Once
Lina and Doon find a way out of the dying City of Ember, they are able
to get a message back to their people, the Emberites. With instructions
on how to leave the city and hope in their hearts, the Emberites pack
up some food and a few belongings and trek out of their underground
city. They meet up with Lina and Doon, and as a group of over 400,
travel a road in hopes they will find a safe haven.
What they
find is the city called Sparks, a small city of just over 300 which is
just barely starting to prosper. Hesitantly, the leaders of Sparks
agree to take in the Emberites temporarily. The townspeople are to
teach the Emberites how to do a variety of tasks and provide them with
food; but in 6 months, the Emberites will be turned out to make their
own town, for the people of Sparks fear their humble supplies cannot
sustain everyone permanently.
Initially, things go along well
enough. But in time, resentments rise and fear grows. And the people
living in the City of Sparks -- all of them -- begin repeating history
without really realizing it at first. Will they realize it in time to
fix it and avoid the tragedies of the past?
***This is a cute
series. It's written for young teens, even pre-teens, so a lot of it
is "obvious." But I really like the way the author addresses these
issues in a way that will make sense to those growing and learning at
that age. The issues are important ones: hate, revenge, war,
forgiveness, selflessness. I think the story was wonderfully written
and it was a good read, even for an adult.
