The City of Ember

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The City of Ember and I cannot wait to read the sequels. The book really drew me into the lost city and I want to see how the lives of the people from Ember change once they are out of the cave. It is baffling to me to even try to think about how these people lived their lives. Living in a cave for their whole life and then walking out one day into the the really world just seems to overwhelming.
I really enjoyed working with our literature circle. I think it is a great idea to incorporate into the elementary classroom. The idea of each person having a certain job and having shared responsibility is a really great idea. I hope to use this idea in my classroom one day.

Chapter 16-20

 The last five chapters of the book were so intense and interesting! Lina and Doon are racing against the clock to rescue the citizens of Ember! Lina and Doon finally discover the way out of Ember! They can now save the city! If I were Lina or Doon I would be so excited and thrilled that it was little ole me that found the key to saving the city. They start to travel down the river, something they had never done before. The adventure appeals to the reader and keeps them on their toes as Doon and Lina race down the river holding on desperately to the side of the boat and also, to Poppy. I'm sure anyone who reads the last chapters of this book will feel the rush and exhilaration that the main characters feel.

Chapters 11-15

Lina's classmate Lizzie works at the supply depot. One day Lina is talking to her and she drops a few cans of food. Lina picks two up and she has cream corn and peaches! She had not seen this kind of food in years! Lizzie's boyfriend has smuggled the cans out of the supply rooms. This reminds me of our world today, and during other desperate times. Families are struggling to put food on their table, so their are many people out there stealing things simply for survival. Lizzie thinks she is doing no wrong because there is not enough of certain foods for all the citizens to have it, so she thinks  is saving them from fighting over the food. Doon also makes an important discovery- the mayor sitting on a massive supply of supplies that the city can use! The mayor is hoarding the supplies for himself, not putting his citizens first as a decent mayor should. The blackouts are happening daily now, and the citizens are very nervous. I am a person that worries too much, so if I was living in Ember I would be trying my best to find a new way to live. The citizens should be proactive like Doon and Lina and stand up to their mayor and look for a way out or something better. I cannot imagine living in a huge cave and not even realizing how isolated our home was. Doon and Lina finally discover the way out of Ember. It was right there the whole time! They must use boats to go down the river. They are ecstatic with their discovery and cannot wait to  tell the city to The Singing. They are want to be known as the heroes that saved Ember. I can feel the kids anticipation and excitement about this! They are about to be famous!

Chapters 6-10

During this section of the book, the mayor begins acting even more suspicious after lying the citizens of Ember about the blackouts and food rations. I can feel how desperate the citizens are becoming as the food supply dwindles and the blackouts occur more frequently. The town meeting ended in a mob sort fashion, because everyone is becoming antsy and frustrated with the administration.  Lina's grandmother is still looking for "something that was lost long ago", and she finds it in the closet without realizing it. Lina finds Poppy playing with a piece of paper and knows instinctively that it is important, unfortunately Poppy has chewed it up and it is missing crucial pieces of information. Lina becomes excited and just knows it is a very important piece of paper, but the first couple of people she shows do not agree. She finally realizes Doon will know what to do. Once Doon sees the paper, he agrees with Lina- it must be what can save Ember! They think that it could be instructions to more supplies, enough to save the city. The kids soon are doing their best to figure it out.

Lina wakes up in the middle of the night one night, hearing her grandmother call to her. She knows that her grandmother does not have much time left. She sits with her in the total darkness, holding her hand, just wishing they can see each other again. But in Ember, there is no light at night. Lina leaves her grandmother and when she wakes the next morning, her grandmother has passed away.