City of Ember

Source:  DuPrau, J. (2003). The city of Ember. New York: Random House. 

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Age: 10+

This ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book is definitely worth the read! In an effort to save the human race, scientists built an underground city meant to last for 200 years. Although the reader is never informed about what they're trying to escape, it can be inferred that scientists believe it will be safe again after that time frame. A time release box with instructions for escaping is left with the mayor. He/she is asked to never share this information with anyone except his/her successor. Unfortunately, the city of Ember ends up with a corrupt mayor and he does not share this information with anyone. The box ends up in a closet, and no one knows that there is a way of escaping.

Shortly after their time is up, supplies start dwindling- especially light bulbs. The generator and electricity are exceeding their years, and the underground town is prone to terrifying blackouts. Some start thinking that the "Builders" will come rescue them; others don't have any hope at all.  Lina, and her estranged friend Doon, are determined to find a way out after she discovers the cryptic, yet torn up old directions in her grandma's closet.

The most dramatic element of this novel is the integral setting, essential to the story's survival. It's exactly as one would imagine a small, underground town with little technology: cluttered, dank, some with hope, some lost, and homes that seem to be falling apart. Lina's apartment that she shares with her grandma and sister is no different as described on page 23: "There were things that had  belonged to Lina's parents, her grandparents, and even their grandparents-- old, broken, threadbare things that had been patched and repaired dozens of times. The people of Ember rarely threw anything away. They made best possible use of what they had." This is because they knew that they weren't going to get anything new. They simply didn't have the resources to create anything new.

Another important part of this integral setting are the blackouts. The people of Ember know that there is a shortage of light bulbs and the electricity is questionable, so everyone fears that each blackout will be the last and they will be left in darkness forever. The setting of this story is underground, so of course a blackout could mean never-ending darkness. Every time the lights go out, it could be their last.

Finally, the setting is integral to the story because the main conflict of the story is figuring out how to escape it. The city which has given them protection for so many years, and has given them the only home they know, is becoming a danger to everyone.

This is the first of the Ember series, and I plan on reading the rest. What a creative, yet realistic fantasy novel!