The People of Sparks – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The People of Sparks

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2004

88%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

Moving out of a dark basement is great until you realize your new neighbors kind of hate you. A smart look at how wars actually start.

The People of Sparks

book

2004

88%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

Moving out of a dark basement is great until you realize your new neighbors kind of hate you. A smart look at how wars actually start.

4.6

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Screenwise Verdict

The People of Sparks is a rare bird: a sequel that’s actually about something important. While the first book was a mystery about escaping a dying city, this one is a study on how to live with people who are different from you.

It’s not 'action-packed' in the modern sense—there are no laser battles or monsters—but the stakes feel incredibly high because you actually care if these people survive the winter. If your kid liked The City of Ember, this is a must-read. If they haven't read the first one, start there or they'll be totally lost.

Age Fit

Best for 8 to 12-year-olds. It’s perfect for that window where they’re over 'baby books' but not quite ready for the grim-dark violence of teen YA novels.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It handles the messy reality of human conflict with a lot of maturity. It doesn't rely on cheap villains; instead, it shows how regular people can be driven to do mean things when they're scared or hungry.

Imaginative

The transition from the lightless City of Ember to a sun-drenched, low-tech surface world is a great setup. It’s less 'magical' than the first book and more about practical survival and rebuilding society from scratch.

Safe

Extremely safe. There's no profanity, sexual content, or graphic violence. The 'scary' parts are mostly social tension and the threat of a fight between two groups of people.

Enriching

This is essentially 'Geopolitics for Middle Schoolers.' It explains how rumors, retaliation, and pride lead to war better than most textbooks. It’s a huge win for emotional intelligence.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It treats kids like they're smart enough to understand complex social issues like resource scarcity and mob mentality.
Lina and Doon remain relatable protagonists who solve problems with their brains rather than superpowers.
It’s a rare 'dystopian' book that focuses on the hard work of building a community rather than just blowing stuff up.

⚠

What to Watch For

It’s a bit slower and more 'political' than the first book, which might bore kids looking for a high-speed chase.
The themes of starvation and being unwanted might be a little heavy for very sensitive younger readers.

Conversation Starters

"Why did the people of Sparks start to dislike the people from Ember so quickly?"
"If you only had enough food for your family, would you share it with a hundred strangers who just showed up?"
"How do small 'paybacks' eventually turn into a full-blown war?"

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