Showing posts with label Jeanne DuPrau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeanne DuPrau. Show all posts

November 3, 2009

The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau




Ages 9-12
Pages: 352
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release date: May 25, 2004

*Spoiler Alert: This is the second book in a series*

The People of Sparks picks up where The City of Ember leaves off. Lina and Doon have emerged from the underground city to the exciting new world above, and it isn’t long before they are followed by the other inhabitants of Ember. The Emberites soon come across a town where they are welcomed, fed, and given places to sleep. But the town’s resources are limited and it isn’t long before resentment begins to grow between the two groups. When anonymous acts of vandalism push them toward violence, it’s up to Lina and Doon to discover who’s behind the vandalism and why, before it’s too late.

When a book was intended to be a stand-alone like The City of Ember and then suddenly there's a second book, I feel nervous about reading them. But Wow! She made an amazing sequel, I loved it just as much as the first book, maybe even more. No disappointment at all. The story she tells and the message of the book is wonderful and needs to be told. I too, believe one day humanity will destroy itself if we don't prevent it.

The cover is beautiful, the little plant growing in the middle? Just perfect. These books are the perfect books for kids, it has so many messages and teaches so much that it deserves to be read by children. I recommend this as much as the first book!


October 28, 2009

The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau




Ages 9-12
Pages: 70
Publisher: Yearling
Release Date: May 25, 2004

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!

What an amazing concept! I love books like this one or like Hunger Games which happen to be set in a imaginary/realistic future. This is a kid's book -the characters are 12- but it is very much enjoyable for young adults. The writing was great and the story-telling was just so magical, maybe this impressed me because I don't normally read children books.

The characters were wonderful and unique. The plot kept you guessing, and wanting to know more. The cover is intriguing when you look at it and then genius after you've read it. Probably should point out that there is no romance involved in case you're always wanting some, like me. Also, I listened o this as an audio-book and I was stunned by it. It's one of the best audio-books I've listened to! The reader was awesome and the sound effects on the background made it feel so real, I feel like I walked the streets of Ember. So if you listen to audio-books, you should definitely check this one out!