The City of Ember

Title: The City of Ember
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Published: May 2003
ISBN: 9780375822742
Other books in the series: People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold
Characters: Lina and Doon
Awards: Kirkus Editor's Choice, Best Children's Book of the Year Selection
Genre: fiction, dystopia, sci-fi
Reading Level: 4th grade
Interest Level: 4th-7th grade
Summary: Hundreds of years ago the builders created the city of Ember to save the human race. The problem is that the city is starting to fail. The power is always going out and food supplies are running low. People are starting to fear that the power might go out and never turn back on, leaving them in complete darkness. Lina and Doon, two friends, have found something that might hold the key to saving Ember. Lina and Doon have found parts of an ancient document that they believe to be from the builders themselves. Lina and Doon believe it might be the way out. But where is the way out? Where does it lead? And is it okay to go there? The builders made Ember for a reason, what if they aren't suppose to leave?
Review: This is a great dystopian novel. It is almost like a treasure hunt as Lina and Doon try to figure out the directions left by the builders. The story keeps the reader interested as Lina and Doon find their way to the outside. The story leaves the reader on a bit of a cliffhanger as Lina and Doon find themselves outside for the first time in their lives. The book asks many questions about survival, about fear, humanity. When Lina and Doon make their way outside they find other people which makes the reader wonder if people survived why were people forced into the ground in the first place? Could they have survived on the surface.
Main themes: survival, dystopian
Read alikes: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Why for tweens? The two leads are tweens themselves who become the heroes of Ember. The tweens will love the mystery as Lina and Doon figure out how to get out of Ember. Tweens will also enjoy that it is a series so they can continue the story.