Rating: - Not as good as 1st book
I was very interested in this series after reading City of Ember. I was very eager to see what befell the city of Ember. Like the first book, this was a page turner as well. The story itself wasn't as good. Basically, the Embrites emerge from the underground and begin looking for other people. They happen upon the City of Sparks and seek to start a new life. They are taken in and given 6 months (during the winter months) to stay and learn how to live on the upside. Tensions rise as the people of Sparks have to now share everything with the Embrites. A new word, WAR is introduced. Due to the actions of a child being mad, a war is started.

The book hits themes about right and wrong. It was a good read, not what I really expected. Excellent series for young and old. Can't wait to read the next book.

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Rating: - The People of Sparks
After being enthralled by The City of Ember, I knew that I would be reading the rest of the series, sooner rather than later.

The People of Sparks begins after the residents of Ember have found their way to the surface, and are searching for a place to live. When they stumble upon the community of Sparks, they hope that they have found a new home.

Even though the addition of the Emberites more than doubles the population of Sparks, the two communities attempt to live side by side, sharing everything including the limited food supplies.

Inevitably, tempers flare and both communities blame each other for the increasing acts of vandalism and hatred. As the tension builds, the citizens of Ember and Sparks have to decide if they are willing to forgive and forget, or if revenge and anger will rule the day.

The People of Sparks, while staying with the same characters from the first book, has a very different tone and topic. This second book in the series focuses on how small interactions can trigger people to hate and then eventually war with each other.

I enjoyed this book almost as much as The City of Ember. It didn't have the same magical discoveries and mysteries as the first book, but that is unavoidable since it is a sequel, and the story has to move forward. That being said, it was a fun read and I am looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

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Rating: - the people of sparks
The people of sparks is a really good book. It has a lot of suspense. It is not as good as the city of ember, but it follows close behind. If you are looking for a suspensful, non-violent book, this book is for you.

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Rating: - Not gonna say it's the worst book I've ever read...
But I can't think of a worse one...

Let me just say that I bought the first book on a whim and was not dissapointed in the least. The characters were not fleshed out as well as they could be (or not at all really) but the idea of Ember, this underground city that is slowly dwindling away was just so enchanting that I had to keep reading. I really enjoyed the first book, and have read it several times over.

So, in saying that, when the People of Sparks came out I was extremely excited to see what Duprau had come up with this time.

Nothing. That's what she had come up with. The idea of the city of ember, which is what attracted me to the book in the first place, was completely gone, replaced by a completely worse setting, horrible characters, and a quite unintelligent plot. Reading this book was like reading a child's idea for the reason some people might go to war, and what ridiculous things they might go to war over.

Don't read it, and if you are going to read it for the sake of the first book, don't buy it. At least get it from the library. It was absolutely horrific, and uninspiring, and had zero plot. I tried to read it. I tried to like it.

I couldn't even finish the novel. And I know that is going to get reactions like, how am i saying all these things when i did not finish it. I couldn't finish it! That was how bad it was. If you do buy it you will feel like someone came up and stole 9 bucks out of your pocket. Promise.

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Rating: - loved it!
I so value Jeanne DuPrau's writing as she manages to convey the golden truths in a simple way that even children can understand. I think we're seeing classics in the making.