The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Adaptation of sci-fi favorite a little murky visually.
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What's the Story?
The citizens of the underground city of Ember regard it as the only light in a dark world. But when the lights flicker and food begins to run low, few have the imagination to believe that there might be another way to live. Lina, a messager, and Doon, a pipeworks laborer, hope there might be a way to save themselves and the ones they love, and when they find a mysterious document that hints at a way out of Ember, they pursue every clue to its surprising conclusion.
Is It Any Good?
This graphic adaptation of THE CITY OF EMBER hits the high points of the popular science-fiction novel, but it fails to generate the narrative power of the original. With the tale set mostly in darkness, the illustrations are necessarily muted and even murky. Much of the plot revolves around clues hidden in a ripped-up document, and the porocess of deciphering them is not visually interesting. Fans of Jeanne DuPrau's novel might enjoy this version, but it seems unlikely to spur new readers toward the original book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the graphic novel adaptation of The Ember City compares with the original novel. Is it hard to make a dark underground city look interesting in drawn panels?
The City of Ember is science fiction, but do you think the failing city depicted in it is at all realistic? Can you imagine what it would be like in your city if food and power were scarce?
Would you be able to set off for life in a new city with only a few possessions and only a vague sense of your destination?
Book Details
- Authors: Jeanne DuPrau, Dallas Middaugh
- Illustrator: Niklas Asker
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Random House
- Publication date: September 25, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 17
- Number of pages: 144
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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