The City of Ember cover art

The City of Ember

The First Book of Ember

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The City of Ember

By: Jeanne DuPrau
Narrated by: Wendy Dillon
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $19.99

Buy Now for $19.99

About this listen

 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©2003 Jeanne DuPrau; (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group Dystopian Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Friendship

Critic Reviews

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."

Starred Review, Voice of Youth Advocates
"While Ember is colorless and dark, the book itself is rich with description. DuPrau uses the puzzle, suspenseful action, and lots of evil characters to entice readers into the story. They will find the teen characters believable and gutsy. Part mystery, part adventure story."

The Horn Book Magazine
"The device of a hidden letter, complete with missing words, is used with such disarming forthrightness that readers will be eagerly deciphering it right alongside Doon and Lina."

An ALA Notable Children’s Book

A Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice

A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection
All stars
Most relevant
It was good the book was great recommend you should definitely listen to in your spair time

The book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I did enjoy it. I suppose due to the fact it's rather old it's free of all the new cliches and tropes in modern YA post apocalyptic novels. This made it a refreshing listen. I wanted to know what happened next, and I got to find out, very satisfying. It tied up all its loose ends while still setting up nicely for the second book.

good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I like,
How they are under ground it also showed how to old frainds became fraids again

Very good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Was a great listen. Some of the theatrical elements of adding sounds to enhance wasn't balanced so it took away from the narrations but overall was fantastic and a good book.

For a fan of movie I became a fan of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved the pace, the exciting plot. the final scenes are beautifully told, very moving. lots to think about!

a great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.