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41st out of 7,914 books
—
39,533 voters
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1)
Many hundreds of years ago, the city of Ember was created by the Builders to contain everything needed for human survival. It worked…but now the storerooms are almost out of food, crops are blighted, corruption is spreading through the city and worst of all—the lights are failing. Soon Ember could be engulfed by darkness….
But when two children, Lina and Doon, discover frag...more
But when two children, Lina and Doon, discover frag...more
Paperback, 270 pages
Published
May 25th 2004
by Yearling
(first published March 13th 2003)
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The City of Ember is a young adult novel that is a fantastic allegory for spiritual awakening, though I have no idea if it was intended as such. The story is of a girl who lives in an underground and completely self-contained city created by the “Builders.” The population of the city knows of nothing outside the city, in fact, though they speak English many of the words in it like “sky” are not understood in any terms but metaphorically. The problem is that the city is falling apart, the lights...more
I asked my best friend what kinds of books his children were reading (I'm always looking for books for my niece) and he said his oldest son had read and enjoyed the City of Ember series. So much so that he'd passed them along to his parents, who had read them and found them interesting as well. Add to it a movie coming out and I decided I would give the series a try.
The City of Ember exists inside the darkness, where it's always night. Darkness is held at bay twelve hours a day by artifical ligh...more
The City of Ember exists inside the darkness, where it's always night. Darkness is held at bay twelve hours a day by artifical ligh...more
(This is for my book report)
"The City of Ember" is all about these two regular kids saving their city. Doon and Lina had never thought of being twelve years old and getting jobs. Lina orriginaly got chosen to work in the sewers as a pipework's laborer,but Doon knew being a messenger wouldn't do anything to help save the city, so he traded with Lina. Luckily, Lina just so happened to be a super fast runner and that's why she thought messenger would be a perfect job for her. Doon wasn't the kind...more
"The City of Ember" is all about these two regular kids saving their city. Doon and Lina had never thought of being twelve years old and getting jobs. Lina orriginaly got chosen to work in the sewers as a pipework's laborer,but Doon knew being a messenger wouldn't do anything to help save the city, so he traded with Lina. Luckily, Lina just so happened to be a super fast runner and that's why she thought messenger would be a perfect job for her. Doon wasn't the kind...more
I had never heard of these books or the film ;). I was told the movie even had a serious amount of commercial PR across the board; guess I was under a rock that year. Either way I enjoyed this book. It set a unique foundation for the books to come; it was really entertaining and enjoyable. Which isn’t that the goal for books?
The film felt jumbled though, as if they took all the chapters of the book and randomized them to the point that no chapter could touch each other on sequence. At the end,...more
The film felt jumbled though, as if they took all the chapters of the book and randomized them to the point that no chapter could touch each other on sequence. At the end,...more
3.5 stars
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!
I suppose The City of Ember would be a good choice for children (9-13 years old) and if I was younger I would appreciate it much more.
My main problem...more
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!
I suppose The City of Ember would be a good choice for children (9-13 years old) and if I was younger I would appreciate it much more.
My main problem...more
I am sort of a late-comer with Young Adult novels. I blame it on my age. When I was a teenager in the 60s there was no real level between children and adult literature. Teen literature was a bit of a no man's land. I didn't realize there might actually be real literature in YA until I read the Harry Potter series. Since then, I've dabble a bit with the genre and discovered some gems: The Hunger Games series, Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, and Dan Wells' John Wayne Cleaver series. Of course there a...more
I really really love the idea of a post-disaster society of people living underground. And I especially love the idea of reading about that society several generations in, where they no longer remember what daylight is, or why the city they live in is theren- or even where exactly their city is. I like the idea of this society making up their own myths about 'the dark' and having new origin stories and singing songs amid candles lit against the ever-present night. However, all those enchanting p...more
Sep 21, 2008
Shelly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who love <u>The Giver</u>.
Recommended to Shelly by:
Jacob Unsicker
Shelves:
extra-ten,
yal-utopian
My 12 year old son just knew I would love this book. He's been hounding me to read it since... early last spring. Finally, I have read it and Jacob (my son) was right.
