When 11-year-old Gregor follows his little sister through a grate in the laundry room of their New York apartment, he hurtles into the dark Underland beneath the city. There, humans live uneasily beside giant spiders, bats, cockroaches and rats — but the fragile peace is about to fall apart.

Gregor wants no part of a conflict between these creepy creatures. He just wants to find his way home. But when he discovers that a strange prophecy foretells a role for him in the Underland’s uncertain future, he realizes it might be the only way to solve the biggest mystery of his life, and to save the life of his father, who has been missing for years. Little does he know his quest will change him and the Underland forever.

I became acquainted with Suzanne Collins and her work when I read The Hunger Games, and, boy, was that a treat. Even though she wrote this series WAY before The Hunger Games, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, and I’m so glad I did. It was an adorable story although definitely geared toward children. The talking animals were very reminiscent of the Redwall series. This book in five words: young, fun, fast, easy, entertaining.

Rated: None. No language. No sexuality. The only thing barely worth mentioning is some very, very mild violence.