The People of Sparks

But the people of Sparks have only just enough for themselves, and feeding hundreds of newcomers strains everyone. The Emberites know nothing about farming, and they are put to work in the fields, while the villagers resent sharing their hard-won food. A young hothead in Sparks begins to stir up anger, and soon rumours, fear and small acts of revenge push the two groups closer to violence.

Doon, frustrated and eager to prove himself, makes choices he later regrets, while Lina travels with a wandering scavenger to see the ruins of an old city and learns more about the world before the disaster. The book is quieter than The City of Ember, but it deals thoughtfully with prejudice, refugees, anger and the courage needed to stop a conflict. Some scenes are tense, but the tone is gentle and the ending is hopeful. It suits readers who enjoy stories with real ideas.

Thoughtful and timely, followed by The Prophet of Yonwood and The Diamond of Darkhold. It works especially well for classroom discussion, since its questions about fairness and conflict have no easy answers. About 352 pages in the Yearling paperback.