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    Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
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    Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
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    Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
    Audiobook6 hours

    Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

    Written by Suzanne Collins

    Narrated by Paul Boehmer

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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.

    In the months since Gregor first encountered the strange Underland beneath New York City, he's sworn he won't ever go back. But when another prophecy, this time about an ominous white rat known as the Bane, calls for Gregor's help, the Underlanders know the only way they can get his attention is through his little sister, Boots. Now Gregor's quest reunites him with his bat, Ares, the rebellious princess Luxa, and new allies and sends them through the dangerous and deadly Waterway in search of the Bane. Then Gregor must face the possibility of his greatest loss yet, and make life and death choices that will determine the future of the Underland.

    Suzanne Collins has created characters and a world that are capturing countless imaginations. This second installment of the Underland Chronicles is sure to win her even more enthusiastic fans.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 11, 2006
    ISBN9780307282637
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

    4/5

    560 ratings96 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is an engaging tale of a quest by a small group to save many. Themes include family bonds, accepting differences, and the power of hope. Truly enjoyed!
    • 5/5
      What a completely amazing book--that made me cry! I don't cry over books, and for this one to wrench even a single teardrop from me is saying something.

      I think I have a new writing hero--Suzanne Collins, I bow down before you. Your middle grade is awesome, your young adult is fantastic... Please tell me that at least you worry for one minute out of one year if your writing's good enough. Then I'll know you're human. ;o)
    • 4/5
      Solid, nice little adventure story from Suzanne Collins prior to the Hunger Games. Personally, I'm not a fan of most "underground" or "under the Earth" adventures, they make it hard for me to suspend my belief. AND this one is full of roaches...

      But my distaste for the genre aside, in reading this I learned a little more about Suzanne Collins' writing style. In Gregor the Overlander you read more unusual names, some almost normal, some kinda far out there. Also, Collins obviously likes for her main characters to have a lot of responsibility thrust upon them at a young age, and for lack of a better word, they have parent issues. Gregor's dad missing, Katniss' dad dead, Gregor's mom overworked, Katniss' mom zoned out.

      And (possible spoiler) there's a prophecy in Gregor the Overlander, that reminded me of Collins' folk songs from The Hunger Games series. While the songs in The Hunger Games are not direct prophecies about the characters, they do seeming contain foreshadowing.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book. _Gregor the Overlander_ follows the adventures of Gregor, unassuming 11 year old hero of otherworldly prophesy, and his little sister, Boots. The story is peopled with interesting characters (from humans and bats, to roaches and rats), although Ripred takes the cake. Sadly, we don't meet him until about 3/4 of the way through the book, but he makes the wait worth it. Although about half of the characters are not human, you become engrossed in their stories and wish all of them more "time". I thought the book appropriate for grades 5/6 and up, due mostly to violence, which actually matches up fairly well with the reading level. While some younger readers may be fine with it, I would probably tailor my recommendations to a slightly older audience. There are multiple brawls and fairly frequent deaths, ranging from named-but-fringe characters to well established ones, many of whom are killed off in a small window of pages. Possibly disturbing to a younger crowd.
    • 3/5
      This was a very different through a door to another world type of book. I listened to it as an audio book. There are some very good messages about not judging others by what they look like. I liked it enough to finish listening to the end, but it did not captivate me enough that I want to search out the sequel.
    • 4/5
      This irresistible first novel tells the story of a quiet boy who embarks on a dangerous quest in order to fulfill his destiny -- and find his father -- in a strange world beneath New York City.When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, 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.
    • 3/5
      When Gregor's sister Boots crawls into a vent in their laundry and goes missing, Gregor knows he must follow her. What he doesn't expect is that the vent leads into an underground world complete with sun-starved people, giant animals (rats, bats, and spiders), and an on going war over space in the Underland. Gregor wants to help, but he also just wants to get home. I always enjoy books where there is a world hidden from ours, but the large rodents/bugs creeped me out. Books like this always make me wonder what we can't see...
    • 4/5
      An unexpected adventure for poor Gregor, who follows his youngest sister down into the Underworld that is filled with rats, bats, and other creepy-crawlies. Perhaps he will find his father who has disappeared two years earlier....that is, if he can keep himself and his sister alive. By the author of The Hunger Games.
    • 4/5
      I went into this book simply wanting to read the first book that Suzanne Collins had written because I enjoyed the Hunger Games so much, but what I got here floored me. This was a children's book that was substantially better in my opinion to The Hunger Games because it felt more geared towards children than that particular story. I was mesmerized by Collins ability to make you care for characters that were not even human. Every single moment of this book was magical in nature. It truly became one of my favorite reads.

