laurelinwonder's review against another edition
3.0
This series continues to be a bit lackluster for me, probably, mostly, because I am too old. There are intriguing moments in this prequel, and then pages that were just lost to me. I'll still be checking out the fourth, and final book just to see what happens.
lauraedosanjh's review against another edition
1.0
I know that a lot of people thought that this book was a doom and gloom sort of thing that shows how damaging the religious right can be, or something along those lines...
But I disagree. I think this book was about how hard it is to know what the right choice is, and sometimes how it's difficult to tell the difference between good and evil. And also a little bit about how everyone needs forgiveness, especially when they don't deserve it. I believe all of these points to be both valid and interesting. I see Nickie's internal struggle as something that we've all gone through as we were growing up. She's a good kid, and she puts her trust in an adult who seems to have all the answers, and yet she still uses her internal compass to find her own way.
And whether you like it or not, her point about letting someone take away your rights because you are afraid is very relevant. (Look at the Patriot Act.) It's a fact of life that people make sacrifices in order to feel secure.
However, despite a lot of good concepts, this book just stank all the way around. The plot, the story, and the characters all seemed pretty pointless. It's like Duprau wanted to make this one statement about the grayness of things, and she wrote a 400 page novel to do it. You could probably read 30-40 pages out of the whole book to get a similar end result.
I also feel like Duprau skirted around a lot of issues in this book. If she really wanted to write a commentary on terrorism, politics, and the Patriotic Act, she shouldn't have wussed out. She's so careful to never give anyone a face, name or religious affiliation. It's always "one truth against another truth." And in the end, a hippie blurb about how all gods are love, etc. etc. etc.
I wouldn't recommend to anyone, not even fans of the Left Behind series....
But I disagree. I think this book was about how hard it is to know what the right choice is, and sometimes how it's difficult to tell the difference between good and evil. And also a little bit about how everyone needs forgiveness, especially when they don't deserve it. I believe all of these points to be both valid and interesting. I see Nickie's internal struggle as something that we've all gone through as we were growing up. She's a good kid, and she puts her trust in an adult who seems to have all the answers, and yet she still uses her internal compass to find her own way.
And whether you like it or not, her point about letting someone take away your rights because you are afraid is very relevant. (Look at the Patriot Act.) It's a fact of life that people make sacrifices in order to feel secure.
However, despite a lot of good concepts, this book just stank all the way around. The plot, the story, and the characters all seemed pretty pointless. It's like Duprau wanted to make this one statement about the grayness of things, and she wrote a 400 page novel to do it. You could probably read 30-40 pages out of the whole book to get a similar end result.
I also feel like Duprau skirted around a lot of issues in this book. If she really wanted to write a commentary on terrorism, politics, and the Patriotic Act, she shouldn't have wussed out. She's so careful to never give anyone a face, name or religious affiliation. It's always "one truth against another truth." And in the end, a hippie blurb about how all gods are love, etc. etc. etc.
I wouldn't recommend to anyone, not even fans of the Left Behind series....
trangreads's review against another edition
3.0
It didn’t start picking up until halfway through the book. The second half was really good, but the first half was just so slow. I really had to force myself at first to keep reading. The “epilogue” was really enjoyable, hearing about Grover’s accomplishments and Crystal’s decision with the house. And it was cool to see how the characters of this book were connected to those in Ember.
I hate how long it took me to realize that Nickie and Grover were basically Lina and Doon lol. I feel like the author just took the same characters and changed their names (girl with curiosity for the world and boy with appreciation for animals), but it’s a children’s book so whatever.
I hate how long it took me to realize that Nickie and Grover were basically Lina and Doon lol. I feel like the author just took the same characters and changed their names (girl with curiosity for the world and boy with appreciation for animals), but it’s a children’s book so whatever.
noraconradcom's review against another edition
2.0
This book managed to make the first two books seem completely pointless. The first books in this series were great and fun stories but this story makes you realize there was a very stupid reason for the first two books to even have happened.
*SPOILER*
Basically the author couldn't figure out a way to explain how the city ended up being kept away from the outside world. She attempts to explain it by making some prophet tell everyone to make a city underground. The town goes along with the crazy prophet and BOOM. The city of ember is born.
The author shouldn't have written this prequel and instead let the readers wonder about how the city came to be.
*SPOILER*
Basically the author couldn't figure out a way to explain how the city ended up being kept away from the outside world. She attempts to explain it by making some prophet tell everyone to make a city underground. The town goes along with the crazy prophet and BOOM. The city of ember is born.
The author shouldn't have written this prequel and instead let the readers wonder about how the city came to be.
aprater's review against another edition
4.0
Another great story that delves into the human psyche of so many different characters and how the various psyches can play off one another.
Disappointment if you are expecting it to fit in with the first two in the series, there is only a vague reference near the end that leads to Doon and Lina's story.
Disappointment if you are expecting it to fit in with the first two in the series, there is only a vague reference near the end that leads to Doon and Lina's story.
jnharris10's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the connection to the previous books finally made at the end, but the rest of the book didn't really impress me. I was so invested in Lina and Doon, so the extreme deviation from their story made me lose interest. Plus, the book just seemed to preachy and didn't give a solid connection as to why the world was so bad that an underground city needed to be built.
ladynigelia's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed. We don't find out how this connects to the other books in the series until the afterward so I spent the whole book wondering why this story was important. The story itself was fine, but the teachable moments weren't as strong and some of the logic didn't match up with attitudes of the town.
The other books had a puzzle for the reader to follow along to solve as Lina got more information. There was a puzzle here, but we never see Nicki working on it. She just tosses out the answer at the end.
The other books had a puzzle for the reader to follow along to solve as Lina got more information. There was a puzzle here, but we never see Nicki working on it. She just tosses out the answer at the end.
bestpartofafire's review against another edition
1.0
I just didn’t enjoy this one. Nicki was really annoying throughout, although I did appreciate the ending and how it connected to The City of Ember. Normally I’d give it two stars because of that, but… I hated the rest and reading it was a slog, so this time I won’t.
catsobvi's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn’t a bad book, exactly. I’m just not sure it was necessary. I am rarely a fan of prequels, and this was no exception. It was interesting enough. And the writing isn’t bad. It just didn’t engage me. Why should I care about these people? Why should I care about this story? Sure, in the end we see the connection to the journal Doon & Lina found at the end of the river, but it felt like a disjointed connection. Really, the whole story felt a little disjointed and haphazard and the end seemed crammed in. One good thing, the main message: Think for yourself! Any book that teaches kids that can’t be all bad.
shelberino's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
5.0
The message of this book feels especially relevant to today. It almost felt too on the nose to current events, and I had to double check when it was written.
I think this book gets lower ratings because people just don't like prequels, but I actually thought that the story was intriguing, cohesive, and satisfying on its own as well as in reference to the overall series. I also love how the series focuses on charismatic, selfish leaders, how they get others to follow them, and how to break the cycle. Really cool series!
I think this book gets lower ratings because people just don't like prequels, but I actually thought that the story was intriguing, cohesive, and satisfying on its own as well as in reference to the overall series. I also love how the series focuses on charismatic, selfish leaders, how they get others to follow them, and how to break the cycle. Really cool series!