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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bonus points for the nostalgia. I read this book for the first time in middle school and loved it, but never read the rest of the series. The City of Ember is a classic in my heart that I think about every so often. I am well aware that I am not the target age audience, so all of my critiques of the book are just because of the inability to relate to the characters. I would love to read this again with my own kids some day though.
genre: sci-fi/mystery
summary: The people of Ember live surrounded by darkness. The builders (ancient founders of the city) provide them with a generator, a store room of supplies, and with the laws. But, the supplies are running out and generator keeps breaking down. If a solution is not found all of Ember may be plunged into darkness forever. Doon and Lina, two 12 year old friends who stumble upon a mysterious secret, a box with a message...the just might help them save the people of Ember.
notes: good suggestion for a younger reader who wants something like Divergent
for kids who like: First Light, Floors, Wrinkle in Time,
Cabinet of Wonders*which i haven't read but heard is similar*
age group: age 8+
my review: i really liked this story the first time i read it. i remember my mind being blown when the truth of ember is revealed...but now that i have reread it i feel like it was kind of obvious (maybe im just too jaded and cynical). Also I feel not resolving the whole issue with the mayor was kind of a cop out i would have liked to see it resolved.
summary: The people of Ember live surrounded by darkness. The builders (ancient founders of the city) provide them with a generator, a store room of supplies, and with the laws. But, the supplies are running out and generator keeps breaking down. If a solution is not found all of Ember may be plunged into darkness forever. Doon and Lina, two 12 year old friends who stumble upon a mysterious secret, a box with a message...the just might help them save the people of Ember.
notes: good suggestion for a younger reader who wants something like Divergent
for kids who like: First Light, Floors, Wrinkle in Time,
Cabinet of Wonders*which i haven't read but heard is similar*
age group: age 8+
my review: i really liked this story the first time i read it. i remember my mind being blown when the truth of ember is revealed...but now that i have reread it i feel like it was kind of obvious (maybe im just too jaded and cynical). Also I feel not resolving the whole issue with the mayor was kind of a cop out i would have liked to see it resolved.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Updated Review: I have now revisited this book as an adult in my 30s thanks to the audiobook selection at my local library—and I’m happy to share, it really holds up! Yes, it’s a kids book, and that’s probably why overall I didn’t super love that everything in the book was from the perspective of two 12-year-olds. But that being said, I found myself wanting to know more and more about the adults and the way of life in Ember. Having lived through the 2020+ COVID-19 pandemic, parts of this book hit differently now than it did when I was a kid. The descriptions of supply shortages, sick people with little options, and corrupt individuals taking advantage of what they can while others suffer….it’s not terribly far off from the reality many of us became aware of in the lockdowns of 2020. And I think this book generally does a great job of touching on difficult situations, and different people’s responses to them. When the blackouts become more frequent, the book shows how some people react by ignoring the issue, while others react by protesting the government to take direct action. I’m not sure how many more times I might revisit this book in my life, but I’m glad I did this time, and recommend you do the same.
Original Review: I think I read this book for the first time in middle school (2007?). But I really liked it then. I enjoyed it so much, I think I read it twice and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book.
Original Review: I think I read this book for the first time in middle school (2007?). But I really liked it then. I enjoyed it so much, I think I read it twice and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book.
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I was walking through the young adult section at Elliot Bay Books, looking for worthy and work-related literature that I could immerse myself in when The City of Ember caught my eye.
DuPrau’s City of Ember is a charming story about a society of people who live in seemingly technologically inferior times. Rather than mail, they have messengers who travel the city carrying memorized messages. Rather than producing supplies, they have rations.
This society of people assign young folks jobs at the age of twelve. And our protagonist, Lina, is thankfully given the job of messenger – her ideal job – as it allows her to travel all over Ember, getting to see the sights and the people that inhabit the town.
However, Ember isn’t your usual town. It was built by mysterious folk called “the Builders” and it is slowly falling apart. The generator that supplies Ember with its electricity is creating more and more blackouts and requiring more upkeep than usual. In these hard times, Lina and her friend Doon realize that they need to help the people of Ember and get them out before they fall apart alongside their beloved city.
I thought this book was incredibly charming and well-written. It is aimed at a slightly young audience than most young adult fiction, I believe. But all in all, it was a worthwhile read. I haven’t yet gone out to purchase the next book in the series, but I imagine I will, mostly to see where it is that Lina and Doon have found themselves. Post-apocalyptic fiction always keeps me coming back for more.
DuPrau’s City of Ember is a charming story about a society of people who live in seemingly technologically inferior times. Rather than mail, they have messengers who travel the city carrying memorized messages. Rather than producing supplies, they have rations.
This society of people assign young folks jobs at the age of twelve. And our protagonist, Lina, is thankfully given the job of messenger – her ideal job – as it allows her to travel all over Ember, getting to see the sights and the people that inhabit the town.
However, Ember isn’t your usual town. It was built by mysterious folk called “the Builders” and it is slowly falling apart. The generator that supplies Ember with its electricity is creating more and more blackouts and requiring more upkeep than usual. In these hard times, Lina and her friend Doon realize that they need to help the people of Ember and get them out before they fall apart alongside their beloved city.
I thought this book was incredibly charming and well-written. It is aimed at a slightly young audience than most young adult fiction, I believe. But all in all, it was a worthwhile read. I haven’t yet gone out to purchase the next book in the series, but I imagine I will, mostly to see where it is that Lina and Doon have found themselves. Post-apocalyptic fiction always keeps me coming back for more.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No