The Diamond of Darkhold is a relatively satisfying conclusion to the "Ember" series. While I LOVE City of Ember and did it as a read-aloud to my classes for several years, I found People of Sparks to be weak (and overly "preachy") and Prophet of Yonwood to be downright depressing. The Diamond of Darkhold is not nearly as complex or riveting as City of Ember, but it does give us the chance to revisit Ember itself and see what became of the city after the people fled. While loose ends are tied up, there are other aspects that could have been explored in greater depth.
If you are a fourth or fifth grade teacher, definitely read City of Ember with your students - there's much to discuss, and the mystery element makes for an engaging class activity. I always had a large chart paper with the incomplete contents of the letter transcribed for the class to fill in as the story progressed. Once you've read City of Ember aloud, your students will want to read the prequels/sequels, so make sure they have access to the other books.
If you're an "Ember" series fan, go ahead and commit to reading The Diamond of Darkhold - you need to achieve completion!
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