Helpful Score: 5
"The People of Sparks" ~ Jeanne DuPrau
This book was the sequel to "The City of Ember," a book that I reviewed exceptionally favorably. This book...well, I was disappointed. Not to say that it wasn't good, it was just...different than the first I suppose.
I will not be putting in a synopsis of the book as I did the last one because of the extreme possibility of spoilers. That being said, I just felt that this book moved slower than the first. I was not on the edge of my seat the way I was with the first, and therefore, the book lost a lot of its spark (no pun intended).
The overall message of the book was phenomenal: "Make love not war," and considering the audience it was written for (pre-teens) it is exceptionally deep and thought-provoking with many incidents leading up to the final conflict that make the reader stop and think.
The bottom line is...it was ok. I expected more after the first book however.
Three stars.
This book was the sequel to "The City of Ember," a book that I reviewed exceptionally favorably. This book...well, I was disappointed. Not to say that it wasn't good, it was just...different than the first I suppose.
I will not be putting in a synopsis of the book as I did the last one because of the extreme possibility of spoilers. That being said, I just felt that this book moved slower than the first. I was not on the edge of my seat the way I was with the first, and therefore, the book lost a lot of its spark (no pun intended).
The overall message of the book was phenomenal: "Make love not war," and considering the audience it was written for (pre-teens) it is exceptionally deep and thought-provoking with many incidents leading up to the final conflict that make the reader stop and think.
The bottom line is...it was ok. I expected more after the first book however.
Three stars.
Helpful Score: 4
I enjoyed this book but I must say, it was quite different from the City of Ember, the first book. Now that they have left behind their underground city, what awaits them seems almost worse than what they left behind. A lot of little events escalate tensions between the two groups (the people of Ember and the people of Sparks) and the outside world is a tough place for them.
If you are wondering why people even lived in the city of Ember, the story does refer a little bit to the history that made it necessary. I also found it very thought-provoking to think of our society regressing (technologically) as it does in the book.
If you are wondering why people even lived in the city of Ember, the story does refer a little bit to the history that made it necessary. I also found it very thought-provoking to think of our society regressing (technologically) as it does in the book.
Helpful Score: 3
A great sequel to City of Ember - perhaps a bit preachy at times, but certainly great lessons in it. If you loved the characters in the first book, you'll love this tale, which inspires hope for the future.
Helpful Score: 2
I found this to be a very well done and thought-provoking sequel to The City of Ember. The author does a really good job of bringing to light both sides of a conflict in a way that makes you understand the actions and sympathize with both parties - a tale that's very appropriate at this moment in time. Totally recommended.
Helpful Score: 2
Once again Duprau has captivated me with her continued story of Lina and Doon. In this part of the tale, the citizens of Ember meet the citizens of Sparks. In this part of the tale, both the people of Ember and Sparks get into a feud, and they have to come to terms with the fact that they now have to live together. This was a great continuation that is about new and old friendships.
