Scholastic Australia
April 2025
ISBN: 9781761648335
RRP: $19.99
First published in 2003, well before the Hunger Games, this is a well-loved adventure/fantasy that will both intrigue, delight and, at times, freak your kiddos out. There are always rats in sewers, this we know, and there have been stories about creatures of all kinds living under cities and buildings, but what if the huge megapolis of New York City was not just teeming with life above ground, but also a rich and historic civilisation underground?
When 11-year-old Gregor is left in charge of his little sister, Boots (Margaret), and takes her downstairs in their dingy apartment building to sort laundry, the toddler finds and falls through an air duct grate and, without thinking twice, Gregor dives in after her. Gregor’s life is not easy. His father has been missing for over two years. His mother works hard to keep the family fed and housed, no matter how poorly that is. His grandmother, who lives with them, has dementia and is unwell. As the oldest child, Gregor, has to shoulder a lot of responsibility.
When the boy finds his sister far below the ground, he also finds that they are in a strange world of pale-skinned humans, giant sentient bats, cockroaches, spiders and rats all of whom are seperate colonies almost – with, of course, the rats being against everyone else.
Gregor is astonished, but elated, to learn from the apparent leader of the Underlanders, Vikus, that his father also fell down below and has been held captive by the rats all the time he’s been missing. He also learns of an ancient prophecy, handed down from the original founder of the Underworld realm of Regalia.
The Prophecy of Gray
Beware, Underlanders, time hangs by a thread
The hunters are hunted, white water runs red.
The gnawers will strike to extinguish the rest.
The hope of the hopeless resides in a quest.
An Overlander warrior, a son of the sun,
May bring us back light, he may bring us back none.
But gather your neighbors and follow his call
Or rats will most surely devour us all.
Two over, two under, of royal descent,
Two fliers, two crawlers, two spinners assent.
One gnawer beside and one lost up ahead.
And eight will be left when we count up the dead.
The last who will die must decide where he stands.
The fate of the eight is contained in his hands.
So bid him take care, bid him look where he leaps,
As life may be death, and death life again reaps.
And Vikus believes that Gregor is the warrior prophesied, despite all appearances and, certainly, Gregor’s own disbelief. Like so many other fictional heroes of small stature, or youth (think Bilbo and Frodo, or even Harry Potter), Gregor can’t imagine that he could possibly be the warrior.
Yet, he is determined to rescue his father and the quest begins. Having to manage the group of disparate members and the scorn of those who think themselves superior, plus care for Boots is no easy task.
When the rats begin to war in earnest, viciously and without mercy, Gregor’s courage, inner strength and fortitude comes to the fore. He also proves himself to have true leadership qualities.
It is a thrilling adventure from start to finish and I can see by the quantity of teaching resources available that it is a popular and well-used class novel in American schools. Why not consider it as a change from the usual quest novels that have been doing the rounds for so many years that children are now reading the same set novel as their parents before them? I honestly don’t know why it hasn’t been optioned and adapted to film because it would be a splendid choice!
The themes of war and genocide, peace, acceptance of differences, good & evil, the dichotomy of these are all so completely relevant right now especially. I cannot help but feel that even a serial read of this will bring much vigor and empathy into classroom discussions. I’m eager to seek out the rest of the series now, and hoping that they also might have a re-issue. I’m giving it a 5 🦇🕷️🐀⚔️👑 rating for readers from around 10 years upwards to Year 7/8.
Here are some of the free resources I’ve found should they be of use to you, there are also some available on commercial platforms. Enjoy!
Just So Stories 
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