Children's Science Fiction

 


    City of Ember, written by Jeanne DuPrau, is one of the best-known science fiction books for older elementary kids. The story follows 12-year-old citizens of Ember, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, as they navigate a post-apocalyptic underground city that is slowly falling apart. The city is facing chronic supply shortages, power outages, and deadly plagues. All the citizens have been taught that Ember is the last city on Earth, everything and everyone else having been destroyed. The two main characters eventually uncover widespread corruption in the governing body, along with secrets left behind by those who built Ember (the Builders). The children eventually discover the world above is not only safe, but intact and inhabited! The story ends with them leaving a message for their fellow citizens and escaping the city (DuPrau, 2003). 
    This book takes place in the far future, and the city itself was built by scientists as a safe haven in the event of an apocalypse (DuPrau, 2003). In this, mankind has colonized other planets, developed impressive new technology, and the mere concept alone of an underground city is outlandish. There are no illustrations present beyond the cover art, which represents the primary crisis that starts the book, the blackouts in the city. 
    This book would be best suited to 4th and 5th-grade students, possibly mature 3rd-grade students as well. This book could be used to teach children that their age cannot hold them back from helping people and making a difference in the world. For older children, they can learn the value of maintaining their "human" qualities, such as empathy and selflessness. Some classroom conversations after reading the book could go as follows:

Teacher: What traits did Lina and Doon display in the book? Which traits that made them good were evident in them that were NOT evident in other characters? 

Students: {various answers}

OR:

Teacher: What elements of the story did you notice that seemed "outlandish" or very "science fiction" to you? Can you explain why some of these would not work in real life?

Students: {various answers}

    Much like the Spiderwick Chronicles, I read this series and loved it as a child. I loved this book before I even really understood what science fiction was, and it really helped me learn to love reading. I, sadly, did not finish the series as my local library did not have all the books, but I loved the first and second books. I've considered going back and reading them as an adult. 

REFERENCES:
1. Galda, L. (2016). Literature and the Child (9th ed.). Cengage Learning US. https://reader2.yuzu.com/books/9781305854987
2.  DuPrau, Jeanne. "The City of Ember". Random House Kids, 2003. 

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