The Prophet of Yonwood

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**Title** **The Prophet of Yonwood**
First edition cover
Author	Jeanne DuPrau
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	The Book of Ember series
Genre(s)	Young adult, Fantasy, Science fiction novel
Publisher	Random House
Released	May 9, 2006
Media type	Print (Hardcover, Paperback) and (audio-CD)
Pages	304 pp (hardcover)
ISBN	ISBN 0-375-87526-3
Followed by	The City of Ember

The Prophet of Yonwood is a 2006 apocalyptic novel by Jeanne DuPrau.

While The Prophet of Yonwood is the third novel to be released in the Ember series, it is a prequel, rather than a sequel, to the other books of the series. It is set about fifty years before the Disaster and the establishment of Ember, and approximately three hundred years before the events of The City of Ember.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Nickie, a spirited eleven-year old from Philadelphia, travels to Yonwood, North Carolina, with her aunt Crystal. Their goal is to clean, inventory and sell a large mansion, Greenhaven, that has been bequeathed to their family. While Crystal is interested in cleaning out the house and selling it as quickly as possible, Nickie is determined to remain at Greenhaven.

As she explores the house, Nickie discovers many old books, photographs and toys, including a signed photo of Chang and Eng Bunker. She also discovers her late grandfather's journal, but is unable to understand it.

In an upstairs room, Nickie discovers a teenage girl, Amanda, hiding out. When Nickie learns that Amanda was her grandfather's caretaker, and that she has nowhere to go, she agrees to let the orphan and her dog, Otis, remain in the room. Nickie develops a rapport with Otis, and adopts him when Amanda finds another job. Knowing that her aunt dislikes dogs, Nickie keeps Otis concealed upstairs.

Among Nickie's other friends is Grover, a local boy from a large family. Grover spends his time caring for and studying snakes; although this frightens Nickie at first, the two children soon form a friendship. Grover's dream is to attend a special nature camp and study snakes; although he has been accepted, his family does not have the money to pay for tuition.

The town is under the control of a "prophet," Althea Tower. Althea is delirious and incoherent; a team of advisors interpret her mutterings and present them as official decrees from the pulpit of the Church of the Fiery Vision. The team, led by Brenda Beeson, use the "prophecies" to institute a draconian regime in Yonwood, banning everything from smoking to singing. Those who are considered to be immoral or rebellious are warned, threatened and, in some cases, forced to wear special bracelets that identify them as personae non grata.

At first Nickie believes that the Prophet and Brenda Beeson are helping the village; she cooperates with Beeson and even acts as an informant. As the story progresses, however, she begins to discover that the line between right and wrong is far more blurred than she had originally believed. As the prophecies begin to grow more and more dire, Nickie begins to doubt if she wants to remain in Yonwood. Her disenchantment grows when her friend Grover is given a bracelet and is forced to flee to the woods; and still more when Brenda Beeson announces that the latest prohibition is dogs, and that all pets in the village will be confiscated. Nickie attempts to hide Otis, but is betrayed by Amanda. Otis, along with the other dogs, is driven up into the mountains and turned loose.

Nickie goes to Althea Tower's home, breaks in, and attempts to speak to "the Prophet" herself. While Althea is still in a trance, Nickie's shouting eventually awakens her. Nickie explains all that is happened; Althea is horrified.

The dogs find their way back down the mountain and return to the village. When their owners try to claim them, Brenda Beeson protests. The villagers ignore her and reclaim their pets. In the midst of the melee, Althea Tower appears. She explains that she was not giving orders: she was merely describing the future she saw: a destroyed world without music, light, dogs or people. Brenda Beeson's regime effectively ends.

Nickie's father, who has been working on a "secret project" and communicating with his family only in coded messages, finally reveals that he is stationed in California and invites his wife and daughter to join him there. Nickie happily leaves Yonwood, along with Otis. They enjoy living on the West Coast. The real estate deal involving Greenhaven falls apart, and Crystal decides to keep the house and marries a local man. Nickie returns to visit in the summer.

Nickie sells the photo of the Bunker twins and sends the money to Grover. He uses it to attend his nature camp. The camp paves the way to a brighter education and future for Grover. As an adult, he becomes a world-renowned herpetologist and discovers some medicinal purposes for snake venom that help the human race.

At the conclusion of the book, Nickie is revealed to be the author of the journal discovered by Poppy Mayfleet at the end of The City of Ember. Her father was actually one of The Builders who constructed and designed Ember; the underground city was the "secret project" on which he worked for fifty years. Because she is the daughter of one of The Builders, Nickie is invited to be one of the city's first residents. She realizes that Ember might represent her chance to help the world, and accepts the invitation.

Enroute to Ember, Nickie begins to document events in a journal. However, before she boards the boat that will take her to Ember, she becomes nervous that her diary will be found. She hides it behind a rock and leaves for her new home.