      Collins introduces us to Gregor and then thrusts him into an entirely different world called Underland. In this Underland we find different tribes that are made up of different species, such as spinners, bats, crawlers, and such. This makes for an entertaining world and one that you feel drawn into. Each moment feels like an adventure and you want to continue reading until the happy conclusion. There are several other books in the Underland Chronicles series and I intend to read them all!
    • 3/5
      Reading for the group 'great middle-grade reads.' So far the world-building is interesting enough, but to me it seems like just another MG adventure into a fantastic hidden world, nothing to make it stand out from all the rest. Well, maybe the baby sister, Boots, has enough charm to help me finish.
      ---------------
      Ok, done. Yup, that's about it. It got a little richer, more complex, as the quest became more intense, but not a lot. I might have more to say after the discussion, but probably not.
    • 3/5
      The world created here is fine, but I really couldn't connect with the main character, who I found mostly irritating.
    • 4/5
      Way cute book. Very imaginative. It's fun to see where Suzanne Collins came from before writing Hunger Games. This one's for elementary to middle school kids probably. I think my kids will love it.
    • 4/5
      Great book for older elementary kids.
    • 4/5
      The first book in the Underland Series. Read for a kids book group. The book has a great pace and is patterned after Alice in Wonderland but with an urban setting. New York to be exact. Instead of falling down a rabbit hole and landing at a tea party. Gregor and his sister "Boots" get sucked into an air grate in the basement laundry room of their apartment building and down into a cave like world. Their first encounter is with 4 foot cockroaches. The roaches take them to the Underlanders because they both are part of the prophecy. Gregor wants nothing to do with a prophecy until he finds out his dad may be here, he has not seen his dad in years. He just disappeared one day. I did read and listen to the audio. The audio version is okay but the story itself moves well not to scary for the little ones.
    • 3/5
      I didn't get very excited about the plot, nor very interested in the characters, though I enjoyed the premise.
    • 4/5
      I went into this book simply wanting to read the first book that Suzanne Collins had written because I enjoyed the Hunger Games so much, but what I got here floored me. This was a children's book that was substantially better in my opinion to The Hunger Games because it felt more geared towards children than that particular story. I was mesmerized by Collins ability to make you care for characters that were not even human. Every single moment of this book was magical in nature. It truly became one of my favorite reads.

      Collins introduces us to Gregor and then thrusts him into an entirely different world called Underland. In this Underland we find different tribes that are made up of different species, such as spinners, bats, crawlers, and such. This makes for an entertaining world and one that you feel drawn into. Each moment feels like an adventure and you want to continue reading until the happy conclusion. There are several other books in the Underland Chronicles series and I intend to read them all!
    • 3/5
      I want to give this book a better rating because I love the author, but I can't. The writing shows promise but the story's unoriginal. I did really feel for the characters, so much so that I plan to read the second book.
      I have hope... Aided by having read her future awesome books.
    • 5/5
      You know what? This is no time to be star-stingy because I freaking love this book. The whole series, actually. I'm leading the kids' book discussion on this tomorrow, so I re-read it to refresh myself (I listened to the whole thing on audio in my pre-GoodReads days). Suzanne Collins knows how to pace a story, and how to write a war story for children.

      Also, as the parent of a 2-year-old now, I found Boots to be more engaging and adorable than I did at the time, mostly because I was hearing her dialogue in my son's voice.

