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80th out of 176 books
—
905 voters
Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Underland Chronicles #4)
Follow Gregor in the next highly anticipated adventure in Suzanne Collins' masterful Underland Chronicles!
It's only a few months since Gregor and Boots returned from the Underland, leaving their mother behind to heal from the plague. Though Gregor's family receives frequent updates on her condition, they all know Gregor must return to fulfill his role as the warrior who is
...more
It's only a few months since Gregor and Boots returned from the Underland, leaving their mother behind to heal from the plague. Though Gregor's family receives frequent updates on her condition, they all know Gregor must return to fulfill his role as the warrior who is
Paperback, 343 pages
Published
May 1st 2007
by Scholastic Paperbacks
(first published May 1st 2006)
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Nov 11, 2009
Beth A.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade,
fantasy
Another good story, lots of conflict and adventure, and fun to read. There was more friction between the characters, and I felt a little less connected to them. It did bother me that they again take the pups (kids) into a very dangerous situation, this time through a few poor decisions rather than necessity.
Unlike the previous three, this book is unresolved at the end. The next book will be a continuation of this story rather than the beginning of a new episode. I am hoping that the last book wi...more
Unlike the previous three, this book is unresolved at the end. The next book will be a continuation of this story rather than the beginning of a new episode. I am hoping that the last book wi...more
Now this one. This one reminds me of Hunger Games. This is the style from Suzanne Collins I love. I had a hard time putting the book down and, when I did, I kept thinking about parts of the plot. So far definitely my favorite in the series. Gregor is finally sort of seeming grown up. I know it's young adult fiction and I'm all for reliving my awkward adolescence, but sometimes I just want to yell at characters to grow up. Now he is and it's excellent. Many near-death experiences, more people not...more
I really enjoyed these books! The character names and ages are clearly targeted for the pre-teen and young kid ages, but the simple and clean writing make it a fun read. I loved the characters and the values expressed. Recommend this for anyone... especially parents looking for a book they can read with their big kids.
This is a very good book, it is the 4th book in the series and i read the first three and they are also very exciting. This book's genre is adventure or fantasy. Out of the four books in the series, i think this one was not the best. It was still very intereestign to find out what happened in the story, but it was sort of dull.
The book takes place in the Underland with main character, Gregor, and many of his friends and family. Gregor and a group of his friends, including Luxa, go on a mission t...more
The book takes place in the Underland with main character, Gregor, and many of his friends and family. Gregor and a group of his friends, including Luxa, go on a mission t...more
Apr 18, 2013
June
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Gregor fans
Shelves:
alternative-world,
fantasy
I am reading the series with my 12 year old. We are really enjoying the series. However, I was vaguely dissatisfied with the ending. This time the adventure didn't end. Maybe Collins bit off more than would fit in one book and just divided this story into two books. The horror of the mice being poisoned also got to me. 5/1/10
Finished reading this with my youngest and started the 5th right away. I told him I would read to him this morning, if he got up before I went to work, since he didn't want...more
Finished reading this with my youngest and started the 5th right away. I told him I would read to him this morning, if he got up before I went to work, since he didn't want...more
For any Hunger Games fan, the earlier Suzanne Collins series is a worthwhile read. While it doesn't have the depth of THG, and is written for a younger age group (11-12 year olds), it carries many of the same themes as THG: the conflict between different groups, poverty vs wealth, violence and war. In fact, I would consider this series to be more violent and have more death, but the majority of it happens between animal species such as bats, rats, and spiders, and then humans. Various warfare is...more
For any Hunger Games fan, the earlier Suzanne Collins series is a worthwhile read. While it doesn't have the depth of THG, and is written for a younger age group (11-12 year olds), it carries many of the same themes as THG: the conflict between different groups, poverty vs wealth, violence and war. In fact, I would consider this series to be more violent and have more death, but the majority of it happens between animal species such as bats, rats, and spiders, and then humans. Various warfare is...more
Love this series and have read all the books up through this one. Would have given it four stars, but for the mention of Gregor getting 'a buzz.'
