If the Book Review Club were a person, it might be trundling off to Vegas for a gamble and a drink. Yes! It's our TWENTY-FIRST meeting!!! Oh, think of all the reviews. In fact, you can easily access previous reviews by clicking on The Book Review Club button on the header.
Today I'm reviewing THE CITY OF EMBER by Jeanne DuPrau. This is one of
my little sister's favorite middle-grade books. We have very similar (good!) tastes, so I was pretty sure I'd like it. And I did. Actually, a lot of people share our taste! The proof being that this 2003 book was on the NY Times Best Seller List for several weeks, was an American Library Association, a Kirkus Editor's Pick, and the list goes on.
From,
suite 101, here's the summary:
For over two hundred years, the citizens of Ember have lived in darkness, save for the great lamps and flood lights that illuminate the city by day. But now, the lights are flickering, and blackouts are occurring more often. The buildings are crumbling, and the stockpiles of food and supplies are scarce. Sooner or later, this deflating city will face eternal darkness.
Twelve-year-old Lina discovers the remains of an ancient message that was feared lost long ago. The message, left by the Builders of Ember, contains the instructions on how to escape the city. With the threat of eternal darkness looming, Lina and her friend Doon work together to decipher the message. In doing so, they discover the secrets of why and how Ember was built, and they learn that life exists outside of their darkened city—life beneath a bright blue sky.
There are many things I liked about this post-apocalyptic novel. It is perfectly paced. It is beautfully written, one of those books that seems deceptively simple to write. It is, politically, quite realistic. The prologue tells us that over a couple of hundred years ago, the Builders gave the mayor of the time a special box with a timed lock. The box contained those oh-so-important instructions for how to escape to above ground. Each mayor was supposed to pass along this box until the year it popped open. The seventh mayor attempted to hammer open the box for selfish reasons. Then he up and died before giving the box to his successor. And the box ends up in the back of a closet. Love this!
Fair warning, THE CITY OF EMBER does end on a cliff hanger. Thank goodness, I got the sequel, THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS, for my birthday. In fact, there are four books in this series.
I'm planning to get my hands on the audio for our next big road trip (Christmas?). Yes, there is a movie of this book, and, yes, it's out on DVD. But I do love a book on audio for the car.
Without further ado, please give it up for the following amazing reviews from amazing reviewers!! Please, please visit. You'll be so happy you did!
MIDDLE GRADE/YOUNG ADULT BOOK REVIEWSAlyssa Goodnight of the Writers' Road Less Traveled: NICK OF TIME by Ted Bell (middle grade)
Keri Mikulski: ELEVEN, TWELVE and THIRTEEN by Lauren Myracle (three middle grade books)
Stacy Nyikos: THE ACCIDENTAL ADVENTURES OF INDIA MCALLISTER by Charlotte Agnell (middle grade)
Sarah Laurence: THE INDIGO NOTEBOOK and THE RUBY NOTEBOOK by Laura Resau (both are young adult)
Thao of serene hours: SPIRIT BOUND by Richelle Mead (Young Adult)
Kaye of the Book Review Forum: THE GOOSE GIRL by Shannon Hale (young adult, retelling of a fairy tale)
ADULT BOOK REVIEWS