      Most importantly--it's such a subtle thing, and a total non-issue, but it's nice to see another African-American hero of a fantasy series (but this time a series that kids/teens are still likely to read, unlike Earthsea). I'll bet the fans will be pissed when they find out.
    • 4/5
      I went into this book simply wanting to read the first book that Suzanne Collins had written because I enjoyed the Hunger Games so much, but what I got here floored me. This was a children's book that was substantially better in my opinion to The Hunger Games because it felt more geared towards children than that particular story. I was mesmerized by Collins ability to make you care for characters that were not even human. Every single moment of this book was magical in nature. It truly became one of my favorite reads.

      Collins introduces us to Gregor and then thrusts him into an entirely different world called Underland. In this Underland we find different tribes that are made up of different species, such as spinners, bats, crawlers, and such. This makes for an entertaining world and one that you feel drawn into. Each moment feels like an adventure and you want to continue reading until the happy conclusion. There are several other books in the Underland Chronicles series and I intend to read them all!
    • 4/5
      When Gregor follows his 2 year old sister thru a hole in the basement laundry of their New York apartment building he falls into the Underland beneath the city. In this dark, forbidding place humans live in a fragile peace with giant cockroaches and spiders. The rats are a dangerous enemy and are not to be tangled with. Gregor's only thought is to find a way to get himself and Boots home again but when he discovers that his father may be in the Underland as a prisoner of the rats he takes on a dangerous quest as the Overland warrior to save him.I really enjoyed this story. It was well written and fast paced. I look forward to reading more of this series and finding out what happens next to Gregor, Boots and the rest. While this story is classified as Children's at our library I would also offer it to teens that are looking for a fun easy read with an otherworldly flavour.
    • 3/5
      This was written by the author of The Hunger Games series, which is the only reason I read it. It's probably what you'd call a middle grade book. Tweens.Gregor is looking after his 2-year old sister when the two of them fall down a hole in the laundry room. Below ground they meet giant cockroaches, giant rats, bats, and humans who have been there for hundreds of years (though only hundreds). Naturally Gregor then has to go on a quest.I do tend to like stories where someone from our world stumbles into another. What I don't tend to like is talking animals and when things get surreal and bizarre and it's a world I can't wrap my head around. Well, there are talking animals, and it's a little strange, but it's not too bad. I can't say it's a place I'd want to visit personally though.The good: Gregor's something like 11, and is watching after his little sister the whole time. Which is certainly pretty unusual in a book like this. Or in pretty much any book, probably.More good: There's a prophecy, but while I was trying to predict the outcome, Collins managed to surprise me. She didn't do the obvious. At least, not all of the obvious.The annoying: The narrator had a tendency to think to himself a lot. And it was in dialog quotes. I guess I've grown used to thoughts just being written plain, with the tag ', he thought'. And I guess I also prefer it when they don't have specific thoughts so much. While I think in words often, a lot of thought doesn't happen at the level of words. Or at least not complete sentences. I would've preferred more 'he guessed', 'he realized', 'he understood that'. There are more books in the series, and the ending rather hints at that. But I'm content to stop with this one, I think. Unless someone tells me the next books are awesome or something.
    • 3/5
      Collins, S. (2004). Gregor the Overlander. New York: Scholastic.0439678137311 pages.Appetizer: 11-year-old Gregor is facing a hot, boring summer in New York City, watching his grandma and one of his little sisters, Boots. His mom works all day and his dad had mysteriously disappeared several years ago. But, when Boots falls into a large open duct along the wall behind the dryer in the basement laundry room of their apartment building, Gregor has no choice but to follow her. The siblings fall into a mysterious underland where cockroaches, bats and rats are giant, the people have never seen the sun and where, Gregor quickly learns, it's much easier to arrive than to escape. Looks like his summer has taken a turn for the interesting.Okay, so I'm in love with The Hunger Games trilogy that Collins wrote after the Underland Chronicles. And since I'd heard good things about it, I figured it was my duty to pick up this series as well. But while by the same author, who still writes in clear and action-packed prose--I mean, can the woman end a chapter without there being some kind of plot twist/moment of emotional "ooh"?