STARTED & FINISHED:

DuPrau, Jeanne. (2004). The people of Sparks. New York: Random House.

[Sequel to "The City of Ember" - which I ate up. I'm quite impressed with this series so far (still have one more book to go...). This one deals with what happens with the citizens of Ember after they emerge from their underground, failing city and try to assimilate themselves with the citizens of the town of Sparks. It's a number of years after a major world "disaster" and there are VERY FEW people/towns left in the world. The 350 people of Sparks have enough space and food for themselves, but do they have enough for the 400+ citizens of Sparks who have shown up looking for a place to go? An interesting and timely look at just how much any one society can/should do to help others in need.]