
The City of Ember
The First Book of Ember
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Narrated by:
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Wendy Dillon
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By:
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Jeanne DuPrau
About this listen
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 GroupListeners also enjoyed...
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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."
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- By Charlene on 07-03-05
By: Cornelia Funke
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Ruby Holler
- By: Sharon Creech
- Narrated by: Donna Murphy
- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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"Trouble Twins" Dallas and Florida have been shuffled between foster families and the orphanage all their lives. All they want is a loving place to call home, but they are mistrustful that one exists for the likes of them.
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Ruby Holler Review
- By Wilma on 05-27-09
By: Sharon Creech
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When You Reach Me
- By: Rebecca Stead
- Narrated by: Cynthia Holloway
- Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it's safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.
But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note.
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Excellent intrigue story
- By Brianna on 12-26-09
By: Rebecca Stead
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Make Room! Make Room!
- By: Harry Harrison
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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In a New York City groaning under the burden of 35 million inhabitants, detective Andy Rusch is engaged in a desperate and lonely hunt for a killer everyone has forgotten. For even in a world such as this, a policeman can find himself utterly alone.
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Unable to see
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-21-12
By: Harry Harrison
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Uglies
- Uglies, Book 1
- By: Scott Westerfeld
- Narrated by: Brianne Tju
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. In just a few weeks, she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever.
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Excellent Storyteller
- By Me on 12-06-24
By: Scott Westerfeld
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The Giver
- By: Lois Lowry
- Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
- Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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December is the time of the annual Ceremony at which each twelve-year-old receives a life assignment determined by the Elders. Jonas watches his friend Fiona named Caretaker of the Old and his cheerful pal Asher labeled the Assistant Director of Recreation. But Jonas has been chosen for something special. When his selection leads him to an unnamed man, the man called only the Giver, he begins to sense the dark secrets that underlie the fragile perfection of his world.
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This guy's mouth makes some serious noises...
- By Nikki Cole on 07-09-12
By: Lois Lowry
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The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1)
- By: Jennifer A. Nielsen
- Narrated by: Charlie McWade
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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In a discontented kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point - he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.
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Best read of the summer!
- By Middle School Teacher on 08-13-12
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Gregor the Overlander
- Underland Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Suzanne Collins
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, and cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it, until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance.
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Skip if you're looking for more Hunger Games
- By Whitney on 07-01-09
By: Suzanne Collins
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Among the Hidden
- By: Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Narrated by: Steven Boyer
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Luke Garner has spent his entire life - all 12 years - in hiding. The government has outlawed families with more than two children. As the Garners' third child, Luke's very life is in danger. When Luke meets Jen, another "shadow child," he begins to question the government's policies.
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Best book
- By Jennifer Corbitt Price on 06-23-15
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The Westing Game
- By: Ellen Raskin
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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A bizarre chain of events begins when 16 unlikely people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. And though no one knows why the eccentric, game-loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger - and a possible murderer - to inherit his vast fortune, one thing's for sure: Sam Westing may be dead...but that won't stop him from playing one last game!
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I love this story
- By Alex on 12-17-18
By: Ellen Raskin
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The Maze Runner
- Maze Runner, Book 1
- By: James Dashner
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers - boys whose memories are also gone. Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out - and no one's ever made it through alive. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying: Remember. Survive. Run.
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30 hours before the end...
- By Blue on 06-03-12
By: James Dashner
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Counting by 7s
- By: Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a 12-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by sevens. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life...until now.
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I Guess I Am Just Too Old To Enjoy This Book!
- By Kathy in CA on 05-15-20
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Number the Stars
- By: Lois Lowry
- Narrated by: Blair Brown
- Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.
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People of all ages will enjoy this book.
- By Angela Rhodes on 10-16-12
By: Lois Lowry
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The Shakespeare Stealer
- By: Gary Blackwood
- Narrated by: Stuart Blinder
- Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" - or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama.
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Fun time
- By AdrienneBeamesderfer on 05-04-20
By: Gary Blackwood
What listeners say about The City of Ember
Highly rated for:
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- Matt W.
- 11-01-19
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.
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- Racheal Eckert
- 04-30-19
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!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Curtis Smith
- 10-07-20
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.
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- Mary
- 11-18-19
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.
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Overall
- Misty Bone
- 04-20-19
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.
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- Kyle Webb
- 10-27-19
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 😂😂
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- old lady
- 02-20-19
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.
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- Loki of Jotunheim
- 12-07-20
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
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- Sara
- 05-22-17
good diversion
why must I write more than I choose? good diversion. that is all I have to say on this audio book
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- Scarpenter
- 12-15-15
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.
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