THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS

The sequel to THE CITY OF EMBER finds the Emberites, led by Lina and Doon, climbing out of their dying underground city into the vastness of above ground, where there is endless sky and open fields. Here they encounter the people of Sparks, an agrarian community of survivors of "the disaster," who exist with little of the technology that Emberites once took for granted. Fear, greed, and hubris bring the disparate communities to the brink of disaster, and, once again, it's left to Lina and Doon to show the way to a better future. Unfortunately, Wendy Dillon's interpretation of DuPrau's curiously flat characters is whiny, reducing any sympathy the listener might have had for them. Further, the sound effects, which come and go seemingly at random, distract from the story. It all adds up to a disappointing audio endeavor. S.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]