The City of Ember

The First Book of Ember

By: Jeanne DuPrau

Narrated by: Wendy Dillon

ALA Notable Children's Book

Ember is the only light in a dark world. But when its lamps begin to flicker, two friends must race to escape the dark. This highly acclaimed adventure series is a modern-day classic—with over 4 MILLION copies sold!

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. Now, she and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues to keep the lights on. If they succeed, they will have to convince everyone to follow them into danger. But if they fail? The lights will burn out and the darkness will close in forever.

Nominated to 28 State Award Lists!

An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book

A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection

A Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice

A Child Magazine Best Children’s Book

A Mark Twain Award Winner

A William Allen White Children’s Book Award Winner

“A realistic post-apocalyptic world. DuPrau’s book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of undiscovered country and readers wanting more.”—USA Today

“An electric debut.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

“While Ember is colorless and dark, the book itself is rich with description.”—VOYA, Starred

“A harrowing journey into the unknown, and cryptic messages for readers to decipher.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

Don't miss Lina and Doon's other adventures in The City of Ember.©2003 Jeanne DuPrau (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

A Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice

A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection

USA Today "DuPrau’s first foray into fiction creates a realistic post-apocalyptic world. Reminiscent of Robert O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, DuPrau’s book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of the undiscovered country and readers wanting more."

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly"Thanks to full-blooded characters every bit as compelling as the plot, Lina and Doon’s search parallels the universal adolescent quest for answers. An electric debut!"

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews "Well-paced, this contains a satisfying mystery, a breathtaking escape over rooftops in darkness, a harrowing journey into the unknown, and cryptic messages for readers to decipher. The likeable protagonists are not only courageous but also believably flawed by human pride. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers clamoring for the next installment."

Story Great; Recording is just OK

My kids and I listened to the novel, and they were enrapt the whole time. Great book for middle age (8-12 y/o) kids. We did have a couple of issues with the recording:
1) Wendy Dillon is a fine narrator, but it sounded, for most of the book, like she had a cold with a bit of a stuffed up nose. She was good nonetheless, but I wish she'd waited until that cold went away before recording.
2) There were background sound effects at the beginning of some of the chapters that sometimes went on for several minutes. These didn't add much to the story and, in some cases, actually made the narration difficult to hear. I don't mind sound effects in audiobooks, but not over the top of the narration, and not for minutes at a time.

Wondrous

I love how the story written for a younger audience through the eyes and mysterious of youth can still be enjoyed by parents and grand parents looking to share with kids of our generation.

Amber

I think it was a very good book, but I did feel like the person that was writing the story was kind of telling the story of the world ending. I think if I was a kid I would feel very overwhelmed after hearing the story. But overall it is a good book.

Great read!

I have been wanting to read this book ever since it first came out but could never afford it. I saw it again and was so pumped to listen, the only down side is I have to wait until next month to get the second book!

Great Story

The story starts out a bit slow, and lags a little bit in places, but it's a great story overall! My family and I are eager to start the next in the series.

The reading

I hated the way Wendy narrated the mayor in this book. It made me want to turn it off after the first two chapters. If you’re listening just get through the mayor parts and it will be okay 😂😂

Good story; mediocre ending

The story was entertaining, even for an adult. However, it ended abruptly without a sense of being finished. Perhaps a set-up for the next book? Still a good listen.

so nostalgic

I remember reading this book in high school I'm listening to it this week was so iconic and emotional and just peaceful for me this book is on me this book is on par for Harry Potter and the Pendragon series I mean this is what I look for in the library high school was the next story Miss told me and all I was a slow reader back then but it's just a great read Wonderful World built good hard feelings blows my mind that 12 year olds did this well girls that go around and find the new world

good diversion

why must I write more than I choose? good diversion. that is all I have to say on this audio book

Beginning of a Four Book Series YA

The City of Ember is book one in this amazing series written by Jeanne DuPrau. It is narrated by Wendy Dillon and I have read enough reviews here to have a comment I hope adds to the reader's understanding. There is a part where the mayor uses a bullhorn that obviously isn't working (the story explains this by illustrating it) and the panicky people of Ember keep having to ask others what he said. This has been reported by many reviewers as frustrating and annoying. That is how it is supposed to be, as it is what the people of Ember are experiencing.
The experience of listening to an audio book is not merely narration, there are often varying levels of acting and sound effects included to make it a rounder experience. I enjoy this type of experience as it reminds me of the old days when Radio was king and people gathered around it as they used to gather around television.
With that said, I love this book and have listened many times to my old multiple CD copy and was glad to finally be able to replace that with one download to complete this entire series in audio from Audible.
Many adults who come to this book have heard of other stories regarding the possibility of the world's end and what people might do in order to somehow survive it. This is a story like that but from a truly original point of view. This is not at all dystopian, it is rather a story I would be glad to start my own grandchildren on and let them collect one by one until they have the whole story of all 4 books. They are normally read in the following order (though there are decent arguments for setting the third book in place of the first): 1- The City of Ember 2- The People of Sparks 3- The Prophet of Yonwood 4- The Diamond of Darkhold. For those who don't like this particular narrator (though holding the presentation against her is too far, in my opinion) just know that each book is done by a different narrator. Wendy Dillon only narrates the first book.