This is a sickening trend in middle grade books--the use of drug language. It's intentional. The idea is to make words like 'high' and 'buzz' common words. We have so many adults with drug problems--do we think it's possible to clean this up? It's not. So if we push the notion there's nothing wrong with getting high, then all these parents who get ston...more
This is a sickening trend in middle grade books--the use of drug language. It's intentional. The idea is to make words like 'high' and 'buzz' common words. We have so many adults with drug problems--do we think it's possible to clean this up? It's not. So if we push the notion there's nothing wrong with getting high, then all these parents who get ston...more
In the fourth book in the Gregor the Overlander series, Gregor is once again battling rats to defend his friends. This time, it seems that something has been happening to the mice (called nibblers in the Underland). They all seem to be disappearing. Gregor agrees to help Luxa find out what has been happening to her friends, the mice. This book seems like it is mostly set up for the the fifth and final book in the series. The tension is built up without resolution, unlike the first three books th...more
I love this series!! The fourth book starts with Gregor and his family (minus mom) in the Overland. Mrs. Cormaci, who knows the family secret is helping the family out. Gregor and Boots are allowed to go down to Regalia to visit their mother, who is still in the hospital. Gregor also meets Ripred for help with his echo-location. Gregor meets the Bane (Pearlpelt) who is growing fast. He does not have a good relationship with his guardian, Ripred. Gregor hears of how some of the rats want the Bane...more
Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
What is the mysterious Prophesy of Time and how does it concern Gregor? Gregor's mother is recuperating in the Underland and Gregor and Boots go often to visit her, while there, Gregor trains with Ripred to improve his rager skills. Soon Gregor and Luxa receive word that the mice are in trouble and sneak off to help with the aid of a few friends.
This is the fourth of five books in The Underland Chronicles. It is a fantasy book aimed at 9 to 12 year olds, but can also...more
What is the mysterious Prophesy of Time and how does it concern Gregor? Gregor's mother is recuperating in the Underland and Gregor and Boots go often to visit her, while there, Gregor trains with Ripred to improve his rager skills. Soon Gregor and Luxa receive word that the mice are in trouble and sneak off to help with the aid of a few friends.
This is the fourth of five books in The Underland Chronicles. It is a fantasy book aimed at 9 to 12 year olds, but can also...more
Having read the first two books of the Hunger Games, and my wife having read all three, we got Collins first published series. Top notch reads overall, engaging and clever, she flexes her world-building muscles in these and to great effect. I give all them 4 stars, expect the last book.
Collins does her major themes very well, family, love, loyalty, honor, respect, not judging in haste and being willing to re-evaluate with new evidence, doing one's duty to protect and defend that which one loves,...more
Collins does her major themes very well, family, love, loyalty, honor, respect, not judging in haste and being willing to re-evaluate with new evidence, doing one's duty to protect and defend that which one loves,...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book was phenomenal. The first three books of the series were similar in many ways, mainly because the characters explored the Underland within the framework of a coded prophecy. Even though the meaning of each prophecy was never immediately obvious, there was something almost predictable in knowing that the plot WOULD follow that formula. In The Marks of Secret, though, the previous patterns are abandoned, and Gregor's world comes fully alive.
I've always admired Suzanne Collins for tackli...more
I've always admired Suzanne Collins for tackli...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is the fourth book in the Underland Chronicles. It was a great book as things really start to heat up in the Underland.
When one of the bats returns the crown that Luxa left with the Nibblers; Luxa knows the Nibblers must be in big trouble. Gregor is also making regular visits to the Underland to visit his ailing mother; during these visits Gregor trains with Ripred to improve his echolocation and in one visit meets the Bane. The Bane has grown substantially since Gregor saved him and is bec...more
When one of the bats returns the crown that Luxa left with the Nibblers; Luxa knows the Nibblers must be in big trouble. Gregor is also making regular visits to the Underland to visit his ailing mother; during these visits Gregor trains with Ripred to improve his echolocation and in one visit meets the Bane. The Bane has grown substantially since Gregor saved him and is bec...more
I can't stop with this series--it is too enjoyable! It's also hard for me to look at them as separate books. At least, 2-4 have run together as one. The only thing I distinguish is the various quests, but it might be hard for me to pick a favorite. They complement each other and together make it all even better.
