88 pages • 2 hours read
The People of Sparks
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Part 3, Chapters 28-29Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 3: “The Decision”
Part 3, Chapter 28 Summary: “Surprising Truths”
Once the Emberites and the townspeople band together, they triumph over the destructive forces of nature and put out the flames. Afterward, it is impossible to tell who is from Sparks and who is from Ember.
Kenny approaches Doon and tells him that he’s a good person, unlike Tick. Kenny reveals that he saw Tick gathering poison oak. Doon puts things together and realizes that Tick has been the one behind almost all of the anti-Ember vandalism.
Lina talks to Torren as she helps tend to his burned feet and realizes that he lied about who threw the tomatoes. Mrs. Murdo tells Lina that she is proud of her for joining the fire lines when nobody else wanted to be the first person to do so.
“The Fourth Town Meeting” Summary
The town leaders meet with the Emberites at the Pioneer to tell them that they are no longer required to leave and to apologize for their actions. Mary admits that the leaders of Sparks had been afraid. The two groups of people officially join together to collectively become the people of Sparks. Lina is slightly apprehensive about leaving her identity as an Emberite behind, but the promise of change and possibility outweighs the fear. Everyone takes new roles in the new and larger town and begins to plan for the hard work ahead of them.
Part 3, Chapter 29 Summary: “Three Amazing Visits”
Caspar returns to Dr. Hester’s house, without the treasure but still refusing to admit he was wrong. He brings back a crate of unused lightbulbs. A badly wounded Ben comes to visit Torren, his nephew, and apologizes for not being a better uncle. Torren appreciates the attention and realizes that he likes his life with Dr. Hester. Doon visits as well with a small electric generator that he made with the magnet Lina brought him and a book from the Ark library. He realizes that Torren has a lightbulb that he can test it with, and the small group watches with awe and hope as he cranks his generator to make the lightbulb glow.
Part 3, Chapters 28-29 Analysis
The end of this novel reinforces the central idea that separations of “us” and “them” are unhelpful at best and returns to one of the major symbols of the story.
After the fire, the boundaries between the people of Sparks and the Emberites are almost completely eroded. The two populations then join together as Sparks. The realization that most of the vandalism was perpetrated by a member of the opposite group makes clear that “us” and “them” are no more than labels used to pit people against each other. There are no real differences, besides the ones that Kenny hints at when he says “I knew you were that kind of person… The brave kind… The good kind. Not like [Tick]” (308-09).
The novel ends with a return to the items scavenged from the ruins of ancient buildings. Doon joins the physical items of Lina’s magnet and Caspar’s lightbulb with his own love for knowledge to create something altogether greater out of what, at first glance, appear to be no more than scavenged parts. This collaborative effort symbolizes each faction putting their preconceived ideas about each other aside and combining their skills to enhance their future.
That the story ends with electricity seems to indicate that Lina’s dream of a vast city all lit up will someday come true.
Unlock all 88 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
