The earth is going to undergo a disaster. A group of scientists and others work together to make a plan to keep the human race from dying off during this disaster. They build an underground city and name it Ember. With the first mayor, they send a box that includes instructions of how to leave the city. The box is set to open in 200 years. So centuries later, the box silently clicks open...
Thus the stage is set for the post-apocalyptic novel City of Ember. It won a number of awards, most notable the 2003 Child Magazine's Best Children's Book, the 2003 Kirkus Editor's Choice, and the 2006 Mark Twain Award.
SUMMARY
12-year-old Lina Mayfleet's class enters Assignment Day, in which all students in her class are given their lifetime jobs. The reader quickly discovers which are the most-wanted jobs and which are the dreaded ones. The mayor arrives and Lina draws "Pipeworks," one of the more dreaded jobs. Doon Harrow (the other main character) draws "Messenger," a good job, but not nearly the one he wanted: "Electrician." The two switch jobs and report for duty.
Eventually, Lina discovers a beaten-up, old box and her baby sister Poppy eating the paper contents. She pieces together what is left and comes to the conclusion that she has found something important. No one really believes her, though, except for Doon and a greenhouse worker Clary.
Lina and Doon work together to figure out what the instructions say and how to follow them. Along the way, they make a shocking discovery and, after reporting it to the authorities, are in big trouble. They must either find a way out of Ember (in the darkness) or be caught by their tyrannical leader.
CONTENT
There is not too much violence in the book. The characters are placed in some peril and are threatened to be imprisoned, but I recall nothing gory or even very descriptive. There is one part, though, when an adult character is mentioned as "lifeless."
Fortunately this book doesn't really have anything inappropriate. Lina's friend mentions that a strange-looking warehouse keeper is her boyfriend, but nothing else comes from this. This area at least was thankfully clean from problems.
There is no foul language used in the story.
The story occurs after something similar to the apocalypse. Christians know that Jesus will return in any way He deems, but the story in City of Ember is man-centered without any reference to God or any deity. Although the film is not the end of the world completely, it still is godless. The story is not a real apocalypse, though, because City of Ember is followed by three more books. Parents will want to judge for themselves whether they think their children can discern between a biblical end of the world and a man-centered one.
Good morals are presented, including standing strong for your beliefs, caring for those around you, and perseverance.
City of Ember was a really great book and, while Jeanne DuPrau is no J.R.R. Tolkien or G.A. Henty, she does a decent job of describing the characters, their surroundings, and presenting their thoughts. The adventure is great and the author does a wonderful job of portraying what is would actually be like to live in an underground city. A great novel!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Number of pages: 270
Author of book: Jeanne DuPrau
Published in: 2003
First in a four-book series
Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens
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