The Prophet of Yonwood (The City of Ember Book 4) - DuPrau, Jeanne Review & Synopsis

Synopsis Before there was Ember...there was Yonwood. Discover the prophecy that started it all in this prequel to the The City of Ember-a modern-day classic with over 4 MILLION copies sold! Nickie will grow up to be one of the first citizens of the city of Ember. But for now, she is a girl who has just moved to the town of Yonwood. There, she discovers a place full of suspicion, where one citizen's visions of fire and destruction have turned everyone against each other. Eager to take her mind off her father's absence as he works on a mysterious government project, Nickie reads her great-grandfather's peculiar journals, spies on a reclusive neighbor who studies the heavens, and meets a strange boy who is fascinated with snakes- all while keeping an eye out for trouble. But is it already too late to avoid a devastating war? Praise for the City of Ember books: Nominated to 28 State Award Lists! An American Library Association Notable Children's Book A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection A Kirkus Reviews Editors' Choice A Child Magazine Best Children's Book A Mark Twain Award Winner A William Allen White Children's Book Award Winner "A realistic post-apocalyptic world. DuPrau's book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of undiscovered country and readers wanting more." -USA Today "An electric debut." -Publishers Weekly, Starred "While Ember is colorless and dark, the book itself is rich with description." -VOYA, Starred "A harrowing journey into the unknown, and cryptic messages for readers to decipher." -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review JEANNE DuPRAU is the New York Times bestselling author of the City of Ember books, which have been translated into multiple languages and are a time-honored staple in elementary school classrooms. She also wrote Escape the Vortex, part of the multiplatform sci-fi adventure series Voyagers. Visit her website at jeanneduprau.com.The Vision On a warm July afternoon in the town of Yonwood, North Carolina, a woman named Althea Tower went out to her backyard to fill the bird feeder. She opened her sack of sunflower seeds, lifted the bird feeder's lid-and that was when, without warning, the vision assailed her. It was like a waking dream. The trees and grass and birds faded away, and in their place she saw blind�ing flashes of light so searingly bright she staggered backward, dropped her sack of birdseed, and fell to the ground. Billows of fire rose around her, and a hot wind roared. She felt herself flung high into the sky, and from there she looked down on a dreadful scene. The whole earth boiled with flames and black smoke. The noise was terrible-a howling and crashing and crackling-and finally, when the firestorm subsided, there came a silence that was more terrible still. When the vision finally faded, it left Althea stunned. She lay on the ground, unable to move, with her mind all jumbled and birds pecking at the spilled birdseed around her. She might have lain there for hours if Mrs. Brenda Beeson had not happened to come by a few minutes later to bring her a basket of strawberries. Seeing Althea on the ground, Mrs. Beeson rushed forward. She bent over her friend and spoke to her, but Althea only moaned. So Mrs. Beeson used her cell phone to call for help. Within minutes, four of her best friends-the doctor, the police chief, the town mayor, and the minister of the church-had all arrived. The doctor squatted beside Althea and spoke slowly and loudly. "Can you tell us what's wrong?" he said. "What is it?" Althea shivered. Her lips twisted as she tried to speak. Everyone leaned in to hear. "It's God," she whispered. "God. I saw...I saw..." She trailed off. "Merciful heavens," said Brenda Beeson. "She's had a vision." Of course they didn't know at first what her vision had been. They thought maybe she'd seen God. But why would that frighten her so? Why would she be muttering about fire and smoke and disaster? Days went by, and Althea didn't get better. She lay on her bed hardly moving, staring into the air and mumbling. Then, exactly a week later, a clue to the mystery came. The president of the United States announced that talks with the Phalanx Nations had reached a crisis. Their leaders would not give in on any of their demands, and the leaders of the United States would not give in on theirs. Unless some sort of agree�ment could be reached, the president said, it might be necessary to go to war. Brenda Beeson made the connection right away: War! That must be what Althea Tower had seen. Mrs. Beeson called her friends, they told their friends, the newspaper wrote it up, and soon the whole town knew: Althea Tower had seen the future, and it was terrible. All over Yonwood, people gathered in frightened clusters to talk. Could it be true? The more they thought about it, the more it seemed it could be. Althea had always been a quiet, sensible person, not the sort to make things up. And these were strange times, what with conflicts and terrorists and talk of the end of the world-just the kind of times when visions and miracles were likely to happen. Brenda Beeson formed a committee to take care of Althea and pay attention to anything else she might say. People wrote letters to the newspaper about her and left flowers and ribbons and handwritten notes in front of her house. The minister spoke of her in church. After a few weeks, nearly everyone was calling her the Prophet. Chapter 1: The Inheritance Nickie Randolph's first sight of the town of Yonwood was a white steeple