Like every other student on Flintchip, Cole Davenport has spent his life mining in dark, dreary tunnels. One day, however, he makes a jaw-dropping discovery-seven people made of jewels sleeping deep inside the mountain. Left by an ancient, powerful race known only as the Engineers, Cole soon learns that the Gem People have a special purpose-one that might change Flintchip forever. If Cole is to protect them, however, he must fight off the adults in his town, journey to far-off Thumbspeake, go to battle with a powerful nation of marauding merchants known as the Train Lords, and even confront the most daunting villain of all-himself. The Gem People is an engaging, thrilling adventure that will appeal to both younger and older readers alike. --Reviews for The Gem People-- "...[a] warm, engrossing novel which captures reader interest and holds it tightly to the end." "Mickel's descriptions are vivid and striking throughout, delicately painting scenarios with emotional depth and vivid metaphors." - Midwest Book Review