The People of Sparks

Book 2 in the Ember series

By: Jeanne DuPrau

Libby audiobook 8 hours

Read by: Wendy Dillon

Published: 2004

Genre: YA dystopian, adventure

I'm surprised I don't have a blog entry for this. In fact, looking back at my blog makes me realize I've not been as diligent as I thought I was . . . 

The City of Ember blog entry was first published in 2017 and added to recently when I listened to the audiobook.

I KNOW I read The People of Sparks long ago when it was "new." I cannot, however, find my review of it.

I didn't remember reading The Diamond of Darkhold at all (it's technically book 4, but it logically follows People of Sparks.) But I blogged about it in 2009!

I DO remember reading book 3 - the "prequel" The Prophet of Yonwood, but I can't find an entry for it. I remember feeling disappointed in it. It seemed as though the author was more interested in making a sociological statement than in helping readers understand why the City of Ember was initially created. (It's kind of a WWIII scenario, I think.) 

In any case, Lina and Doon are happy when the rest of the people of Ember join them above ground. The Mayor and his ne'er-do-wells came to a bad end down in the river, so there is no leadership. Over 400 people walk until they come to Sparks, a settlement of 300+ people. Conflict ensues - will there be enough food for everyone? Where will the newcomers live? 

There was a lot of "us vs. them" that humans are so susceptible to. I'm not a huge fan of this reader's vocal work. Yes, Torren (?) is an awful brat, but her whiny interpretation made him completely unbearable. Dr. Hester and her herbal remedies, the guy from Ember who was "too old" to work and so set out to organize the room of books, Maddie the trader who walked away from Casper and his schemes, . . . lots of good characters and conflicts.