The City of Ember is in Trouble

The City of Ember is in trouble, as citizens come to realize the calamity of food shortages, frequent blackouts, and the City’s deterioration. “The Builders” created the city some 241 years ago, and made provisions for its citizenry. "The Instructions" were laid out for the people and secured away with the first mayor. Unfortunately, “the Instructions” were not handed down through the generations as they were supposed to. Suddenly, 12-year old Lina discovered them in the course of her sister eating them. After trying to tell her friends and even the mayor about the discovery of the partially destroyed Instructions, Lina turns to a school friend Doon, whom she believes will understand their importance. But what can two children do with such important information, and who would even believe them?

The City of Ember is a clever novel, which tells the unique story of two unintentional heroes who fight the status quo in order to bring hope to their city. The descriptions of the world of Ember are fascinating, leaving the reader to appreciate the incredible imagination of the author. The setting for the unusual and self-contained world of Ember develops throughout the novel. It's only in the middle of the book that we even realize that there are no animals in Ember and the words “match,” “candle,” and “boat” have no known meaning. It is the curiosity of Lina and Doon that drive this narrative, and it is a nice balance that keeps the reader on their toes. While we expect a happy ending, it is not until the final pages of the novel that we understand all is not as it seems. Fortunately, the sequel is available at Boarders and Amazon, and Ember enthusiasts, who cannot wait for book two, can buy it today. Book Two - People of the Sparks.