Omigosh. What first hooked me were the vivid character descriptions that show more than tell, so the reader can draw their own conclusions. The story is told in third person, limited in two different perspectives. Lina Mayfleet, twelve years old, sat "winding a strand of her long, dark hair around her finger, winding and unwinding...more
Omigosh. What first hooked me were the vivid character descriptions that show more than tell, so the reader can draw their own conclusions. The story is told in third person, limited in two different perspectives. Lina Mayfleet, twelve years old, sat "winding a strand of her long, dark hair around her finger, winding and unwinding...more
This juvenile allegory reminded me greatly of The Giver. Just as at the start of The Giver, the young people of the community of Ember receive their future work assignments, a device which quickly pulls the young reader into the story. Now almost adults, Lina and Doon are able to view their community with fresh eyes, and discover that the generator, the source of electric power on which the town depends, is soon to be exhausted. This will plunge the city into complete darkness. The children disc...more
I enjoyed this book, though it did have some bothersome bits (don’t they all?). It was very predictable, but that didn’t really take away from the enjoyment of the story (except when I got annoyed with the characters for being about 5 steps behind me, but then I’m not the target audience). We are expected to accept some things without questioning, and certain events that should be dealt with on a deeper level are just brushed over. For instance, Lina’s grandmother dies, and she hardly seems to n...more
I'm currently reading this book, I was at the library and just picked it up not really knowing what it was about. Anyway, as soon as I started reading it I couldn't stop. It's one of those books that you cant put down. Infact I have been late for school a few days because I stay up so late reading it.
It's not a very large book. But the story is incredible!
From what i've read so far it is about a girl who lives in a strange city called Ember, where there is no such thing as the sun. The whole cit...more
It's not a very large book. But the story is incredible!
From what i've read so far it is about a girl who lives in a strange city called Ember, where there is no such thing as the sun. The whole cit...more
Mar 28, 2010
Jon
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
young fans of distopian novels
Shelves:
young-adult
DuPrau makes a typical first-time novelist mistake throughout this book: she doesn’t trust her reader to infer. In other words, she often over-explains, following up dialogue and action sequences with redundant descriptions of a character’s take on what just happened. Another disappointment is that the mystery of Ember unfolds in an entirely predictable manner. There are no great surprises.
DuPrau's characterization of Doon is one dimensional. His spurts of rage create the only complexity in an...more
DuPrau's characterization of Doon is one dimensional. His spurts of rage create the only complexity in an...more
Great book! No lights no sun just darkness all the time only the Flood lamps, But ever one of them is beginning to brake and shatter so they have Blackouts atleast once a month. No one seems to be worried about this problem because theres "No where else to go!" oh really? 12 year old Doon and Lina are the only people who seemed to be woriied that onw day there will be no flood lamps left! Will they save the day or just be like everyone else where theres "No where else to go!" I loved this book e...more
Nov 21, 2008
Mrs. Riding
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
ebook
This was my first book to read on the Kindle. This futuristic story about twelve year olds Doon and Lina was wonderful. I felt just like the guy from Amazon hoped that I would while reading on the Kindle, that I would forget the medium and enjoy the story. Twelve year olds have such a simple world, even when confronted with big issues. When I told my own children how much I enjoyed the story I heard, "Oh, yeah. That's a good book. I read it last year." I wonder why I didn't pick it up then? I've...more
This is also an amazing book. I have read so many books lately that I have lost track of the ones I have read. I just barely remebered this one! But back to the summary.
For about 200 years (I think :] ) the people in the city of ember have had to live in darkness. The only lights they have are big lights/ street lamps. But lately the lights have been flickering and they have had some black-outs. They are also running low on food, and other supplies needed to survive. The two main characters are...more
For about 200 years (I think :] ) the people in the city of ember have had to live in darkness. The only lights they have are big lights/ street lamps. But lately the lights have been flickering and they have had some black-outs. They are also running low on food, and other supplies needed to survive. The two main characters are...more
Nov 07, 2008
Julie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
basically anyone
Recommended to Julie by:
seeing it on the shelf at work, plus the movie coming out
Ahhhh, yet another book sort of difficult to classify. It's not quite sci-fi, because it deals with actual technology...
