Gregor and the Marks of Secret

Book: Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Book 4 of the Underland Chronicles)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Audience: Grades 5 to 8

In a Nutshell: underground adventure and giant genocidal rats

In this Gregor teams up with Luxa, their bats Ares and Aurora, Luxa's cousin Howard, young Hazard fresh from life in the jungle, Temp the cockroach, and of course his little sister, Boots. Luxa's friends the Nibblers (mice) sent her a distress message, then disappeared. The Gnawers are probably responsible, with the huge, white-furred Bane leading them in genocide. When a tunnel collapses, the group is forced on a long route deep under the Underworld, where impossible air currents, volcanoes and more await them. The atrocities of the rats leads Luxa to make a Vow to the Dead, essentially declaring war on the rats.

The series contines strong in this penultimate book (I just love using that word). There's a big fat lead-in to the forthcoming final book. In other developments, Gregor is just now starting to see Luxa as a girl, and complications ensue. Gregor is also troubled about hating the idea of war, yet liking his violent rager moments more as he learns to control them. If I made a list of the top five adventure series for tweens, Gregor's books would be on it. Just one left, Gregor and the Code of Claw, due out in May 2007.