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Book Review By Waleed Ovase
The People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprau

After fleeing from their doomed underground city, called Ember, Lina and Doon have sent a message for all the other city goers to follow. When they arrive they all set out to find some sort of settlement for them to find shelter. They stumble upon a thriving village called, Sparks.

Everything in this village is new to them and they don't know how to do anything, or what anything in the aboveground is called. The village leaders agree to house the Emberites if they are willing to be taught for six months about how to build their own city, then they can all set out and find their own city.

But things start to get rough as the people of Sparks begin to detest the Emberites. Open displays of hatred begin, including, insults, poisonings, and breakins. The Emberites promise they wouldn't do these kind of things, but one says that the people of Sparks are to blame. A war might begin in this post-nuclear-war world, and a traitor on the side of Ember might come into the light.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 %

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Terrain
Earth setting: - distant future
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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