Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of The City of Ember (Ember, Bk 1)

The City of Ember (Ember, Bk 1)
cloverluv avatar reviewed on + 129 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 13


I have literally just finished this book and I am still trembling with anticipation and literally KICKING myself for not buying the entire series at once. It is 1 AM and I might just have to go out to an all-night store and buy myself the next book I want to see what is going to happen THAT badly!

In the city of Ember, light is more precious than water. The electricity comes on only during the "day" and is turned off from 9 PM until 6 AM leaving the city in complete and utter darkness...this is the way it has been for as long as any of the residents can remember.

But something is wrong. Something is very wrong. The lights are going off not just at night now. True there have been power outages before, but never like this one. This one lasts for SEVEN MINUTES, the longest blackout in recorded history.

There are also rumors. Rumors that the generator under the city is failing. Rumors that the stores of canned food and light bulbs are running out. And things are indeed running out. Stores have empty shelves, blank paper is a rarity, and the food rations are becoming more and more limited.

Doon knows the city is failing and can't figure out why. If only he could understand the generator and what makes electricity, maybe he could save the city from its inevitable destruction.

Lina doesn't want to believe what Doon is saying. The city dying? How can that be possible? But the blackouts have been coming more and more frequently and one day Lina comes across torn up strips of paper that clearly have some sort of instructions on them...instructions that could possibly save them all...if she and Doon can figure them out.

This book would make the best movie ever! It is geared for younger kids, so Harry Potter kids will adore it! It was a fast read, but had a surprisingly adult theme that left my mouth watering for more! This was the best book I have read in a long time. So good it gave me chills! Once you pick this up you won't be able to put it down! Don't say I didn't warn you!!!

FIVE STARS! SIX IF I COULD GIVE IT THAT MANY!!!!!!!!!!!