The City of Ember (The First Book of Ember) (urspr publ 2003; utgåvan 2004)

I really liked this book and I would be interested in reading the other ones in the series. I like that she left the ending open-ended, that always leads into a sequel nicely. I thought the writing was very well done, but it wasn't my favorite book I have read this term.

It was a fairly good book and I passed it on to my neice to read. My biggest problem was being disappointed. I found it to be a really great idea, put together in a boring way. ( )

City of Ember was an interesting read. Two twelve year old students, Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet are on a mission to find a way to escape their crumbling city. Ember has frequent rolling blackouts that are getting longer in length and food supplies are running short. When Lina finds instructions that detail how to leave the city, she and Doon set out on an adventure. I thought the book was well written but thought the pace was a bit too slow at times. I would recommend this book to fans of The Museum of Thieves and Enclave. ( )

I just finished is The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Although I had read the book a few years ago, I had picked this for a family road trip before we all got to see the movie. The book is wonderful. Loved the story and the audio narration is superb, and even includes sound effects. Very fun and perfect for family listening.


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This would be a great introduction to dystopian literature for middle grade or early high school readers. It has the familiar tropes and twists, but still manages to be fresh and exciting. Those who enjoyed Lois Lowry's The Giver or Rebecca Stead's First Light will most likely be fans of The City of Ember; I'm eager to read the next one, The People of Sparks.

At twelve, Lina and Doon finish their education and get their work assignments by picking slips of paper out of a bag. Doon gets Messenger, and Lina draws Pipeworks; they trade, and Lina gets her dream job, while Doon gets the chance to explore underground. True to YA form, Lina is an orphan living with her baby sister and their declining grandmother; Doon lives with his father. Together, Lina and Doon make a series of discoveries about their city, but when they bring their news to the Mayor, expecting to be praised as heroes, they instead become wanted fugitives. Together, they follow "The Instructions" that Lina found, and find a way out of Ember.

Quotes:

"You'll think of something. You're a clever boy. The main thing is to pay attention. Pay close attention to everything, notice what no one else notices. Then you'll know what no one else knows, and that's always useful." (51)

She couldn't keep the picture of the streets clear in her mind. The darkness seemed to fill not just the city around her but the inside of her head as well. (79)

What would she draw? Taking hold of a pencil was like opening a tap inside her mind through which her imagination flowed. She could feel the pictures ready to come out. It was a sort of pressure, like water in a pipe. She always thought she would draw something wonderful, but what she actually drew never quite matched the feeling. It was like when she tried to tell a dream - the words never really captured what it felt. (135)

"There is so much darkness in Ember....It's not just outside, it's inside us, too. Everyone has some darkness inside. It's like a hungry creature. It wants and wants and wants with a terrible power. And the more you give it, the bigger and hungrier it gets." (Clary to Lina, 168)

Lina felt as though a lid that had been on her all her life had been lifted off. (256)