The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Books of Ember: Book 1
Audience: 9 and up
Rating: A-
Synopsis:
Ember is a city unlike any other… to discover it’s many mysteries, read this book. When Lina Mayfleet and her classmates turn twelve, they follow the same ritual that has been followed since the founding of the city of Ember; they are assigned a job. Lina’s job as messenger takes her all around the city and she begins to learn some of the city’s secrets: supplies are running out and the city is dying. Lina and her friend Doon find a secret message left by the city’s founders; can they figure it out and save Ember before it’s too late?
Chatter:
(Spoiler Alerts! ) I always love a good map in the front of a book… it was great to be able to flip to the front to see where Lina’s and Doon’s adventures take them. I also enjoyed trying to figure out the puzzle of the destroyed note. It was fun to try and piece together the partial words.
This book reminds me of a lot of other books. Not that it’s a copycat, just that it shares themes and common characteristics with many other books. For example:
- The Giver, in both books preteens are assigned a job instead of choosing one as a grown up
- Chasing Vermeer, the word puzzles in Ember remind me of the pentagram code.
- Uglies, both books deal with the world after some sort of major disaster that almost destroyed all civilization.
Can you think of other books that are similar?
I worry about Lina and Doon taking care of Poppy. They have limited supplies, no knowledge of life above ground, and a baby is a huge responsibility. Which is better for Poppy, to stay with Mrs. Murdo or to go with Lina? This is a tough question to answer, I’d hate for Lina and Poppy to be split up, I hope that they made the right decision to take them on their adventure.
I love the cliffhanger ending. This is the type of ending that books in a series should have… the type that makes you want to rush out to a bookstore at midnight to get the next book.
Questions:
What do you think happened above ground to force people to create the city of Ember?
What do you think Lina and Doon will find at the first town/city the come across?
Do you think Mrs. Murdo will be able to convince the rest of Ember to leave?
Keep reading!
-Paige
Buy The City of Ember from Amazon
Tiff Says:
I loved this book!! The ending was a surprise to me and I’m glad I didn’t figure it out beforehand. I agree, this does remind me of some other favorites I have, but that doesn’t make it any less good!
You’ll have to read the sequels now and let me know what you think.
Erin Says:
This book was soooo good!! My favorite part was when they were going through the pipe works, and following the path. The ending was really surprising. I never would have suspected The City of Ember to be underground!! Now I just have to read the sequals!!
Kaitlynn Says:
hi Paige. i totally agree with you, erin!! i have read the people of sparks. did you read the sequals, paige? you should if you didn’t!!!!! trust me!!!!!!!<8-D
Ryan Says:
1.I think tha a war happened like world war 2 or some other one
nerd forever12345 Says:
this book was really good and the ending was really surpriseing.
tree huger Says:
i agree with you katelin this book had a weird ending and the next book pepole of sharks wasnt that good=]
rainforesthater Says:
i disagree with tree huger and the ending was like so surprising i was so surprised. and the next book is the people of the tree hugers.
miranda the cheese itz lover!=] Says:
Lina and Doon are now in a tough situation to help their city from dying can they find a way out or a new town what will it be like. I predict that Lina and Doon will find a town or city as they are making their journey through the tunnel. I think that Lina and Doon will find other people in a small town that is right outside of the tunnel, from Ember. They will find a doctor at the town. Also all of the people they are bringing form ember with them they will not have enough room in the new town. The people of ember wile not be used to the grass sky and the light that the new town has, because down in ember they don’t have a sun and only have a few lights. The town will be different for them since there Is grass and a sun houses and food and animals like birds. That is what I think that Lina and Doon will find when they go to the new town or city.
Gabby Says:
The City of Ember was one of the best books that I have ever read because I love mysteries and the book was one huge mystery. It was really cool at the end how Lina and Doon found a secret passageway out of their city and found out that the city was under ground. All of the events really pieced together at the end. I liked how they had to figure out the paper that had missing words and that the message really ended out being the way out of the city. When the city had a black out I thought that it was really weird because I didn’t know that they were under ground. I also liked how at the end they read a journal about how all of the grandparents were given children and then were brought down underground. They did that because then when the babies grew up they wouldn’t know that they were living underground.
Cait Says:
This is one of my favorite book series. It is a children’s book, but at the same time has very grown-up themes. And that’s what I really like about it. The City of Ember has a great plot, in my opinion. The title grabbed my attention and from the beginning I thought that the city was just in a parallel universe. The ending was really a shocker for me. Overall, I would recommend the City of Ember to anyone, because it really is a book that anyone can read and enjoy. I sure enjoyed it.
Amber Baynor Says:
I’m so glad to see other fans of this book running around out there. I personally loved it because it was something so fresh amidst all the Harry Potter (which I do also love, haha), Lord of the Rings and other adventure stories running around all over the place.
I’m an official ambassador for the upcoming film adaptation of City of Ember. I’m coming to you first because I have some exclusive first-look pictures that you might enjoy and share with your blog readers.
Email me if you want them, I’d love to share them with you. Bill Murray looks great as the villainous Mayor Cole.
Would love to be in touch!
Best,
Amber Baynor
Official Ambassador
amber.cityofember.ambassador@gmail.com
Exclusive City of Ember Movie Pictures! | Turning the Paige Says:
[...] (Read Paige’s Review of the book here) [...]
Olivia F. Says:
you are the bestest author in the whole world!!!!!!!!!!! i go to middle school and sometimes i can’t finish my homework or get the answers wrong because all i can think about are Doon, Lina, and Poppy. . I hope I will be going to Borders the book store soon. My mom said that we would go thius week or next week. well anyway, please right back! it would mean the whole world to me. Oops! theres my mom! I am suposed to be doing my homework right now! ta ta for now!
yours truly, olivia f.