The City Of Ember

By Jeanne DuPrau

Main Characters: Lina Mayfleet, Doon Harrow, Poppy Mayfleet, Granny Mayfleet, the Mayor, Doon’s Dad, and Lina’s guardian.

For 200 years the City of Ember has been thriving until one dreadful day all their supplies to survive start going low and black outs happen more often than they should (according to the people) and scares them all.

Doon Harrow wants to be election’s helper but instead he got the job to work in pipeworks. He is determined to figure out what is wrong with the proud city’s Generator; the heart of the city. His friend Lina Mayfleet is a messenger; care free until she comes home one day and sees her Granny tearing the couch looking for something important. She finds Poppy sitting next to an old worn silver box. She doesn’t bother with it until curiosity gets the best of her.

She finds that the instructions with in the box are not clear so she takes to Doon because it says Pipeworks on them. Together they follow the instructions of the Builders as best as then can to find a way out.

Will they ever get out in time? What will happen to the people?

Rated G

Darkspell

YA
By Elizabeth Mueller









*review written by YA Book Babes

Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.

Darkspell doesn't fit into a typical YA genre box. As a matter of fact, it's one of the most original books I've read this year. A richly woven drama unfolds as young Winter Sky meets two handsome and mysterious neighbors, both fighting for her affection. But one boy, the boy of her dreams--literally-- has already won her heart. But in short order her life is turned upside down as she enters the Stormhold world, a coven of powerful magic users (I'm hesitant to use the word witch/wizard here. This is really something very different.) where she is being hunted by the Shadoweaver. Suddenly everything is in jeopardy as she searches for her gift and fights to keep the boy she loves.

Elizabeth Mueller gives a great story, full of normal teen angst without tipping the scales to be annoying, she keeps us guessing, dropping nuggets for us throughout the story, but never tipping her hand. Combine that with the fantastic use of illustrations that give it almost a graphic novel feel as we read, and this is easily a five star read. I can't wait to pick this up in paperback and you should too! Mueller is a great addition to the YA world and I can't wait to see what comes next from this talented writer!

5 STARS!

PG: some violence and intense scenes