Book Review: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Title: The City of Ember
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Series/Standalone: Book of Ember (Book #1)
Genre: Middle Grade, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 270
Publisher: Yearling Books
Year Published: 2003
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "When the city of Ember was just built and not yet inhabited, the chief builder and the assistant builder, both of them weary, sat down to speak of the future."

Citizen of Ember shall be assigned work at twelve years of age...
Lina Mayfleet desperately wants to be a messenger. Instead, she draws the dreaded job of Pipeworks labourer, which means she'll be working in damp tunnels deep underground.

Doon Harrow draws messenger- and asks Lina to trade! Doon wants to be underground. That's where the generator is, and Doon has ideas about how to fix it. For as long as anyone can remember, the great lights of Ember have kept the endless darkness at bay. But now the lights are beginning to flicker..."

My Rating: 3.25/5

This is a story that I had read in middle school and had thought about on and off throughout the years. After seeing a copy of this book and the second one in a used bookshop I thought that it was a good time to pick up the series and continue it. But before I could do that I needed to reread where it all started. I really enjoyed the stories interesting setting and the use of darkness throughout. I also appreciated the use of grief and loss throughout the story. I'm excited to continue this series and see where the author takes our characters.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

This is such a popular story from my middle school, and I appreciate it overall. I think that this is one of the first dystopian books I ever read, and it is an easy read that I would suggest for those in middle school, but it is enjoyable for older readers as well. I can't wait to see how the author takes our characters above ground. 

Characters:
Doon:I think that his need to become a hero is interesting and makes me wonder how he will cope in a new area where no one knows him. And where his finding the exit might be something negative rather than positive.

Lina: I wonder how running in the great outdoors will affect her. And how losing her grandmother so suddenly might have a backlash.

The Mayor: What a guy? I can understand how he did what he did when he believed that there was no hope.

Grandma: Hurts my heart.

Looper: I'd like to think that this wouldn't be a likely trait that people would develop but I wouldn't be surprised if many people took advantage of the system.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny