Series Review: Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods & Gregor and the Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins
Release Date: July 1, 2005 / Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This is book three in the Underland Chroincles, and it might be my favorite book in the series so far. I love the characters. Gregor, Luxa, Boots, Temp, Ripred, and Ares are all great. And I can totally understand why Ripred is Suzanne Collins's favorite character.

Since this series is for a younger audience, it's a bit more lighter and funnier than The Hunger Games. But really, it's not that much different. Sad things happen. There's war and hunger and death. And there's creepy stuff too. (Like with what happened to a bat in the previous book or the plague in this book. Really grossed me out.) There was a quote I wrote down from the first book that really made me think of The Hunger Games, but I misplaced the paper I wrote it down on. Don't want to give spoilers, so I would say it was something like....life would never be the same but at least they had each other.

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Gregor and the Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins
Release Date: May 1, 2007 / Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The fifth and final book in the engrossing Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. I think people would have been prepared for Mockingjay if they had read the Underland Chronicles first, especially this book. And I remember people complained about the epilogue in Mockingjay, and well...at least it got an epilogue

I had a couple of questions about the ending, and I planned on listing them in this review. But I think I probably just need some time to really think about it and figure it out on my own. Use my imagination, which is what Suzanne Collins would probably say to me if I asked her these questions.

Anyway, the Underland Chronicles was a thought-provoking and touching series! I wonder what Suzanne Collins' next book or series will be about.

Review: Gorgon in the Gully by Melina Marchetta

Title: The Gorgon in the Gully
Author: Melina Marchetta
Pages: 119
Publisher: Penguin Australia / Puffin
Release Date: September 27, 2010

Beyond the basketball courts and classrooms of St Raph's is a gully where everything disappears forever. Danny Griggs has heard stories about a creature that lives down there. So why does he volunteer to face the Gorgon when he's been petrified of everything all his life?

A gentle story about overcoming fear and looking at things from all angles, from best-selling author Melina Marchetta.

My Thoughts: Melina Marchetta is my favorite author EVER. I will read anything she writes. When I found out that she was releasing a children's book, I knew I wanted to read it. And when I found it was about Danny Griggs, the little brother of Jonah Griggs (my favorite male character of all time) from Jellicoe Road (my favorite book in the entire world), I knew I had to get my hands on a copy! Sadly, Australian books are hard to come by and shipping is pretty expensive to the US, so I thought it would be awhile before I ever got a chance to read it. But then a miracle... FishpondWorld.com! Three weeks after ordering it I finally received it in the mail. I read it as soon as I could, and it was worth the wait! I just loved it!

There's a legend about an evil monster called the Gorgon that lives in the gully at the St. Raph's schoolyard. If any ball happens to fall in the gully, it's lost forever because no one will ever dare risk facing the Gorgon. But after Danny Griggs accidentally hits a classmate's soccer ball (the lucky soccer ball signed by Harry Kewell that will help them win the grand final!) into the gully and gets called a gutless wonder by the school bully, Danny decides he's going to stop being afraid and venture into the gully. With the help of his friends and his older brother Jonah, Danny hatches a plan to retrieve the ball from the gully and along the way learns to overcome his fears and the importance of friendships.

The Gorgon in the Gully had the humor and friendships Melina Marchetta is awesome at, but in a much more innocent form (the characters are little kids, of course!). It was such a cute read. I mean, c'mon, mini-Melina Marchetta characters? So adorable! All the characters were great, and Danny was my favorite! He's a sweetie, and I loved how he wanted to be courageous even though he was terrified. I do think he's a whole lot braver than he gives himself credit for. I loved the relationships Danny had with his friends and how he made new friends, and I also loved reading his interactions with his mother, Jonah, and Jack, his mother's boyfriend. Danny was really such a nice character to read about.

This story actually takes place during the same time as Jellicoe Road, so I think you'll appreciate it even more if you're a Jellicoe Road fan. Especially if you love Jonah Griggs. He was in this a lot more than I expected. And yes, I had a HUGE stupid grin on my face ever single time he was mentioned. I didn't believe it was possible, but I love him even more now!

One of my favorite quotes from the book (Jellicoe fans will understand!):

"The next night he asked Jonah if he could take $9.49 out of Jonah's secret stash that only Danny and his mum and Jack knew about. Jonah kept it in his sock drawer next to a photograph of Jonah and a girl with sad eyes, taken in one of those railway station photo booths."

Really, I could go on and on, but since this is a short story, I don't want to end up spoiling everything. This is a book about friendships and overcoming fears, and it's definitely a great read for children. I also recommended it to Melina Marchetta fans, who need a quick Melina Marchetta fix before the next book release!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars