KIDS BOOK CLUB September SELECTION Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins 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. If you liked Gregor the Overlander, then you should try… The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever! This stunning debut novel offers refreshingly clear writing and fascinating, original characters. Discussion Questions 1. Do you think that, at the beginning of the story, Gregory has given up hope of ever finding his father? Once his adventures in the Underland get under way, do you think he believes he’ll find his father? 2. The Underlanders see Gregor as the great warrior told of in the Prophecy of Gray, and because of that he is to lead the quest to prevent their annihilation. But Gregor sees himself differently – he says to Vikus, “You’ve got the wrong guy. Really, I promise you, I’m not the warrior.” Explain his feelings. Why is Vikus so convinced that Gregor is the right one? 3. How is Gregor like many soldiers who go off to war? Gregor has many qualities that we associate with the typical American hero. What are they? How are these traits different from than those of Luxa and Henry? 4. Discuss Gregor's personality. Of all his character traits, which do you find most admirable? By his own admission he has very few friends. Could he be your friend? Why? 5. How does Gregor's relationship with Luxa change over the course of the novel? 6. Both Luxa and Henry have an air of superiority about them. How does this translate into the way they treat Gregor and into their attitudes toward the other inhabitants of the Underland? 7. One of the most interesting characters in the novel is not a human, but a rat that Vikus has enlisted to be the guide for the questers. Discuss Ripred's traits that set him apart from the others, both rats and humans. 8. Giant cockroaches, rats, and bats inhabit the Underland. Gregor is scared but keeps his cool. How and why do you think he does it, and why is it important to him that he appear brave? How would you react if you were staring down into the face of a four-foot cockroach? 9. Before leaving for the quest, Gregor is brought to the Underland museum to choose things that might aid him on his journey. He selects a flashlight and batteries, a construction worker's hardhat with a light, and a can of root beer. What did you think he would do with these items? How in fact do these things come in handy? He could have taken a baseball. Why didn't he? 10. At the end of the book, when Gregor is saying his farewells, Luxa says to him, "Perhaps we shall see you here again, someday." Gregor does in fact return to the Underland in Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, the second book in The Underland Chronicles. Talk about the circumstances you imagine bring him back. What do you think the Prophecy of Bane foretells? .