Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Before she wrote The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins wrote a 5-book series called The Underland Chronicles. This is the first book in the series.

It's summer in New York City and Gregor has to look after his two-year old sister, Boots. So when she goes through an opening in the wall of their basement laundry room, Gergor has to follow her. And before he knows it, he's falling down, down down into empty space, and into The Underland.

When they land, the first thing they see are some big bugs. Now Gregor's apartment building has some big bugs, but these cockroaches are four feet tall! And they can talk! Gregor and Boots also meet some bats and humans - the bats are so big that humans can fly on them and the humans have pale, almost transparent skin and large purple eyes. Gregor and Boots also come across giant rats - six feet tall with teeth to match - who are the sworn enemies of the humans.

The humans have a prophecy that a Warrior will lead eight in a Quest against the rats. They think Gregor is the Warrior, but he wants nothing to do with it. But then he discovers that his father, who disappeared two years ago, has been in the Underland and may be a prisoner of the rats.

What will Gregor do? Will he lead the Quest? Will he find his father and will he ever get home? Find out in Gregor the Overlander - the first book of The Underland Chronicles.