Books of Ember

Ember, an underground city designed to sustain life for 200 years, is about to "expire," a situation unclear to its inhabitants until the infrastructure starts to break down, and even then its only a few, like Lina and Doon, who see what is happening.

12-year-old Lina’s messenger job sends her throughout the city. Her friend, Doon, works in the pipe works below the city. Between the two of them, they realize their city is in danger of failing: not enough food growing or in storage to feed everyone and the generator that provides all of their power has been patched together too many times.

Can Lina and Doon convince the elders there is a problem? Can they help save the people of Ember escape to an unknown land? Will life outside Ember work for those who've only known the artificial life of the "land down under?"

Huh. Turns out that power and other supplies aren't infinite. Is there a lesson here for us, too?

This series contains a prequel that sets up the scene for other books. But don't read anything out of order; you don't want to get lost in the dark!

For grades 6 and up.