The People of Sparks
Common Sense Note
Sure to become popular with reading and discussion groups, this story lays out, in microcosm and in simple, easily understood steps, the path to war. Though the solution is a bit too convenient, this should provoke serious thought and lively debate.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
The first book, The City of Ember, was a fun but unexceptional story -- city underground is failing, children have to find a way out before it's too late. This sequel, on the other hand, goes in a different direction -- less action, more thought-provoking. It traces for kids, in a clear and reasonably believable fashion, the steps that lead otherwise decent people to war and, more simplistically, what decent people can do to stop it. In a simple microcosm it helps kids to begin to fathom some of what is going on in the world today.
As in the first book it is the unassuming Lina and Doon, rather than the more obvious leaders, who find the way, though both are initially led astray, Lina by her vision of a city and Doon by the charismatic leader, Tick. But they share a common impulse to care for others, which propels them to find and take the difficult steps necessary to avert conflict. Unlike so many fantasies, this is not about Good versus Evil, but rather thoughtfulness and compassion versus unreasoning hate. And, as the author makes very clear, love takes a lot more strength and bravery than anger.
From the Book:
"All right," Tick said. His voice was quiet, but instantly the whispering stopped. "Our time has come. They have attacked us three times now. Today we showed them a little of our anger. We made them understand that we won't be taken advantage of anymore. They must know that if they hurt us, they will be hurt, too. We will strike back. We are warriors now."
Plot Summary:
Having emerged from hundreds of years in an underground city, the 400 survivors of Ember can't go back, but have no idea how to survive on the surface. Wandering for days, exhausted and hungry, they come across the village of Sparks. The people of this small village reluctantly agree to take in the refugees temporarily, just long enough to teach them to survive on their own.
But food is tight, the Emberites don't seem to know anything, and the villagers soon begin to resent having to take care of them. As tensions mount a mysterious series of acts of vandalism heightens the anger on both sides, until conflict seems inevitable.
Related Books:
Also by Jeanne DuPrau
The City of Ember
More Future Societies
Wild Jack by John Christopher
The Devil's Children by Peter Dickinson
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Waterbound by Jane Stemp
Shade's Children by Garth Nix
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Feed by M. T. Anderson
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ViolenceA small riot, a mob confrontation, some fighting, firing of an ancient weapon that injures the user and ignites a fire. |
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Social BehaviorThe heroes behave nobly: others behave very badly, deliberately inciting violence with lies. |
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