Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

 

Ratings Explanation

Violence: The guards chase and capture Lina. They are rough with her.

Adult Content: Lina and Doon face the uncertain future of their city. Lina copes with the death of her parents (before the book starts) and then later, her grandmother. Lina and Doon have the courage to attempt to escape from Ember.

Synopsis

Fearing the end of human civilization, scientists create and populate a city deep underground in this post-apocalyptic tale. The city of Ember is self-sufficient and stocked with supplies to last 200 years. There is a generator that supplies power and electricity, which provides artificial light for the citizens. But the year is approximately 241 and the supplies are nearly gone and the generator is failing. Instructions left by Ember’s Builders on how to leave the city and return to the earth’s surface have been lost over time. Lina Mayfleet (whose job is a Messenger) and Doon Harrow (who works in Pipeworks) are the two young teenagers in the book who find the instructions, albeit in pieces. There is a corrupt mayor and his guards who are intent on stopping Lina and Doon. Time is running out as the teenagers must decipher and follow the clues to leave Ember, if there is any chance of escaping the imminent darkness and the certain end of the city and its inhabitants.

Super exciting read for boys and girls alike. It would make a fantastic read aloud book. The author had me hooked until the end. I’ve recommended this book to several others, who all agreed that they loved the book. There are 3 other books in the series (book 3 is a prequel). A movie was made of “The City of Ember”, though I have not seen it.