CITY OF EMBER STORY BY: JEANNE DUPRAU

Presentation by: Vanessa Nguyen

CITY OF EMBER Ember is an underground city, the generator was built to last only 200 years. The lights start to flicking and fade as the time is up. Lina and Doon are the two kids who is left to follow a series of clues that will restore light to the place.

BRIEF SUMMARY Two average twelve year olds, Lina and Doon who live in the City of Amber

are graduating from school. A little bit different than any other kids, their classmates and them are all assigned jobs on the Assignment Day. Lina really wanted to become a Messenger, but instead she draws a job in the underground Pipework. However, Doon on the other hand who draws to be a Messenger then offers to trade with her.

LINA AND DOON’S JOB Lina gets the skinny on all the goings on, because her job puts her ear right

up to the grapevine. Lina notices that all the citizens are afraid that the lights will go out for

good, and that the food stores are dwindling. Doon on the other hand down in the Pipework, learns that the generator

which powers the city is slowly degrading, and no one knows how to fix it. This is scary because Ember is surrounded by darkness, and there’s no way

out of the city, nowhere to go if the lights fail.

ABOUT LINA’S LIFE AND FAMILY Lina loves her job as a Messenger, she’s gallivanting around town,

delivering messages like nobody’s business. Lina have a baby sister names Poppy. Grandmother is supposed to be

looking after her baby sister, but she’s getting too old and forgetful and isn’t much help with the kiddo.

Granny loves to find something her grandfather, a former mayor of Ember, had stored away.

There was a mysterious box that were found inside of Lina’s home closet, Lina thinks its contents might be helpful in handling the city’s current situation.

There’s one problem, Poppy has already chewed on the paper inside.

THE MYSTERY BOX Lina figures out that the paper in the box contains instructions for the city’s

Builders on how to exit the city and how to head for safety when the time comes with Doon’s help.

Lina and Doon discovered that the mayor is hiding canned foods all to himself.

Mayor tries to have the kids arrested for their accusations. Lina and Doon have a decision to make with their information about how to

leave the city.

TAKING A CHANCE TO LEAVE Lina and Doon went ahead and tries to get out of City of Ember. They took Poppy head out into the darkness and after a trip by river, they

ascend to the outside world. They finally discover that Ember has actually been underground this whole

time. They plan to leave directions on how to exit the city for the other residents

to find.

THE OUTSIDE WORLD Seeing the sunrise for the very first time is mind blowing. The kids stumble upon a crevice and throw their directions down into the

city below. Mrs. Murdo, who has been taking care of Linda and Poppy since Granny’s

death, finds the instructions, but that’s where it all ends. This story leaving us to wonder what will happen next.

EMBER THEMES Friendship Family Dreams Hope Plans