The City of Ember
By Matt Berman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Part fantasy, part mystery, part treasure hunt.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Based on 14 parent reviews
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Interesting book for our current times
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What's the Story?
Ember is a city in eternal darkness, only kept light by its increasingly unreliable electric system. Other systems are falling apart as well, and stockpiles of food and essentials that have lasted hundreds of years are running out. The city was only meant to last 220 years, and now it has been 241. But the instructions that the Builders left have been lost and forgotten.
Lina finds them, but not before her baby sister has chewed them into virtual indecipherability. Now she and her friend Doon must figure them out from the few disjointed letters left, before the city falls apart. Their efforts lead them to discover long forgotten secrets about the nature and purpose of Ember, and what the Builders intended. They want to share their discoveries with the rest of the citizens -- but only if the corrupt mayor and his guards don't stop them first.
Is It Any Good?
Part dystopian fantasy, part mystery, part code-breaking treasure hunt, this is an intriguing story. 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, City of Ember has its own unique features: It's 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 a perfect set up for the sequel as well as the remaining books in the series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dystopian novels like City of Ember. Why are they so popular? Is it possible to set up an ordered society and, if so, how?
What are some ways people can work to value nature, not waste resources?
What can people do to ensure the planet keeps supporting human life? Families can discuss personal responsibility, social responsibility, and civic involvement.
What skills help people solve problems and work together?
Book Details
- Author: Jeanne DuPrau
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Random House
- Publication date: March 31, 2004
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 13
- Number of pages: 270
- Last updated: June 19, 2019
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