While I did enjoy the next installment of the City of Ember series, I didn't think it was as good as the first one.
The two main protagonists are pretty much the same as they were in the first book. Lina is creative and acts on impulse, while Doon is highly intelligent and always carefully plans things out. There are several new people mentioned, both from Ember and the surface village of Sparks. Torren is a young boy from Sparks who seems to have a lot of emotional problems. He is frequently selfish and rude, and has a really bad temper. Torren is also extremely possessive and territorial. Absolutely no one but him can enter or see his room, and is extremely angry when anyone else hangs out with his older brother Casper. Casper is a roamer, and seems to have many similar personality traits to Torren. He is greedy, and is constantly searching for money and treasure. Much like Torren, he considers anyone he meets on the road to be either an immediate enemy, or just another robber to rough up. Several new people from Ember are also mentioned. Tick is a highly charismatic boy who wants to demand that the people of Sparks treat the Emberites more fairly. He enjoys being the self-proclaimed leader to the emberites, even to the point of stirring up violence.
There were several plotlines and conflicts going on at the same time. Lina's baby sister is sick, there seems to be a shortage of food, the villagers and the Emberites are constantly fighting, There is a mysterious library that may contain vital knoledge, and Lina has stowed away on Casper's truck to a distant city to find an ancient treasure. Lina follows a far-fetched idea that the People of Ember have a connection with this city, and this leads her to stow away with Casper. Meanwhile, the Emberites are furious with the Sparks villagers for not giving them enough food, and are further spurred by the lies of Tick. Lina and Doon save the day once again and everybody comes out just fine. The most important event is at the end, when Doon reinvents electricity.
Stephen P1 – I think you have nailed each personality – now give support. How do we know Torren is selfish and rude? Support it with details.
ReplyDeletePt 2 – Now nail those conflicts – are they internal/external? How did people react – is it the way you would have? Good choices? Ban choices?
PS- that light switch sounds super cool:)