--The Underland Chronicles will really appeal to middle grade boys. I'm guessing the giant cockroaches, spiders and rats will entertain. And the fact that Collins includes real behavioral and biological features when she describes the animals will amuse even more.I particularly like Gregor the Overlander because quite a few of the initial interactions and misunderstandings revolve around cultural misunderstandings. This can help prepare students or open up discussion about experiencing another culture.I also like that the book explores what it is to be a hero/warrior and the sense of determinism that can arise when characters must worry about fulfilling a prophecy. Between the prophecy, quests, and links between the giant bats and their human riders, the book feels like it is the underground baby of The Lord of the Rings series and Avatar. Seriously! (Never mind that Gregor came out long before Avatar. It's still its baby. Don't ask me about the math!).I do have one small complaint though. I didn't like that the protagonist's name was Gregor and one of the antagonists was named King Gorger. Gregor. Gorger. Gregor. Gorger. Knowing Collins, this may have been intentional. But since I tend to focus on the first and last letters as I read names, there were a few moments of confusion.Also, as a warning, there are multiple character deaths in the book. As a rule, the characters who die aren't the ones the reader is expected to love the most, but they're also not nameless, faceless, motionless rocks in the background either. (But how unexpected would that be?! If a rock died?! Those kids don't even breathe! Nobody would see it coming!)The next book in the series is Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane. While it won't be able to fight its way to the top of my book pile, it'll still make the pile, which is saying something.Dinner Conversation:"Gregor had pressed his forehead against the screen for so long, he could feel a pattern of tiny checks above his eyebrows. he ran his fingers over the bumps and resisted the impulse to let out a primal caveman scream" (p. 1)."As he reached the far wall, a strange scene confronted him.The metal grate to an old air duct was wide open, secured by two rusty hinges at the top. Boots was squinting into the opening, about two feet by two feet, which led into the wall of the building. From where he stood, Gregor could see nothing but blackness. Then a wisp of...what was it? Steam? Smoke? It didn't really look like either Some strange vapor drifted out of the hole and curled around Boots. She held out her arms curiously and leaned forward."No!" yelled Gregor as he lunged for her, but Boots's tiny frame seemed to be sucked into the air duct. Without thinking, Gregor thrust his head and shoulders into the hole. The metal grate smacked into his back. The next thing he knew, he was falling down, down, down into empty space" (p. 13)."All right, okay, I'm talking to a giant cockroach," thought Gregor. "Be cool, be nice, answer the bug. He wants to know 'Smells what so good, smells what?' So, tell him." Gregor forced himself to take a deep sniff and then regretted it. Only one thing smelled like that."I poop!" said Boots, as if on cue. "I poop, Ge-go!""My sister needs a clean diaper," said Gregor, somehow feeling embarrassed." (pp. 18-19)."It is simple to fall down, but the going up requires much giving.""What do you mean?" asked Gregor, his throat tightening."He means you cannot go home," said Luxa flatly. "You must stay with us in the Underland.""Uh, no! No, thank you!" said Gregor. "I mean, you're all great, but I've got stuff to do...upstairs!" he said. "Thanks again! Nice meeting you! Come on, Boots!" (p. 36)."He'd seen movies. He'd read books. He didn't in any way resemble any warrior. First of all, they were grown up and they usually had a lot of special weaponry. Gregor was eleven and, unless you counted a two-year-old sister as special weaponry, he'd come empty-handed" (pp. 111-112)."Gregor succeeded in thinking of himself as a warrior. A bold, brave, powerful warrior that the Underlanders would tell stories about for centuries. He could almost see himself leading a squadron of bats into battle, stunning the rats, saving the Underland from--"Ge-go, I pee!" Announced Boots.And there he stood, a boy in a goofy hard hat with a beat-up flashlight and a bunch of batteries he hadn't even tested to see if they still had juice.The mighty warrior excused himself and changed a diaper" (pp. 137-138).
