Simone Chen

Simone Chen
The Prophet of Yonwood
Jeanne DuPrau
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
P. 96

1. Nickie Green and her aunt Crystal have moved into her deceased grandfather's house in Yonwood, North Carolina for a few weeks. The house was left to Nickie's mother and aunt, and they've decided to clean it up and sell it. Nickie, however, wants to keep the ancient and beautiful house and move into it with her mom and dad. A Crisis is going on right now- the US and Phalanx Nations can't come to an agreement about something, and the US is setting a deadline of 7 days for the Phalanx Nations to agree to their compromise, and if not they will declare war. Nickie's father is away for important government business, but can't tell his family where he his, so they're worried about him. Yonwood's prophet has had a horrible vision with fire and destruction about the Crisis, and people think it was a message from God.

2. I am enjoying this book so far because it is very suspenseful and has a good plot. People in Yonwood and throughout the US are very frightened about the Crisis between the US and the Phalanx Nations, and things are only getting worse. This is a good plot because it is depicting what could happen if two nations or groups both wanted something that the other wouldn't give up, and couldn't come to a compromise so they broke out in a violent war. Although this is a worst-case scenario kind of situation, it sends out a strong message about disputes and how everybody can't always have everything we want, or the result would be constant fighting, or worse. The author is good at including details and making readers want to keep reading by including suspenseful parts.

3. A theme that I've noticed is faith in God. Although not all the characters follow and support this theme, the majority do. During this time of trouble and worry the people of Yonwood need something or someone to look up to for help and reassurance. They believe that if they have faith in God and focus all their love towards him, he will makes things all better. They are giving up things they like, for example Nickie gave up hot chocolate, because they think that will give them more love to give to God. Although this might not be true, Ms. Beason, a strong believer of faith towards God, tells people to give up things they like and love God with all their heart so he will make things better.

4. My favorite character is Nickie because she has a big heart and sees the real story behind things. Crystal wanted to sell her grandfather's house because she thought it looked too ancient and shabby to live in, Nickie thought the house was beautiful in its own unique way and knew they couldn't sell it because her ancestors had lived in it for centuries, and the house was alive with all sorts of different memories and stories to tell. Nickie has a warm personality towards everything and everybody, and is not afraid to try new things. She is sick tired of their boring apartment in Philadelphia, and is determined to convince her mom and dad to keep their grandfather's house and move in.

5. My least favorite character is Ms. Beason because she is always positive that whatever she says and thinks is right, and that her way of doing things is the right way. After the prophet's vision about fire and destruction she lies in bed and keeps mumbling things that nobody can understand. Ms. Beason is really interpreting the prophet's mumbling to what she wants people to do, not what the prophet is trying to say. During the Crisis she isn't doing anything to help the situation, she is just distracting the people by telling people that God is there for us, and will save us. She is almost hypnotizing them into being mindless robots that do nothing all day but hope that things will get better. Having some hope is not a bad thing, but if ALL you are doing is hoping for the better, then that is not going to improve the situation.

6. My prediction is that the prophet will come of out her "coma" and explain what she was really trying to say. Also, the prophet's vision will come true and have something to do with the war between the US and the Phalanx Nations. The people of Yonwood will suffer from this war, maybe they will make shelters to live in where it's safe. I think Nickie will convince her parents to keep the house and make them realize its sentimental value and greatness. Her dad will come back from his top-secret government business and tell them where he was and what was so important that he was doing. Ms. Beason might be shunned by the townspeople for interpreting the prophet's mumblings completely wrong and she will move away.