Bound To Stay Bound

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Bulletin for the Center... - 01/01/2004 Eleven-year-old Gregor follows his baby sister, Boots, down a shaft in their apartment-building laundry room and finds himself in a subterranean world on the brink of war. The siblings are found by the crawlers (giant sentient cockroaches) and traded to the humans (descendants of a founder who established the first below-ground colony) living in the underground city of Regalia. Gregor discovers he is prophesied to be a key player in the war between factions of Underlanders: humans, crawlers, and spinners (giant sentient spiders) vs. gnawers (giant sentient rats). The boy also discovers that his father, who disappeared nearly three years before, is held captive by the gnawers, and it is only with Gregor leading humans, roaches, spiders, and even one giant rat on a risk-filled quest to rescue his father that the prophecy can be fulfilled. Two-year-old Boots is a constant reminder of the Overland as well as a surprising asset: her generous and sunny nature embraces even the crawlers, who eventually come to worship her. The accoutrements of successful fantasy—a unique setting, a believable social hierarchy, and colorful but rounded characterizations—are here, and Collins makes the best of them. She firmly establishes both her characters and her world before sending her players on their dangerous path. Betrayals, revelations, and shifts of alliance keep the tension high, and the action is almost nonstop. There have been a number of fantasies about secret civilizations that exist beneath the streets of urban centers; this lively title is a splendid addition to the ranks. - Copyright 2004 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2003 Gr 4-8-In this accessible, almost-cinematic fantasy, Gregor and his two-year-old sister fall into an amazing underground world. Taken in by people who have lived beneath the earth for centuries, the 11-year-old learns about the giant-sized talking creatures that also reside there, including bats, cockroaches, and vicious rats. Gregor just wants to get home, but a prophecy hints that he may be the "overlander" destined to save the humans from the warlike rodents. He is reluctant until he learns that his father, who disappeared from their New York City home a few years before, is a prisoner of the rats. Gregor is not an eager hero, but with common sense, quick thinking, and determination he grows into the role. His sister, who provides some comic relief, also plays a key part because of her ability to befriend creatures, especially the giant cockroaches. Plot threads unwind smoothly, and the pace of the book is just right. Exciting scenes and cliff-hanger chapters are balanced by decisions and interactions that drive the action. Gregor is not the most compelling figure at first, but as the story progresses he becomes more interesting, maturing through the challenges he faces. Supporting characters are generally engaging, particularly the enigmatic warrior rat that claims to support the protagonist's mission. This is an engrossing adventure for fantasy fans and for those new to the genre.-Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2003 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/15/2003 *Starred Review* What if Alice fell down an air vent in a New York City apartment building instead of down a rabbit hole? Collins considers a similar possibility in her exceptional debut novel, a well-written, fast-moving, action-packed fantasy. Eleven-year-old Gregor expects a long, boring summer of baby-sitting his two-year-old sister, Boots, and his senile grandmother. Distracted with thoughts about his father, who disappeared three years ago, Gregor belatedly notices that Boots has crawled into an air vent in the laundry room. He dives in after her, and the two are sucked downward into the Underland, a fantastic subterranean world of translucent-skinned, violet-eyed humans, and giant talking cockroaches, bats, spiders, and rats. Eventually, the terrified Gregor is transformed into a warrior hero who leads a successful battle against an army of invading rats and discovers his father, who has long been held prisoner by the enemy. Collins creates a fascinating, vivid, highly original world and a superb story to go along with it, and Gregor is endearing as a caring, responsible big brother who rises triumphantly to every challenge. This is sure to be a solid hit with young fantasy fans. - Copyright 2003 Booklist.

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