1. BibliographyDuPrau, Jeanne. 2003. The City of Ember. Random House: New York. ISBN 978-0385736282.
2. Summary
Lorna and Doon live in a place where it is always dark. The only light can be found from the bulbs that are flickering above them. The people of Ember don't know any other way. But there is a problem. They are running out of light. The black outs are coming more regularly and they all know that there will be a time when the lights go out permanently. The people of Ember don't know what else there is and no way to solve their problem. Lorna and Doon try to solve the mystery behind their city and find a way to save the people of Ember before it is too late.
3. Impressions
The idea for this book is very intriguing. A place where the only light comes from electricity. When the lights go out at night, there is nothing but total darkness. But now the light is running out. I found myself through this whole book trying to figure out where they were. I thought it must be some place in space. When I figured out where they were, I wanted to know why they were there. This book was very mysterious and I love a good mystery. I think that young adults will find this book very enjoyable. It brings up a lot of interesting questions. I found myself really thinking as I read this book. When the people of Ember emerge from the cave into the bright sunlight for the first time, I wanted to cheer. I wanted to read more about the people and what happens to them. However I was very disappointed in the next book in the series, The People of Sparks. This book had none of the mystery and intrigue of the first book. The City of Ember is an excellent book that will delight all kinds of readers. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
4. Reviews
Reviews taken from http://www.amazon.com/City-Ember-Books/dp/0385736282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228264548&sr=1-1
From Booklist Gr. 5-7. Ember, a 241-year-old, ruined domed city surrounded by a dark unknown, was built to ensure that humans would continue to exist on Earth, and the instructions for getting out have been lost and forgotten. On Assignment Day, 12-year-olds leave school and receive their lifetime job assignments. Lina Mayfleet becomes a messenger, and her friend Doon Harrow ends up in the Pipeworks beneath the city, where the failing electric generator has been ineffectually patched together. Both Lina and Doon are convinced that their survival means finding a way out of the city, and after Lina discovers pieces of the instructions, she and Doon work together to interpret the fragmented document. Life in this postholocaust city is well limned--the frequent blackouts, the food shortage, the public panic, the search for answers, and the actions of the powerful, who are taking selfish advantage of the situation. Readers will relate to Lina and Doon's resourcefulness and courage in the face of ominous odds. Sally Estes Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
