Part dystopian fantasy, part mystery, part code-breaking treasure hunt, this intriguing little story already has a sequel in the works. Deciphering the clues from the damaged Instructions will keep readers guessing, despite some predictable plot twists in the center section, and they will be rooting for the appealing main characters.

While lacking the complexity or moral ambiguity of The Giver, Ember has its own unique features: it is a city designed, not to be a utopia, but rather to hold the remnants of humanity safe and isolated for a fixed period, then release them. The problem comes when the release doesn't happen, no one knows that it should have, and the city is past its expiration date. A fascinating scenario --and one fraught with possibilities for the sequel.

From the Book:
Sometimes darkness fell in the middle of the day. The city of Ember was old, and everything in it, including the power lines, was in need of repair. So now and then the lights would flicker and go out. These were terrible moments for the people of Ember. As they came to a halt in the middle of the street or stood stock-still in their houses, afraid to move in the utter blackness, they were reminded of something they preferred not to think about: that someday the lights might go out and never come back on.