“Nickie Randolph’s first sight of the town of Yonwood was a white steeple rising out of the pine forest that covered the mountainside.”

From Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember: The Prophet of Yonwood.

Before there was a Disaster or a need for the self-sufficient underground city of Ember, there was Nickie; she’s a young girl caught up in the turmoil of a world on the edge of war where tensions are high and freedom is strained.  Shortly after her father is chosen to be part of a secret government project, Nickie finds herself moving to Yonwood, North Carolina to the old home of her great-grandfather, but things are far from what she expected.  When the town prophet (Althea) has a vision of a terrible future and falls sick, the town busybody (Mrs. Beeson) approaches Nickie and asks her to be a spy that would report on the good and evil status of the townspeople in an effort to protect Yonwood from the vision, Nickie agrees and quickly finds herself in a confusing place.  Her report of someone’s being good or evil has devastating consequences that leave Nickie struggling with what she needs to do.  As things in Yonwood quickly fall apart, Nickie is left scrambling to find out the truth and do whatever she can to protect her friends before it is too late.

This third book in the City of Ember series is actually a prequel to the events of the first two books.  While it helps to answer some questions and provide information on the series, it stands strongest as its own unique story with the characters, settings, and events.  DuPrau’s goal for this book seems different from the others in the series, with attitudes and ideas (especially against religion) more prominent in her writing.  The Prophet of Yonwood is a different, but interesting story, and in a big picture sense, it is a can’t-miss read for fans of the series.