The City of Ember Deluxe Edition: The First Book of Ember Paperback – May 14, 2013

Super good book. My daughter loved it and read the rest of the series too. Fun and interesting. Recommend for mystery book lovers! 10/10👍💯

We were required to read this book for our 5th grade summer home work assignment . It was such a good book from start to finish I really enjoyed the book as well as my 10 year old . She’s reading it again

I. The Beginning: Did It Hook Me?It actually did. I was curious to see why the "Builders" would go to such extreme lengths to have a society live on the basis of a lie, hoping they would somehow make it to the world above. It seemed like a far-fetched idea at the beginning of the book, but as it continued I easily suspended belief.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤II. The Characters: Could I Relate to Them?Absolutely. I absolutely loved Lina, Doon (can't figure out how his name is pronounced lol), her grandmother, and Poppy. I do feel the woman she ends up moving in with could've been fleshed out more (forgot her name), but overall the characters had "weight" to them.This book, while for children, was a great read because the characters not only behaved as children, but took on adult responsibilities as Ember dictated. I loved seeing Lina as a responsible mother figure for her mother, but also child enough to buy the colored pencils.Doon was such a lovable character. He honestly feels like the one person every child wants that believes their crazy/outlandish ideas and listens. I felt for him, related to his anger he felt and how he wanted to be taken seriously. I feel in so many ways I am like Doon and really loved his story.Grandmother was an absolute joy, though her exit from the book did seem sudden and underdeveloped. I liked her madness; it seemed real and added a certain suspense to the novel.Overall, this book is a very solid read.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤III. The Plot: Was It Well Paced?Absolutely! I was frustrated because I didn't have much time to commit to this book initially, but I was finally able to sit down and get into it (on March 6, 2015) it finished it that day! This book has no lags, isn't necessarily action packed, but makes use of every sentence.This book was refreshing and warm. I felt like the author wrote it with her heart, body and soul; if I had read this as a child, I am sure it would've been one of my favorites. I mean, I'm an adult and I love this book!The alternative POV's are executed perfectly in this book. In some books, actually in many current YA books, can be tedious and gimmicky. The dual-narrative in this book is necessary to tell two different stories about two people who have the audacity to pay attention and hope for more.This book is a new favorite of mine.❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤IV. World Building: Did I "Get" It?There were some plot holes, but I figure they will be answered in the second book. Overall, I understood the society of Ember and have a general idea of how it works. It would've been nice to get the reasoning for the jobs in Ember, along with the significance of kids starting work at age 12, but these weren't major issues of mine. I don't understand how Doon and Lina were able to see Ember from above, but the people of Ember couldn't see the sky far above them. Also, if they can drop a note into Ember, how is it rain or other things don't fall into the city?❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤V. The Ending: Did It Make Sense?It did. This is the kind of book that makes you want to read the next one. I wanted to know more about Lina's caregiver, but the story line didn't go that way; I can't wait to see what happens in book two!❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤VI. OverallThis is a very solid read that not only left me smiling, but has me anxious to read the next book in the series!I highly recommend!

The City of Ember is a rule-bound place, where all the lights go out at 9 each night, everyone rises early for breakfast, and careful recycling is a way of life. Lately, though, the lights have begun flickering. Supplies are shorter each year, and some foods are no longer available.Until their 12th year, the children of the City of Ember go to school. But at the end of that year, they are assigned the jobs they will do for years after, perhaps to the end of their lives. Lina yearns to be a Messenger, running free in the streets, learning the secrets of the city. Doon wants desperately to be an electrician's assistant or a pipeworker, because he dreams of fixing the ancient, failing generators of the city.When each receives the assignment the other wants, they switch jobs, and begin a conspiracy that will not end until they learn how to save the entire city. Along the way, they solve an ancient puzzle, defeat the greed and subterfuge of the Mayor and his minions, and discover a much wider world than either had ever dreamed existed.When I read children's literature, I look for more than a tale well told. Juvenile science fiction is not hard to come by, especially today in the age of Harry Potter. But fiction that lauds heroism (particularly the kind of courage which every child will have an opportunity to demonstrate), extolls the value of friendship, and shows when adult precepts and rules are worthwhile, and how to tell when they are not - that is uncommon. (Those qualities form the foundation of the Harry Potter stories, too, and explain the widespread appeal of the boy wizard and his friends.)The City of Ember has that same appeal. Doon and Lina are courageous; they do things children would do, yet also show judgement, persistence and intelligence. These are kids who love their parents, and still see that they must take extraordinary steps outside the regimented life they have led. In the end, they do save their city, and if they do not battle great evil, they do encounter and overcome the kind of petty nastiness that is far more common in the world.On Kindle, the book loses none of its original charm, with the possible exception of the maps and notes. Where these extend across the page, they are difficult to enjoy, even in Zoom mode.The book works best in tandem with its sequel,  The People of Sparks: The Second Book of Ember (Books of Ember) . Together, they are an interesting story - even for an adult. I recommend it highly for boys and girls who want something better than comic-book heroes and video-game battles, and for readers who are no longer children, but still yearn toward the hero we can each become.

Jeanne’s engaging style and ability to create believable characters will make every reader long for the chance to be involved in something just as exciting. The City of Ember will make your heart stop, run, hide, and even bounce around. This is the best single back to back novel. It is equipped with all the excitement and tension that strings together a great book. Lina and Doon are relatable characters to many young children who wish to be like them when they grow up. I enjoyed The City of Ember in the way I enjoy a good dream. The simplicity yet complicated and graceful way the book attaches the reader gives them the feeling of immense wonder. I would highly recommend reading it as a child, teenager, or even an adult. This book is wonderful.

Ainda não li mas parece ter um vocabulário bem facil para quem tá iniciando leituras em inglês

Tried the author for the first time .. I am made to buy the whole series ..my 11year old says its Fantastic

A fun, easy to read tale with a good story and likeable characters.Suitable for children but enjoyable for adults as well.It draws you along with Lina and Doon as they puzzle things out to eventual triumph.

Great novel for kids, especially if read by parents to the kids. Age bracket: 8-9 (with parental guidance) or 10-14 otherwise.What I particularly like about the novel is the interesting issues that it actually confronts of a limited-resources environment, something that it is hard for our children to fathom, used as they are to total abundance of "stuff" of all sorts. It makes them understand that the fact that our supermarkets are filled to the brim with all sorts of goods should not be taken for granted and that in general resources are limited. Then I also like the style of narration, that starts out at a relatively slow pace, to pick up speed gradually.A great book, quite different from the mainstream "superheroes" or "magicians" or "wimpy kid diaries", which are entertaining, but typically (with some exceptions) do not stimulate critical thinking and actual personal growth.