Anyway, I seem to be reading a lot of post-apocalyptic books the past month or so. The residents of the City of Ember live in an enclosed area lit only by electricity which is beginning to flicker; supplied with food and items almost solely from vast city storehouses, that are coming dangerously close to running out. Amidst this, Lina Mayfleet discovers what could be an extreme...more
Anyway, I seem to be reading a lot of post-apocalyptic books the past month or so. The residents of the City of Ember live in an enclosed area lit only by electricity which is beginning to flicker; supplied with food and items almost solely from vast city storehouses, that are coming dangerously close to running out. Amidst this, Lina Mayfleet discovers what could be an extreme...more
I was forced to watch this movie on a long plane ride, and thought it was pretty bad, but for some reason I just couldn't get the story out of my head. Since it was full of end-of-the-world scenarios, Earth Day friendly lessons, and was a young adult book, I knew it would be right up my alley.
And it was great! For some reason, the movie decided to add a bunch of plotlines that didn't make sense. The book in its true original form is a well-spun story full of action and emotions and life lessons....more
And it was great! For some reason, the movie decided to add a bunch of plotlines that didn't make sense. The book in its true original form is a well-spun story full of action and emotions and life lessons....more
I really liked this book. The idea was different and it was never boring, and, best of all, I never knew where it would take me.
It all started with that the founders of the city of Ember, so-called "The builders" built a city where the only light came from light-bulbs in the ceiling. They made storerooms for food and everything else the citizens might need. And they also made a box containing information about how to get out of the city, but the only way to open this box is to wait 200 years - y...more
It all started with that the founders of the city of Ember, so-called "The builders" built a city where the only light came from light-bulbs in the ceiling. They made storerooms for food and everything else the citizens might need. And they also made a box containing information about how to get out of the city, but the only way to open this box is to wait 200 years - y...more
In the City of Ember, the sky is always dark. How could this be, you may ask yourself, if the sky on Earth is a light, creamy blue? How is it possible for the sky to be as black as coal, year round? And yet, even as it seems nearly impossible to you now, it is perfectly, perfectly possible. Because this is how it is for the citizens of Ember.
In Ember, the only light comes from the giant floodlights that surround the city. The floodlights turn on and off at a specific time of day or night, and...more
In Ember, the only light comes from the giant floodlights that surround the city. The floodlights turn on and off at a specific time of day or night, and...more
Another book set in a post-apocalyptic future, I can’t get enough of them. Jeanne DuPrau sets the scene in a brief prologue. Something major is about to happen on Earth, thought we aren’t told what that is. A city is created deep underground, along with enough supplies for people to live safely for two hundred years. After the two hundred years is up, the current mayor of the city will receive instructions on how to return to the surface, and hopefully begin civilization again.
I saw the trailer...more
I saw the trailer...more
4 1/2 stars to this book. I really liked this - it drew me in from the very first page, which is pretty unusual and definitely a good thing. I read this in anticipation of seeing the film version when it comes out in October, and I'm glad I did because this has to be one of the best teen adventure novels I've read in a long time.
The city of Ember was created by "the builders" who wanted people to live there for 200-220 years before emerging; they left instructions in a time-opened capsule and e...more
The city of Ember was created by "the builders" who wanted people to live there for 200-220 years before emerging; they left instructions in a time-opened capsule and e...more
“The City of Ember” was an overall stunning book with just a few minor flaws in its science fiction writing style.
Jeanne Duprau, the author, must have had lightning strike her to come up with this story, as it is an extremely original storyline with well-rounded characters. The settings are vividly described and told with style. One problem that I found with the storyline was that it just ended and left you clamoring for the next book. I’m sure this helped sell the sequel, “The People of Sparks...more
Jeanne Duprau, the author, must have had lightning strike her to come up with this story, as it is an extremely original storyline with well-rounded characters. The settings are vividly described and told with style. One problem that I found with the storyline was that it just ended and left you clamoring for the next book. I’m sure this helped sell the sequel, “The People of Sparks...more
Creative premise, intriguing, fast paced. An easier read at secondary level..
The residents of the City of Ember are living in darkness except for the little light that is produced by a failing generator. Resources and time are running out. At the age of 12, graduating students are assigned jobs. Lina is hoping to be a city messenger; Droon is hoping to work on the pipes underground. When Lina is assigned pipeworks and Droon is assigned messenger, they trade. The adventure to escape Ember is unde...more
The residents of the City of Ember are living in darkness except for the little light that is produced by a failing generator. Resources and time are running out. At the age of 12, graduating students are assigned jobs. Lina is hoping to be a city messenger; Droon is hoping to work on the pipes underground. When Lina is assigned pipeworks and Droon is assigned messenger, they trade. The adventure to escape Ember is unde...more
We watched this movie not long ago with the kids and I kept thinking that there had to be something missing because some things I didn't quite understand. So, I decided to read the book and see what the story really was! It was a good book and one the kids will enjoy reading. I actually bought all the series and I'm on the 2nd book now....