I like the characters more. I don't find the narrator annoying in the least now. (He's no Nathaniel Parker, but he's not bad.) The suspense and intensity are fabulous. Action is well-pace...more
I like the characters more. I don't find the narrator annoying in the least now. (He's no Nathaniel Parker, but he's not bad.) The suspense and intensity are fabulous. Action is well-pace...more
So I've finished book 4 already, I couldn't wait to get stuck into it, and then I couldn't put it down.
Gregor is back in Underland, he only stopped by to visit his mum and see how everyone was recovering from the plague, but as usual his quick visits are never that simple, the Nibblers send a distress message to Luxa and they set off to find out what is happening to them, a chain of events kick off and things go from bad to worse.
Luxa is back and ready to take control, finally she is using her a...more
Gregor is back in Underland, he only stopped by to visit his mum and see how everyone was recovering from the plague, but as usual his quick visits are never that simple, the Nibblers send a distress message to Luxa and they set off to find out what is happening to them, a chain of events kick off and things go from bad to worse.
Luxa is back and ready to take control, finally she is using her a...more
Gregor and his family have to manage without his mother for a while and barely keep it together. On top of it all Gregor and Boots have started to live a double life visiting their mother and friends in the Underland and Gregor training with Ripred.
More unease is brewing, though. The Bane, the white rat pub Gregor has spared has grown into an unstable and power-hungry being that rebels against Ripred. Meanwhile Solovent is waiting for her trail.
Hazard has started his new life as Luxa's brother a...more
More unease is brewing, though. The Bane, the white rat pub Gregor has spared has grown into an unstable and power-hungry being that rebels against Ripred. Meanwhile Solovent is waiting for her trail.
Hazard has started his new life as Luxa's brother a...more
Holding that one star because I was sulking..hmmph..*crowd a corner*
There`s one thing that I hate the most in this world, aside from liars. That is not knowing of things..And the name for this one, 'Marks of secret' was enough to fuel me into detest and much angriness..I want to know things, learnt them by reading, and not just be speared with reason that tells me that I`ve enough to just know, but not to learn from it..
Understand? No?
Ok, imagine HP, clueless with the infos on deathly hallows an...more
There`s one thing that I hate the most in this world, aside from liars. That is not knowing of things..And the name for this one, 'Marks of secret' was enough to fuel me into detest and much angriness..I want to know things, learnt them by reading, and not just be speared with reason that tells me that I`ve enough to just know, but not to learn from it..
Understand? No?
Ok, imagine HP, clueless with the infos on deathly hallows an...more
So far in the Underland Chronicles, Gregor and the Marks of Secret is my least favorite.
We meet up again with Gregor (and Boots) as he is readying to visit his mother in the Underland, who was infected with the Plague of the Warmbloods through a flea bite in the last book and must stay in the Underland to recover so as not to unleash this Plague on the people of the Overland.
Once again, we meet up with old friends and meet new ones, but we don't meet as many new characters as in Collins' previo...more
We meet up again with Gregor (and Boots) as he is readying to visit his mother in the Underland, who was infected with the Plague of the Warmbloods through a flea bite in the last book and must stay in the Underland to recover so as not to unleash this Plague on the people of the Overland.
