Book Review: Underworld

Underworld by Catherine MacPhail

When I was younger, I loved reading mystery and horror books, and Underworld by Cathy MacPhail is an example of one of them. I decided to revisit this book since it was a childhood favorite to see if my opinion on it might change.

The story revolves around a group of five teenagers – Fiona, Angie, Axel, Liam, and Zesh – who are each randomly picked for a two week school trip to visit ancient caves in Scotland. Though they are going on an exciting trip, none of the characters are happy with the other students they have to go with. Angie is a new girl at school and befriends Fiona, despite Fiona being a troublemaker and not wanting anything to do with her. Axel is a self-centered bully and is best friends with Liam, who is reserved and often doesn’t agree with Axel’s actions. Zesh is a school prefect which naturally causes him to take on the role of group leader, something that Axel deeply resents him for.

Their trip goes disastrously wrong when they enter the caves as part of a school activity – a sudden rockfall blocks the entrance and knocks their teacher unconscious. They find themselves trapped and must work together to find a way out. Not only do they face physical dangers such as flooding and cave-ins, but also psychological challenges caused by a legend about the caves: something or someone evil may be lurking there with them. Their hopes of getting out alive start to diminish when Angie suddenly plummets down a chasm. Tensions rise between the remaining four due to their conflicting personalities, and they are each forced to confront their deepest fears.

As they struggle to escape, the group learns valuable lessons about trust, courage, and teamwork when they realize that friction between them could be fatal. They eventually gain a newfound appreciation of each other as their situation forces each of them to reveal their true nature. The story builds to a suspenseful climax as they finally find their way out, but not without emotional scars.

Overall, Underworld is a combination of adventure and suspense, which keeps readers engaged until the very end. The story intertwines themes of survival and friendship, highlighting how people learn to build trust in the face of extreme circumstances. However, now that I’m older, I don’t really like the style of the novel as much as I used to. I think the messages in this book are important, but the way it is conveyed is a little childish; the characters are very stereotypical and each have one set role throughout the story. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read and enjoys action and horror. If you want to read something more realistic and fleshed out, this may not be for you.

Review by Teen Volunteer, 8/28/24.