The City of Ember Narrative Essay

The City Of Ember “The City Of Ember”, the first “Book Of Ember”, was written by Jeanne DuPrau and published in 2003. This is a “science fiction for those who do not like science fiction” (Voice of Youth Advocates, Starred). The story was about Ember, a city underground that is running out most of energy and supplies. Ember is covered by the darkness and colorlessness. In the city of Ember, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are trying to find a new world that has light. Following the Instruction of the Buildes, they may find the safe way to get out of there and go outside the world.
The Builders designed an underground city with supplies and established it for lasting 200 years. After completing the city, the Builders gave the first mayor of the city a locked metal box and the box was passed from one mayor to the next. The box was set to open after 200 years and provided an Instruction for the Ember citizen on how to go outside. However, the seventh mayor dead before he is able to pass the box and tell the secret to the next mayor. The metal box was lost from there. In the year of 241, the town ran out all the supplies and seemed it’s getting worse.
On the Assignment Day, Lina drew the job of “Pipeworks laborer”, while Doon is assigned the job “Messenger”. Since both of them felt unhappy, they switched their jobs. At home, Lina found a piece of paper inside a metal box. Instead of keeping hope that the Builders would come back and fix the city as many people in the Ember that time, Lina and Doon wanted to do something to change. Poppy, who is Lina’s little sister, made the paper has many holes on it and it is ripped. Therefore, Lina asked many people to help her read the paper, but only Doon helped.

Finally, Lina and Doon found out that paper was the Instruction from the Builders on how to exit the city of Ember. Then, they found a boat on the underground river that led them to exit the city. At the stop, Lina and Doon found an old journal explaining the history of Ember. To make sure that the human race would survive, the Builders built an underground city and brought 100 adults with 100 children to the city. After seeing the Ember from the surface, Lina and Doon decided to through a rock with the instruction to the city and hope that the people of the Ember would escape.
All the fate of the city was depended on the rock. The story ended when Mrs. Murdo, who is Lina’s guardian, found the note. As we can see, the story was about the encouragement of Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow during the journey of saving their city. While the people in the city were believing in the coming back of the Builders and did nothing, Lina and Doon kept the hope that they could solve the problem and bring the city to a new world. Lina Mayfleet dreamed about a world outside the city, where was colorful and bright.
Lina also believed in justice, especially when she realized that the mayor stole food from the city, she reported that to the guard. She believed that people would do what’s right, but then she felt disappointed because of the injustice that the mayor and the guard made. In addition, Doon Harrow acknowledged that the city of Ember was going down. By his talent and ambition, he would like to be the person who could fix the city and run the light to save the city. Having the same dream about a big change for their city, Lina and Doon worked together and found out the Instruction of Ember.
Finally, due to their brave and encourage, Lina and Doon found the way led them to the surface with a beautiful world. It is laudable for a couple of twelve-year-old children in the city, who were the pioneer that saved their city. Using a stunning debut, with refreshingly clear writing and fascinating, original characters, Jeanne DuPrau’s story was impressive to readers. In “The City Of Ember”, DuPrau was excellent by creating source of inspiration for the readers.
She didn’t mention the history of the city of Ember at first, made the readers felt curious and wanted to find out through the story. Every cliff hanger ending made readers clamoring for the next installment. DuPrau made a connection between her characters throughout the story, their weaknesses often complementing each other in interesting ways. DuPrau also used the specific events to convey necessary information. By telling the conflict, DuPrau successfully remarked the encouragement of the two main characters. The City Of Ember” should be a book for those who like science fiction, adventure. Those who don’t like science fiction also may like this book, because of the realistic voice through the story. The content of this story is simple, easy to understand. For students who are in middle school, from the age of 12 to 14, “The City Of Ember” would be the best choice. If there is no person that wanted to stand out, made a change and bravely be a pioneer likes Lina and Doon, the City of Ember would be in darkness forever, waiting for the Builders who would never come back again.