    • 5/5
      Suzanne Collins has created an underground world with giant talking rats, cockroaches and bats, who all can express human emotions - both good and evil. Among these inhabitants of this world is a civilization of pale skinned humans that descended hundreds of years ago, creating a monarchy system. When ordinary Gregor stumbles upon this world, he realizes that it wasn't accidental and he is as much a part of this world than he thought. Collins is able to convey character development through Gregor's journey of self discovery and independence in the story. She also allows readers to connect with the characters through some emotional and intense scenes. Targeted toward high 3rd grade readers to 5th grade.
    • 4/5
      Gregor is eleven years old. He lives with his mom, grandmother, and two little sisters, Lizzie, seven, and Boots, who's just two. His dad--a fun, gentle, sax-playing, intellectually inquisitive man--vanished while his mom was pregnant with Boots. It's the beginning of a hot, sticky New York summer, and Gregor has to stay home to take care of Boots while mom's at work and all the other kids go to day camp.On the very first day of summer vacation, after watching the neighborhood kids get on the bus to camp, Gregor dutifully gathers up the laundry (and Boots) and heads down to the laundry room to do his chores. Somehow Boots manages to fall through a grate in the the wall and Gregor must go after her. Instead of simply being able to pull her out and get back to business, Gregor finds himself falling downward, a long way downward, much like Alice when she falls down the rabbit hole.When he hits the bottom Gregor discovers a whole world below (which he later learns is called the Underland). There are people there, pale and violet-eyed, but there are also giant anthropomorphic cockroaches, rats, bats, and spiders. Gregor, apparently the "warrior" in a prophecy made long ago, finds himself on a quest, the goal of which seems to be to find his father and to avert a war.Gregor the Overlander is a delightful intermediate level novel. Though the burdens placed upon young Gregor are heavy, he shoulders them with aplomb, and learns much along the way. Young readers will absorb (with a spoonful of sugar) such lessons as the importance of believing in oneself and trusting others, not to judge people based on appearance (or species!), and following through on commitments. Charming, often funny (but sometimes scary), and well-written, Gregor is the first installment in the Underland Chronicles.
    • 3/5
      I decided to read this book because I am a fan of Suzanne Collins, and even though this is an older book, and aimed at young children, a good writer is a good writer. Which luckily is the case for this story. I enjoyed it the way as an adult, I can appreciate a disney movie. It was just cute enough and endearing enough. When I have children, this will definitely be one of the books I put on their shelf.
    • 3/5
      Not one of my favorites. An action packed, adventure novel.
    • 3/5
      Loved this series, each book was better then the last and I hope that she writes more. Gregor is quite amazing for how young he is, but he has had to be the man of the house for quite sometime. Great series for any age.
    • 4/5
      The novel, Gregor the Overlander, encompasses the theme to never give up and to have trust in others. In the begining, Gregor, the protaginist struggles with keeping his little sister, Boots, alive in a strange new land below New York, called the Underland. Throughout the middle he perserveres through traveling in a new land on a mission and being known as a hero to the underland because of his involvement to the Prophocey of Gray. By the end he has learned to trust more in other people and to always keep fighting even when you are facing certain death.
    • 3/5
      This is a solid example of children's speculative fiction. While the prose is simplistic, Collins takes great care in both creating a vivid, (almost) believable underworld as well as crafting an equally believable hero. Gregor is noble, but not cloying--though he wants to protect his sister, he's plagued by the jealousies and insecurities common to 11-year-olds. Unfortunately, his actual quest feels a little tacked on, but the character- and world- building are more than adequate for keeping the reader's interest. Gregor's middle class background, peppered with very realistic details (he plays the saxophone, and eats with some nerdy kids at lunch) elevate him above the Gary Stu perfectionism that plague many children's/YA fantasy heroes.
    • 4/5
      Solidly written beginning to a fantasy series. Inclusion of toddler and characters' interactions with her add a unique twist.