289 pages - The world before the city of Ember, as we know, was in turmoil. Eleven year old Nickie and her aunt travel to Yonwood, North Carolina, to ready the family home for sale. The town "prophet" has had a terrible vision. Nickie being left alone because her aunt is very busy, explores the town and her great-grandfather’s belongings. Nickie learns some lessons both good and bad. The topics in this book with our current fear of terrorism really hits home. The only disappointment was the rush to tie things up on how the city of Ember was established in the last chapter.
On pages 253-254, Nickie wonders, "All the fighting nations said God was on their side. How could God be on everyone’s side?" Have you ever wondered about this as well?