rising out of the pine forest that covered the mountainside. She leaned forward, gazing through the windshield of the car. "Is that it?" Her aunt Crystal, who was driving, put one hand up to shield her eyes from the rays of the setting sun. "That's it," she said. "My new home," said Nickie. "You have to get that notion out of your mind," said Crystal. "It's not going to happen." I'm going to make it happen, thought Nickie, though she didn't say it out loud. Crystal's mood was already bad enough. "How long till we get there?" she asked. "We'll be there in twenty minutes, if nothing else gets in our way." A lot had gotten in their way so far. The Streakline train was closed down because of the Crisis, so they'd had to drive. They'd been on the road for seven hours, though the trip from Philadelphia should have taken no more than five. But long lines at gas stations, detours around pot-holed or snow-covered stretches of highway, and military roadblocks had slowed them down. Crystal didn't like delays. She was a fast-moving, efficient person, and when her way was blocked, she became very tense and spoke with her lips in two hard lines. They came to the Yonwood exit, and Crystal turned off the highway onto a road that wound uphill. Here the trees grew thick on either side, and so tall that their bare branches met overhead, making a canopy of sticks. Drops of rain began to spatter the car's wind�shield. After a while, they came to a sign that said, "Yonwood. Pop. 2,460." The trees thinned out, and the rain fell harder. They passed a few storage sheds, a collapsing barn, and a lumberyard. After that, hous�es began to appear on the side of the road-small, tired-looking wooden houses, their roofs dripping. Many of them had rockers or couches on the front porch, where people would no doubt be sitting if it weren't the dead of winter. From a small brick shelter at the side of the road, a policeman stepped out holding a red stop sign. He held it up and waved it at them. Crystal slowed down, stopped, and opened her window. The policeman bent down. He had on a rain jacket with the hood up, and rain dripped off the hood and onto his nose. "Hello, ma'am," he said. "Are you a resident?" "No," said Crystal. "Is that a problem?" "Just doing a routine entry check, ma'am," the man said. "Part of our safety program. Had some evi�dence lately of possible terrorist activity in the woods. Your purpose here?" "My grandfather has died," Crystal said. "My sister and I have inherited his house. I've come to fix the house up and sell it." The man glanced at Nickie. "This is your sister?" "This is my niece," said Crystal. "My sister's daughter." "And your grandfather's name?" said the man. "Arthur Green," said Crystal. "Ah, yes," the policeman said. "A fine gentleman." He smiled. "You be careful while you're here, now. We've had reports indicating there may be agents of the Phalanx Nations traveling alone or in small groups in parts of the area. Have you been spoken to by any suspicious strangers?" "No," said Crystal. "Just you. You seem very suspicious." "Ha ha," said the man, not really laughing. "All right, ma'am," he went on. "You may go. Sorry for the delay, but as you know there's a crisis. We're taking every precaution." He stepped away, and they drove on. "Terrorists even here?" Nickie said. "It's nonsense," said Crystal. "Why would a ter�rorist be wandering around in the woods? Pay no attention." The Prophet of Yonwood In this prequel to her acclaimed "The City of Ember" and "The People of Sparks," Jeanne DuPrau investigates how, in a world that seems out of control, hope and comfort can be found in the strangest of places. In this prequel to her acclaimed "The City of Ember" and "The People of Sparks," Jeanne DuPrau investigates how, in a world that seems out of control, hope and comfort can be found in the strangest of places." The City of Ember In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions. In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions." City of SEmber For centuries, the residents of the underground City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment. But when the City's massive power generator begins to fail, the streetlamps fade - along with the hopes of the townspeople. Now it will be up to two courageous teenagers to follow a trail of clues left by the ancient builders to find the way out of Ember before their world is plunged into complete darkness. For centuries, the residents of the underground City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment." Get Those Guys Reading! Fiction and Series Books that Boys Will Love Want to identify fiction books that boys in grades three through nine will find irresistible? This guide reveals dozens of worthwhile recommendations in categories ranging from adventure stories and sports novels to horror, humorous, and science fiction books. Christopher, Matt , 164–165 Clayton, Emma, 135 Cleary, Beverly, 20, 56 Clements, Andrew, 2, 97–98, 136 Cody, ... Pedro, 138 De Felice, Cynthia, 40, 119 De Fombelle, Timothee, 138 De Goldi, Kate, 105 de la Pena , Matt , 105 De Quidt, ..." The City of Ember Complete Series With more than 3.5 million copies sold, the City of Ember books are modern-day classics. Lina and Doon's heart-pounding journey to save their people has captivated readers around the world, and the four adventures are bound together here for the very first time! Escape the Dark. Discover the Adventure. The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. But now with terrifying blackouts sweeping through the streets, Lina and Doon know it’s only a matter of time before the lights go out and never come back on again. