The City of Ember

Title: The City of Ember
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Publication date: 2004
Number of pages: 270
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, grades 4-7
Geographical Setting: fictional city of Ember
Time Period: unknown, far into the future
Series: yes, first of the Books of Ember

Plot Summary: When you turn 12 in the City of Ember, you are assigned your life job. Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are not very happy with their luck and decide to trade jobs-Lina gets to be a Messenger, running all through Ember’s streets and Doon will get to explore the underground as a Pipeworker (and get a good look at that generator). The people of Ember have lived just fine for the last 250 years or so. “Daytime” is regulated and there is no sunlight or moonlight but rather the yellowish glow from flood lamps throughout the city. Light bulbs are becoming more precious as it seems the supplies are getting low. Blackouts are happening more frequently and are lasting longer. Beyond the town limits are the pitch-black Unknown Regions. Without “movable light,” venturing here is nearly impossible. That is until Lina and Doon make an exciting and puzzling discovery.

Subject Headings: the future, survival, fantasy, science fiction, dystopia

Appeal: an ALA notable book, movie adaptation in 2008, moral dilemmas dealing with stealing and lying, death of parents due to illness, children with adult responsibilities, children as heroes, often characterized as “science fiction for people who don’t like science fiction,” suspenseful first book of a series, a dystopian view of a future for humanity

If you liked The City of Ember, you might enjoy: Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. Margaret Peterson Haddix’s The Shadow Children series. Philip Reeve’s The Hungry City Chronicles.