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44 pages 1 hour read

The City of Ember

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2003

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Book Brief

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Jeanne DuPrau

The City of Ember

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2003
Book Details
Pages

270

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ember • Distant Future

Publication Year

2003

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

8-12 years

Lexile Level

680L

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Super Short Summary

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau follows 12-year-olds Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow in the underground city of Ember, where dwindling resources and decaying infrastructure spark their quest for a way out. Assigned roles in the city's workforce, they uncover instructions left by the original builders meant to guide the inhabitants to safety. Themes include secrets, selfishness versus selflessness, and the value of curiosity. The book addresses death and loss.

Mysterious

Suspenseful

Adventurous

Dark

Hopeful

Reviews & Readership

4.3

295,657 ratings

69%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau captivates with its imaginative setting and intriguing premise of a post-apocalyptic underground city. Readers praise its fast pace and compelling mystery, ideal for young adults. However, some find character development lacking and the plot predictable. Overall, it remains a thought-provoking read with a strong sense of adventure.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The City of Ember?

A reader who would enjoy The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau is typically a middle-grade or young adult enthusiast who enjoys dystopian settings, adventure, and puzzles. Fans of The Hunger Games and The Giver will find its exploration of a self-contained world and the quest for survival compelling and thought-provoking.

4.3

295,657 ratings

69%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

270

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ember • Distant Future

Publication Year

2003

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

8-12 years

Lexile Level

680L

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