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she and Doon explore long-forgotten parts of their dying city as they race to solve the mystery. If they succeed, they will have to convince everyone to follow them into danger and an exciting new world. But if they fail? The lights will burn out and the darkness will close in forever. The series begins with the groundbreaking dystopian novel The City of Ember, the story of a girl, a boy, and their beleaguered city. Through the sequel, The People of Sparks, the satisfying conclusion, The Diamond of Darkhold, and the prequel,The Prophet of Yonwood, author Jeanne DuPrau offers a vision of hope that, while sometimes flickering against the darkness, ultimately shines through, like the bright dawning of a new world. The City of Ember ; The People of Sparks; The Diamond of Darkhold ; The Prophet of Yonwood Jeanne DuPrau . the o Ho-Ho HoH = n o-Ho of it. - M., L. b THollo H - * _*\\A. s Ho - - --- - - - - | - Fo BOOK 3 THE DAMOND DARKHOLD - L I i I T ..." Working Mother The magazine that helps career moms balance their personal and professional lives. Not at the ones that made our 17th annual 100 Best list, where flexible scheduling and alternative work ... Instead, he is taking off four months to be with his son now that his wife, Cheryl, a finance controller who also works at Intel ..." The City of Ember - Literature Kit Gr. 5-6 A dystopian future set underground brings to light the struggles that humanity will endure in order to survive. The variety of engaging activities can be easily broken up over several weeks to coordinate with assigned reading. Describe in detail the city of Ember, from how it looks to how it operates. Analyze the chapter titles and dissect what they could allude to. Explain what we as readers discover about Ember when Doon visits the library. Answer comprehension questions about events in the book surrounding Doon’s investigation in the tunnels. Create your own list of instructions that have been damaged and have a partner decipher what they are for. Plot the important moments or points of action from the story in a Pipeline Timeline graphic organizer. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: The City of Ember tells the tale of a society living underground for hundreds of years and the two kids who must bring them into the light. Hundreds of years earlier, a group of people descended underground in hopes to save the human race from extinction. They had enough supplies and power to last them for over 200 years, at which point, instructions on how to return to the surface would be revealed. 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The hidden message from Danzi is a puzzle and her way is unclear. The journey of a thousand li begins with a single step."--Provided by the original publisher. a"Set in the Han Dynasty, ancient China. Ping must find Kai a safe home. The hidden message from Danzi is a puzzle and her way is unclear. The journey of a thousand li begins with a single step."--Provided by the original publisher." The Read-Aloud Handbook A New York Times and million copy bestseller, the classic handbook on reading aloud to children—revised and updated Recommended by “Dear Abby”, The New York Times and The Washington Post, for three decades, millions of parents and educators have turned to Jim Trelease's beloved classic to help countless children become avid readers through awakening their imaginations and improving their language skills. Now this new edition of The Read-Aloud Handbook imparts the benefits, rewards, and importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation. Supported by delightful anecdotes as well as the latest research, The Read-Aloud Handbook offers proven techniques and strategies—and the reasoning behind them—for helping children discover the pleasures of reading and setting them on the road to becoming lifelong readers. The Seven Silly Eaters BY MARY ANN HOBERMAN ; MARLA FRAZEE, ILLUS. Grades K–3 38 pages Harcourt Brace, 1997 There are seven children in the Peters family and, unfortunately, each has a different favorite food that must be specially ..." Persekutuan misterius Benedict dan dilema sang tawanan Reynie, Sticky, Kate dan Constance tinggal bersama di sebuah rumah dengan penjagaan yang sangat ketat. Mr Curtain yang jahat, musuh bebuyutan mereka, akan melakukan apa pun untuk menguasai dunia dan merebut kembali sang Pembisik, senjata maut buatannya yang selama ini ada di tangan Mr Benedict. Reynie, Sticky, Kate dan Constance tinggal bersama di sebuah rumah dengan penjagaan yang sangat ketat." Night Flights From the Universe of MORTAL ENGINES Anna Fang adalah seorang mata-mata. Seorang penerbang. Seorang budak yang kabur. Namun, tidak seorang pun tahu cerita sesungguhnya—hingga sekarang. From the Universe of MORTAL ENGINES Anna Fang adalah seorang mata-mata. Seorang penerbang. Seorang budak yang kabur. Namun, tidak seorang pun tahu cerita sesungguhnya—hingga sekarang." The Horn Book Guide to Children's and Young Adult Books CHD Pfeffer , Wendy The Shortest Day : Celebrating the Winter Solstice 40 pp . Dutton ISBN 0-525-46968-0 16.99 ( 5 ) K - 3 Illustrated by Jesse Reisch . This collection of solstice facts and feelings consists of a mood poem about the ..." For Younger Readers ... 179 The Incredible Journey RC 33792 The Heroic Life of Al Capsella Burns , Diane L. RC 34854 49 Sugaring Season : Making Maple Cleary , Beverly 72 , 80 Syrup RC 34394 Beezus and Ramona RC 33756 Burton , Jane 1 Cleary , Beverly 147 ..." 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