SOLVED. Series called something like “emerald city” [s]

[Tess]

I read a book around 6 years ago that was part of a series and I have thought about it multiple times since reading it but I just can’t seem to recount the name - just specific details.

The first book (which I read) explains that a family with a young girl lived in an underground neighbourhood and she had been living there her entire life. I remember one specific detail which was that there wasn’t much color down there (maybe none) and it was all very bleak. But one day her dad gave her a packet of crayons which she cherished as she loved drawing and the colours of it all. Then she escaped (through the sewers) with the rest of her neighbourhood.

If I remember correctly the second book in the series was called something like “the emerald city” and it was still the young girl recounting her experiences as she gets out of the neighbourhood and into some kind of post apocalyptic world. Not related to oz!

Please let me know if you have any ideas!

[SBC]

Could it be The City of Ember? (Sounds a bit like Emerald City!) I seem to remember a packet of colouring pencils/crayons being important in the first book. They go aboveground in the end and the sequel is called The People of Sparks. Both good reads!

[Tess]

Wow I think that’s it !! Thank you so much !!

[SBC]

That's great, I'm glad I could help! There is also a fun movie based on the book, which you might enjoy - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970411/...