Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

So this book is about a twelve year old boy named Gregor who lives in New York with this mom, two sisters, and elderly grandmother. His father disappeared about two years prior making him the (sorta) man in the house. Life kinda sucks. So, one day, he's babysitting his two year old sister, Boots, when they both end up falling into the Underland. From then on, their mission is to get back home. But wait, there's more! Things don't go according to plan and they get tangled up in a bigger mess and need to help out the Underlanders.

I surprisingly enjoyed this book. I was looking for a fun, middle grade book and I found a good one. The plot was interesting enough to keep me entertained and the world that we visit was unique enough to keep me from comparing it to anything else. The characters were pretty dynamic, considering this was meant for a younger audience. Boots was by far, my favorite character. I found it so interesting and impressive how a  baby had such a good personality and kept me smiling throughout the adventure more than anyone else. She truly was a two year old. Everything from her dialogue to her actions screamed it. I enjoyed the fact that in the middle of all this fear and uncertainty there was a just a ball of happiness and hope for everyone. Boots also does play a big part in the book; she's not just a plot device to get the story going. She's important to Gregor and the Underlanders. All while still being a baby. Gregor was a pretty cool protagonist. He has a good head on his shoulders and I think that young boys will adore him.

The ending of this book was done really well. No spoilers, of course, but I will say it left me wanting to read more and wanting to see what the character relationships will end up being like. Some may say it ended abruptly and that it felt incomplete, but I think it was a ploy to get younger readers curious for the next book. I know I am.

I think this book will definitely appeal more to the middle grade age. Kids in fifth grade, more specifically boys, will absolutely love it. Will this be the book that gets the child in your life to start reading? I think that depends on the child, but I can say they will most likely enjoy it. I think that if you're an older reader but want something more lighthearted, you'll enjoy this book. That's something really nice about middle grade; you a good story and characters without too much worry that they'll die. Not always thought. Looking at you Percy Jackson. 4 out of 5 stars.