The City of Ember the City of Ember (Book of Ember, #1)

by Jeanne DuPrau

• ISBN10: 0375890807
• ISBN13: 9780375890802
• Publish Date: 13 May 2003 (first published 1 January 2003)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 169
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

This managed to be a lovely little story while also being a massively interesting dystopia. Great concept! I can't really talk about it, because TWISTS! TURNS! REVELATIONS! but I really loved it and thought it was great.

You know what else is cool? This is a solid middle grade dystopia. The kids were pretty believable for their ages, except maybe Poppy who seems vaguely between ages one and three, and despite its simplicity I found it entertaining. Unraveling the puzzle is fun, and I like not always being right about things. And I liked that nobody tried to throw a romantic relationship in here, because srsly they have enough troubles. If people are shipping Lina/Doon, just stop. Pre-teen angst not needed.

Which brings me to... the end. I wasn't ready for it. I actually shouted at my car radio because clearly, the narrator had forgotten to finish reading the chapter and there was more.

All in all, a great start to a series, a great (simple) dystopian idea, and enjoyable for all ages. Huzzah!

[inlibrisveritas]

When I first read this I was on vacation and fairly bored so it came as welcome distraction, however when I really took the time to pay attention to the book it was fairly simple and I didn't like the writing style at all. It's really juvenile and that's okay but only for those who enjoy such writing types. I tried to read the second but I found it worse then the first and couldn't get past the third chapter.