The Prophet of Yonwood

Infobox Book |
name = The Prophet of Yonwood
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Jeanne DuPrau
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = The Books of Ember
genre = Young adult, Fantasy, Science fiction novel
publisher = Random House
release_date = May 9, 2006
media_type =
pages = 304 pages
isbn = ISBN 0-375-87526-3
preceded_by = The People of Sparks
followed_by = The Diamond of Darkhold

The Prophet of Yonwood is a 2006 apocalyptic novel by Jeanne DuPrau. It is the third novel in the series "The Books of Ember". However, it is a prequel, rather than a sequel, to the other two 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" and "The People of Sparks".

Plot summary

Nickie, a spirited eleven-year old from Philadelphia, travels to fictional Yonwood, North Carolina, with her aunt Crystal. Crystal's 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 and live at Greenhaven. Life in Philadelphia has become rough and unsafe, and Nickie relishes the chance to live in the countryside and spend time outside.

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, and her dog, Otis, hiding out. When Nickie learns that Amanda was her great grandfather's caretaker, and that she has nowhere to go, she agrees to let the orphan and her dog remain in the room. Nickie develops a strong bond with Otis, and agrees to take care of him and adopt him when Amanda finds another job and leaves the house. Knowing that her aunt dislikes dogs, Nickie keeps Otis concealed in the upstairs nursery.

Among Nickie's other friends is Grover, a local boy from a large family. Grover spends his time caring for and studying reptiles, especially snakes. This frightens Nickie at first, but the two children soon learn to understand each other and form a friendship. Grover's dream is to attend a special nature camp and study reptiles; although he has been accepted, his family does not have the money to pay for tuition. Grover attempts to win the tuition money himself by entering mail-order contests and sweepstakes.

While Yonwood is safer than Philadelphia, Nickie soon learns that it is suffering from just as much unrest. The town is under the control of a "prophet," Althea Tower. Althea underwent a horrible vision, which left her ill and confined her to her home. She is considered to be a prophet, and a team of advisers 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, uses 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 beep and identify them as wrong doers.

At first Nickie believes that the Prophet and Brenda Beeson are helping the town; 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 Grover, condemned for his snake collection, is forced to wear a bracelet and flees to the woods; and still more when Brenda Beeson announces that the latest prohibition is dogs, and that all pets in the town 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 to live in the wild.

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 from her illness. Because Althea does not remember anything, Nickie explains all that has happened. After hearing Nickie's explanation, Althea is horrified.

The dogs find their way back down the mountain and return to the town. When their owners try to claim them, Brenda Beeson protests. The townspeople ignore her and reclaim their dogs. 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 in her vision: a destroyed world without cities (Misinterpreted as "sinners") music, light, dogs, people or birds. Brenda Beeson's regime effectively ends.

Nickie's father, who has been working on a "secret project" and communicating with his family through strange coded messages on postcards, finally reveals that he is stationed in California and invites his wife and daughter to join him there. Nickie happily leaves Yonwood 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 the real estate broker. Nickie returns to visit in the summer.

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

At the conclusion of the book, Nickie is revealed to be the author of the old journal discovered by Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow 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 goal to help the world, and accepts the invitation.

En route 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.