LYRE Review

Current Activities

Faculty

LYRE Programs

Book Collection

Useful Websites

LYRE Home

Summer 2004 Review:

Book Cover The People of Sparks

Jeanne DuPrau

Random House Books for Young Readers 2004

Torren is a young boy living in a city called Sparks. He happens to be where he's not supposed to, climbing the wind tower in the cabbage field. He was supposed to be picking cabbage heads for Dr. Hester, but his disobedient self always seems to be in charge. While he's on the tower, he sees what looks like a swarm of bugs gathering on the hills. Those "bugs" are the people of Ember who have finally left their dying city under the ground. When the Emberites enter Sparks, they continue to walk towards what they believe is the town's gathering area. They are greeted by the town's three leaders, Mary Walters, Ben Barlow, and Wilmer Dent. Lina and Doon, the two children from Ember explain how and where they came from to the leaders. For a while, both groups live together without trouble, but soon trouble starts. It all begins when Torren throws tomatoes at a building and blames it on Doon. Things begin to worsen between the two groups as the tension grows. Will there be another war that almost wipes out the entire human race again because the people of Sparks and Ember can't learn to accept the way things are done between them? 
I believe that this novel was outstanding! Lina and Doon were partners again who save the day from the problems that befall the city of Sparks like they did for Ember as it was dying. Torren learns to change his ways because these two Emberites did what was close to the impossible. I'd recommend this book for grades 5 through 9 because it's a great book and it's perfect for that age area.

~ Kayla Aldan, grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School

To Top