The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Book Review and Summary of the First Book in the Ember Series
Sep 12, 2008
The best-selling novel, written for young-adults, is the first in the four-book Ember series.
Summary
For over two hundred years, the citizens of Ember have lived in darkness, save for the great lamps and flood lights that illuminate the city by day. But now, the lights are flickering, and blackouts are occurring more often. The buildings are crumbling, and the stockpiles of food and supplies are scarce. Sooner or later, this deflating city will face eternal darkness.
Twelve-year-old Lina discovers the remains of an ancient message that was feared lost long ago. The message, left by the Builders of Ember, contains the instructions on how to escape the city. With the threat of eternal darkness looming, Lina and her friend Doon work together to decipher the message. In doing so, they discover the secrets of why and how Ember was built, and they learn that life exists outside of their darkened city—life beneath a bright blue sky.
Together, Lina and Doon find the only path out of Ember via the underground river. Bringing as many citizens as they can round up, they embark on the long, treacherous journey, leaving behind the only home they've ever known.
Review
The City of Ember has all the elements of a great young-adult novel. The book is fast-paced and there is such life-threatening urgency in the plot that readers will be engrossed from beginning to end.
The protagonists, Lina and Doon, take initiative as their city falls apart, showing bravery and determination. And, while typical of some adult sci-fi novels, the setting of a pitch-black city facing extinction is unique to the young-adult market. The adult nature of the setting, combined with the young, resourceful protagonists, makes this book appeal to a wide age range of readers.
The gripping sequels to The City of Ember—The People of Sparks and The Prophet of Yonwood—are both available in paperback. And the newly-released conclusion to the Ember series titled The Diamond of Darkhold is now available in hardcover.
Movie
It has been five years since the 2003 release of The City of Ember, but finally this adventurous read is coming to life on the big screen. The movie, directed by Gil Kenan, will be released in Canada and the U.S. on October 10, 2008.
Protagonists Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are played by Saoirse Ronan, best known for her performance in Atonement, and Harry Treadaway. Other well-known members of the cast include Bill Murray as the self-concerned Mayor of Ember and Tim Robbins as Doon’s father.
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