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.
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