Book Review: The City of Ember
Rated by 3 members
What Parents Should Know
Books of this type raise an interesting question -- is it
possible to set up an ordered society and, if so, how? Other
topics raised here include political corruption and what an
individual owes to his society.
Common Sense Media Review
Part dystopian fantasy, part mystery, part code-breaking
treasure hunt, this intriguing little story already has a
sequel in the works. Deciphering the clues from the damaged
Instructions will keep readers guessing, despite some
predictable plot twists in the center section, and they will be
rooting for the appealing main characters.
While lacking the complexity or moral ambiguity of The Giver, Ember has its own unique features: it is a city designed, not to be a utopia, but rather to hold the remnants of humanity safe and isolated for a fixed period, then release them. The problem comes when the release doesn't happen, no one knows that it should have, and the city is past its expiration date. A fascinating scenario --and one fraught with possibilities for the sequel.
From the Book:
Sometimes darkness fell in the middle of the day. The
city of Ember was old, and everything in it, including the
power lines, was in need of repair. So now and then the lights
would flicker and go out. These were terrible moments for the
people of Ember. As they came to a halt in the middle of the
street or stood stock-still in their houses, afraid to move in
the utter blackness, they were reminded of something they
preferred not to think about: that someday the lights might go
out and never come back on.
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