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1 Beaverton Children's- Science Fiction and Fantasy

The City of Ember

by

The City of Ember Cover

ISBN13: 9780375822742
ISBN10: 0375822747
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever! This stunning debut novel offers refreshingly clear writing and fascinating, original characters.

Review:

"Reminiscent of post-apocalypse fiction like Robert O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, DuPrau’s book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of the undiscovered country and readers wanting more.” USA Today

Review:

“The cliffhanger ending will leave readers clamoring for the next installment." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"[T]he quick pace and the uncomplicated characters and situations will keep voracious fans of the genre engaged." School Lirary Journal

Review:

"Readers will relate to Lina and Doon's resourcefulness and courage in the face of ominous odds." Booklist

Synopsis:

Medford lives on a neat, orderly island calledsimplyIsland.

     Islanders like names that say exactly what a thing (or a person) is or does. Medford Runyuin is different. A foundling, he has a meaningless name that is just one of many reminders that hes an outsider. He also has a secret that could get him banished from Island forever.

     A strange creature is about to arrive on Island, and Medfords secret will be out before he can blink twice.

 

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About the Author

Jeanne DuPrau has written several books of nonfiction for children and adults. She is currently working on the sequel at her home in Menlo Park, California, where she keeps a big garden and a small dog.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 6 comments:
Sarah Gilbert, November 17, 2010 (view all comments by Sarah Gilbert)
A fast read and one that keeps the ugliness -- and the beauty and ingenuity -- of humanity close to the surface. It's certainly not a classic; four stars is for a young reader, who will devour this as a kind of intro-to science fiction, modern in tone and global conflicts. it's enough of a nailbiter to keep anyone reading through to the end; the puzzle aspect will interest readers who are into that sort of thing (I am) and enough what-ifs to keep adults engaged.
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Shoshana, May 2, 2010 (view all comments by Shoshana)
It may seem like an oxymoron to call this middle reader title a sweet little dystopian novel, but that's what it is. This first in a series of four introduces Ember, an underground city developed and populated in the face of potential holocaust to safeguard a tiny fraction of the human race. In this it is reminiscent of Mordechai Roshwald's classic Level 7. Unlike Roshwald's tragic Officer X-127, DuPrau's Lina is a young adolescent with a community, a job, and relationships. Here the threat to the underground safe house is not related to the war but to the failure of the physical infrastructure. The actions of a greedy leader several generations before led to the misplacing and later mangling of the revelatory document that would have explained events and provided egress instructions to the denizens of Ember. Lina and Doon, a boy about her age, discover evidence of more greed and misuse of power, while also following clues that may save themselves and their community.

A theme that is present in at least the first three books but not elaborated upon is that small-scale individual greed, corruption, or suspicion of others may have dire consequences for large numbers of people.
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biscuitspaddy, January 27, 2009 (view all comments by biscuitspaddy)
I love reading and writing. I have not read The City Of Ember, but have seen the movie. Before I even heard about the movie or the book, I started writing a book with exactly the same storyline! (Great minds think alike.) I plan to read the book very soon.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780375822742
Author:
DuPrau, Jeanne
Publisher:
Yearling Books
Author:
Various
Author:
Booraem, Ellen
Location:
New York
Subject:
Action & Adventure
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Science fiction
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction
Subject:
Fantasy
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction
Subject:
Action & Adventure - General
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Subject:
Imaginary places
Subject:
Situations / General
Subject:
General Juvenile Fiction
Subject:
Children s-Science Fiction and Fantasy
Copyright:
2003
Edition Number:
1st ed.
Edition Description:
Trade Paper
Series:
Books of Ember
Series Volume:
10194
Publication Date:
20040531
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 3 to 7
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Black-and-white illustrations
Pages:
288
Dimensions:
7.63 x 5.13 in
Age Level:
10-13
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Related Subjects


Children's » Action and Adventure » Adventure Stories
Children's » Middle Readers » General
Children's » Science Fiction and Fantasy » General

The City of Ember Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$3.50 In Stock
Product details 288 pages Random House Books for Young Readers - English 9780375822742 Reviews:
"Review" by , "Reminiscent of post-apocalypse fiction like Robert O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, DuPrau’s book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of the undiscovered country and readers wanting more.”
"Review" by , “The cliffhanger ending will leave readers clamoring for the next installment."
"Review" by , "[T]he quick pace and the uncomplicated characters and situations will keep voracious fans of the genre engaged."
"Review" by , "Readers will relate to Lina and Doon's resourcefulness and courage in the face of ominous odds."
"Synopsis" by ,
Medford lives on a neat, orderly island calledsimplyIsland.

     Islanders like names that say exactly what a thing (or a person) is or does. Medford Runyuin is different. A foundling, he has a meaningless name that is just one of many reminders that hes an outsider. He also has a secret that could get him banished from Island forever.

     A strange creature is about to arrive on Island, and Medfords secret will be out before he can blink twice.

 
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