I persevered, and I'm glad I did.

The book is about an eleven-year-old boy, Gregor, who follows his two-year-old sister when she tumbles down an air shaft in the laundry room of their New York apartment building. They land in Underland, a world beneath the city, where resident humans have established a fragile peace with gargantuan animal neighbors. Much adventure ensues. Life-and-death, edge-of-your-seat adventure, with interesting characters. In the end, the book is about family, courage, science, war, treachery, and love. You'll forget the roaches are roaches. You'll even grow to like them. Really.

GREGOR THE OVERLANDER is the first in a series. I hope the others will be as good. Also, rumor has it that the author's newest book, The Hunger Games (not part of the series, and seemingly for a slightly older audience) is going to be H-U-G-E when it comes out in October. HUGE. You heard it here first. (In all candor, I heard it from folks who work at her publishing house. So we'll see . . . .)