A very good YA book. I listened to it as an audiobook, but I like it so much I want to read it again immediately.
The City of Ember was created by the Builders over 400 yrs ago to save humanity from their destruction on earth. But the instructions they left for returning were lost.
Lina and Doon are 2 children who have graduated to their first jobs in Ember. Lina is a messenger. Doon works in the pipeworks, under the city. Both realize that Ember is slowly dying. There are frequent blackouts. Th...more
The City of Ember was created by the Builders over 400 yrs ago to save humanity from their destruction on earth. But the instructions they left for returning were lost.
Lina and Doon are 2 children who have graduated to their first jobs in Ember. Lina is a messenger. Doon works in the pipeworks, under the city. Both realize that Ember is slowly dying. There are frequent blackouts. Th...more
This book was a book that I wouldn't take the time to read on my own. I like that the story had a lot of mystery in it, but I don't like that the book ends with an unfinished ending. This book is a very good book, but it's just not my type of genre to read. Well, the mystery part is, but the end of the book, leaving it a mystery, is not my type of genre that I really am interested in. Despite of The City of Ember not being my type of book to read and really like, this book is actually kind of in...more
AMAZING story!!!! I got so hooked into it I didn`t put it down before I was done! I recomend this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the best books i ever read! Sorry if you think other-wise but I think it was realy good.
One of the best books i ever read! Sorry if you think other-wise but I think it was realy good.
Really good series. The first wasn't quite as believeable as the second, but it was a good start to the series. I wonder if the movie is any good...
fairly good story, nice ending,and good conflict and dramatic parts, but the people are so ignorant. I don't like how the city came into being. It shows how some people feel like they know too much,and they do something massively Science Fiction-mad scientist-like, which I feel is kind of annoying.
This is a book I read to the kids (I read each night while they go to sleep).
It was a fun book. The idea was very original and interesting. We watched the movie last night, which was full of action and very fast paced, which doesn't make it all wonderful, but it was a testament to the original and complex idea from the book.
There were several dystopia ideas that were presented that I thought were interesting (I love dystopia stories). She obviously avoided the actual problems that would arise in...more
It was a fun book. The idea was very original and interesting. We watched the movie last night, which was full of action and very fast paced, which doesn't make it all wonderful, but it was a testament to the original and complex idea from the book.
There were several dystopia ideas that were presented that I thought were interesting (I love dystopia stories). She obviously avoided the actual problems that would arise in...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: SOLVED Dystopia-like, 2 kids finding the truth about their city [s] | 4 | 13 | 12 hours, 44 min ago | |
| Book Giveaways: City of Ember Giveaway | 2 | 18 | Apr 15, 2013 07:08am | |
| the movie! | 97 | 365 | Jan 07, 2013 04:09pm | |
| Is it my head or is this kind of like Lois Lowry's The Giver | 14 | 67 | Jan 04, 2013 11:52am |
Jeanne DuPrau spends several hours of every day at her computer, thinking up sentences. She has this quote taped to her wall: "A writer is someone for whom writing is harder than it is for other people" (Thomas Mann).
This gives her courage, because she finds writing very hard. So many words to choose from! So many different things that could happen in a story at any moment! Writing is one tough de...more
More about Jeanne DuPrau...
This gives her courage, because she finds writing very hard. So many words to choose from! So many different things that could happen in a story at any moment! Writing is one tough de...more
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“The trouble with anger is, it gets hold of you. And then you aren't the master of yourself anymore. Anger is. And when anger is the boss, you get unintended consequences.”
—
214 people liked it
“There is so much darkness in Ember, Lina. It's not just outside, it's inside us, too. Everyone has some darkness inside. It's like a hungry creature. It wants and wants and wants with a terrible power. And the more you give it, the bigger and hungrier it gets.”
—
82 people liked it
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Apr 07, 2010 01:08pm
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