Once again, we meet up with old friends and meet new ones, but we don't meet as many new characters as in Collins' previo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The series is losing it spark. The prophecy was hidden and still till the end was not fully explained. This time the group of warriors did not change much or really was a part of the events. They where by standers and could change nothing. Plus the book was a cliff hanger. The next book does not have the same title and since the warrior group was unable to really do any thing about this prophecy I would say that it is a done deal. The next book I am sure has a new prophecy to follow thru with. B...more
I cried in the car while listening to the last CD. It fit and it was appropriate, but authors tend to take out the character you least wish to see die. I do have to say that even the minor characters have become too important to me for me to be okay with their deaths. Usually a book has several characters that seem to be named just to be killed off, but this series doesn't do that. Throughout much of the book, you are unaware that there is a prophecy being acted out. It made the action seem slig...more
There is a cliffhanger ending so be prepared. i'm very very glad I've got the other one already coming in from the library because I'm excited to finish up this series.
These books may be written for children, but I personally think they are sad enough and good enough and exciting enough and surprising enough to be any age reads. You can totally tell it's Collins writing because her style just shines through. Out of all the books of the series this one reminded me most of the Hunger Games- in st...more
These books may be written for children, but I personally think they are sad enough and good enough and exciting enough and surprising enough to be any age reads. You can totally tell it's Collins writing because her style just shines through. Out of all the books of the series this one reminded me most of the Hunger Games- in st...more
I'm just going to say right now that there will be spoilers in this review so if you don't want to read about them, stop reading.
I really wish I could have given the book 3 and 3/4 stars. Although this book was fantastic, I rated it lower than the others in the series mainly because of the deep topic that it addressed. I understand what Collins was trying to do by creating a story that connects with the Holocaust, she is carving a story of good versus evil. How things are never quite so simple,...more
I really wish I could have given the book 3 and 3/4 stars. Although this book was fantastic, I rated it lower than the others in the series mainly because of the deep topic that it addressed. I understand what Collins was trying to do by creating a story that connects with the Holocaust, she is carving a story of good versus evil. How things are never quite so simple,...more
I read the entire series, as did my two children aged 9 years (girl) and 7 years (boy). We all loved the books. I read the second book in a day, and I could not put it down. The books are exciting and present age old topics in a fresh new way. Gregor, the main character, falls through the vent in the laundry room of his apartment building in New York City. He finds himself in a strange new world. Humans living side by side with larger than life animals. Rats, bats, cockroaches, and spiders to na...more
So far this is the most mature and well-formed book in the series. The focus on ethnic-cleansing resonated with my Jewish heritage. Characters and story elements have finally begun to mature and pay off.
The old contrivances are still there, including childish prophecies, the 'rager' conceit, and dragging a toddler into the most dangerous situations imaginable. They continue to hold back what could be a pretty cool story.
The biggest complaint I have is that the Underlanders, despite having intere...more
The old contrivances are still there, including childish prophecies, the 'rager' conceit, and dragging a toddler into the most dangerous situations imaginable. They continue to hold back what could be a pretty cool story.
The biggest complaint I have is that the Underlanders, despite having intere...more
As I read these books, I am starting to wonder about the author--combining these Overlander adventures with the concepts of the Hunger Games, and you find a dark, dystopian view of the world. Still, like Katniss, Gregor is full of spunk, morality and fairness, all the while trying to compromise those ideas with the realities of complex societies, death (in this case, a horrid plague), and war. So, for all their darkness, how come I enjoy these books so much? I guess its because of the sparks of...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☺ Books Are Bette...: Gregor and the Marks of Secret | 1 | 1 | Apr 23, 2013 01:33pm | |
| underland gossip ...: Gregor and the marks of secrets | 8 | 8 | Aug 27, 2012 01:51am | |
| The Underlanders in love. | 10 | 40 | Jan 08, 2012 11:07am | |
| Did you like the ending? | 3 | 8 | Jan 02, 2012 05:36pm |
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little...more
More about Suzanne Collins...
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little...more
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2 trivia questions
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“Upon this crown my pledge I give,
To my last breath,I hold this choice,
I will your unjust deaths avenge,
All here who died without a voice.”
—
51 people liked it
To my last breath,I hold this choice,
I will your unjust deaths avenge,
All here who died without a voice.”
“I start to crack at four hundred to one.”
—
24 people liked it
More quotes…
Nov 06, 2011 03:21pm