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Summary and Reviews of The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

The People of Sparks

Sequel to The City of Embers

by Jeanne DuPrau
  • Critics' Consensus:
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  • First Published:
  • May 1, 2004, 338 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Apr 2005, 352 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

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.

Chapter 1
What Torren Saw

Torren was out at the edge of the cabbage field that day, the day the people came. He was supposed to be fetching a couple of cabbages for Dr. Hester to use in the soup that night, but, as usual, he didn't see why he shouldn't have some fun while he was at it. So he climbed up the wind tower, which he wasn't supposed to do because, they said, he might fall or get his head sliced off by the big blades going round and round.

The wind tower was four-sided, made of boards nailed one above the next like the rungs of a ladder. Torren climbed the back side of it, the side that faced the hills and not the village, so that the little group of workers hoeing the cabbage rows wouldn't see him. At the top, he turned around and sat on the flat place behind the blades, which turned slowly in the idle summer breeze. He had...

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

TEACHING IDEAS

Pre-Reading Activities

The City of Ember Pre-Reading Activity:

Mock Assignment Day–Explain that today is "Assignment Day" and students will get a job placement that will determine their future within the community. Distribute mock job assignments to students and give a talk about service to one's community. Ask students how they feel about being assigned to a profession. Ask them to speculate on what kind of world they are going to read about, where people are assigned jobs to work as messengers, laborers, electrician's helpers, and supply clerks.

The People of Sparks Pre-Reading Activity
What Is Community?–Ask students to write an essay about community using the ...

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Reviews

Media Reviews

Booklist - Sally Estes
Gr. 5-7. In this engrossing sequel to The City of Ember (2003), young Doon and Lina have led more than 400 people from the underground city of Ember to Earth's surface, where they find the hardscrabble town of Sparks and ask for help.....A satisfying follow-up to the first book.

Kirkus Reviews
This fast-paced tale of post-Apocalyptic strife will resonate with new and returning fans alike. Ages 9-13.

Library Journal - Barbara Wysocki
Grade 5-8. More thought provoking than entertaining... well suited to upper elementary and middle school libraries that support social studies curriculum.

Reader Reviews

Lisa

LOVE IT!!
This second book left me with my jaw open. So amazing.
Lillya

The People Of Sparks
By far one of the best books I"ve ever read. It's so full of detail.
iiunicornii

The People of Sparks
The book is REMARKABLE!!! Especially the series itself. Just start from the first book and build yourself up into this well-thought out book. BRILLANT!:)
Vanessa

Then People of Sparks
I think this book is a great book for all ages. I read The City of Ember and it was pretty good. Then I found out there were more so I bought The People of Sparks and it's better then the first.

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Read-Alikes

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