The City of Ember

In the underground city of Ember, life depends on dim artificial light, dwindling supplies, and a system of jobs assigned to children as they grow up. As blackouts worsen and the city’s resources fail, two twelve-year-olds begin to suspect Ember’s leaders are hiding the truth about their world.

When Lina and Doon each find pieces of an ancient message, they realize it may contain instructions left by Ember’s founders. Working from different parts of the city, they try to decode the clues, understand what the adults refuse to believe, and figure out what Ember is supposed to do before the darkness wins.

Their search turns into a race against time and authority as they piece together the city’s secrets and decide whether anyone will listen. The mystery pushes them toward a dangerous escape route and the possibility of a future beyond Ember.