If you want to see a bit more about the movie, check out the teaser we posted not too long ago.

I really loved this book right from the start, although my only quibble is that it took awhile for the real action part of the story to get going.

The book focuses on the City of Ember, which is just over 200 years old and seems to be somewhere underground. The city isn’t huge, and the book contains a map of it in the first few pages. Ember is illuminated by lightbulbs, which are starting to go out more and more, leaving everyone in complete darkness.

And the darkness in Ember, where you are underground, is pitch black. They cannot see anything. Any blackout is a frightening experience.

The edges of the city are where trash is stored, but beyond that lies the unknown dark lands which no one has ever explored. There are no means of “carrying” light with you anywhere. No flashlights, no torches.

Living in the city are two children named Doon and Lina, who have been friends for awhile. Children in Ember go to work early in their teen years, and both of them get jobs that take them to various parts of the city.

The main catalyst in the story is a box that was supposed to be held by the mayor of Ember and be handed down to every new mayor as the years pass by. It was built with a time lock and could not be opened until 200+ years had passed since it was locked.

As the years went on, the box ended up lost…and silently opened all on its own, with no one around. Inside, were instructions on how to leave the city of Ember.

The book seems angled toward kids and is written in that manner. But it was still highly enjoyable and painted an amazing picture of this world of Ember. I think any adult can appreciate the tale it tells.

Why are they there? Who put them there? How do they get out?

The city was given a supply of everything they needed to survive, but as they’ve now neared the end of the time that was intended for them to remain in Ember, stuff is running out. Light bulbs, food, power…essentials.

Heck, the last time anyone saw a can of peaches was decades ago.

I really enjoyed the world author Jeanne DuPrau created, especially for her first ever novel. You really get pulled into this place where things have become scary, the future dim and the people frightened.

There are two sequels to this story and I’ll definitely be picking up the second book in the series.

Mike’s Rating: 8 out of 10