This is our first week reading The City of Ember, the first Book of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau. This week, read from The Instructions (before page 1) through The Box in the Closet (Page 92).
City of Ember: Ember is a large city, and it's certainly an unfamiliar city to all of us. Here's a map to the City of Ember. You can access the map by putting the puzzle pieces together, and then you can get an up-close view of all the places Lina and Doon talk about. Here's the map.
Book Trailer: Often now on Youtube, there are "book trailers" for books that you read. These are kind of like movie trailers, and they give you a preview of what the book will be about. Here's one trailer:
Here's another trailer for the book. This one was made by two students. It really helps you get inside the main characters' minds.
Questions to Ponder/Respond to:
1. Several events early on help us to understand Lina and Doon and the kinds of characters they are. Some key events that stand out to me are: the choosing of jobs, Lina and Doon switching jobs, Lina dancing on the roof, and Lina caring for her grandma and little sister. What do these events already reveal about our main characters? What kinds of people are they?
2. We're about one-third of the way through the book. What big theory are you already growing about the book? Make your theory go beyond the book so that it tells a big idea you are growing.
3. The setting in the "City of Ember" is a lot different than the setting in an Amber Brown book. An Amber Brown book could take place in almost any school, and the setting doesn't matter so much. But in "City of Ember," the setting is terribly important. Ember isn't just any old place. What kind of place is Ember? You might say "Ember is the kind of place where...." and push yourself to write a few sentences about it.
Keep reading and responding to the comments other people post! Your fellow readers have some FASCINATING ideas that will really make you think. Ask them questions. Ask for their evidence. Add your own thoughts and opinions.
Remember that whatever you post in the "Comment" section goes on the internet and other readers can read it. That means, you should try to use the best spelling, punctuation and capitalization that you can.
I think that for the first question, Lina is the light, the smiler who can make anyone smile, and Doon can fix almost anything, just don't make him angry.
ReplyDeleteFor the second question, my theory is that together, as a team, Lina and Doon can make a difference yet there are many differences they could make.
I think the setting in the city of ember is important, because its an urban, suffering, run-down island of light in the dark. If the setting wasn't like that, there wouldn't be a main problem in the story.
-Leela
Responding to the first question:
ReplyDeleteI think the event where Lina and Doon switch jobs makes me feel that Lina and Doon are the kind of people who expect to get what they want and will fight to get what they want. I think this becuase Doon threw a fit when he did not get the job he wanted and Lina was thinking all those negative thoughts about being a "Pipeworks Laboror" and made a pretty big deal about it.
Responding to the second question:
A theory that I am growing is that Lina is a little bit compettitive. One reason why I think this is that when the author was explaining about this incedent where Lina and Doon broke apart she was a little compettetive there, becuase of when she said: "I can climb the light pole!". Another reason that I think Lina is compettetive is when they got there jobs chosen, like when someone else chose their job, Lina had her own opinion, and he opinions were unnecessary.
Responding to the third question:
I think The City Of Ember is the kind of place where things usually go wrong, and where everything is dark and gloomy, sort of representing everyones moods, and the shaddows of the flood lamps representing the very few happy people. I also think The City Of Ember is the kind of place where everything, is falling apart in general.
From,
Ellis
My answer to the first question is that Lina is a character that likes people, and cherishes her family. And she's curious about the world outside Ember.
ReplyDeleteDoon is a determined Character. He wants to fix the Generator, and save Ember.
ErIc
I definetly agree with everything said so far. But, I also have a theory where ember is placed: underground. It would explain why noone has come for them,and why everything is so dark around ember.
ReplyDelete-max
Leela,
ReplyDeleteI'm so intrigued by that comment you made where you said "Lina is the light." Can you say more about that? It seems pretty significant to me that she might be a light in such a dark place. Anyone else feel free to jump in and add your ideas about this too!
-Katie
Ellis,
ReplyDeleteI'm really thinking about the theory you're growing that Lina is competitive. I'm wondering if we can push that theory even further to either figure out why Lina is competitive or how Lina's competitiveness might cause her problems or help solve her problems in the future. Do you have any ideas right now? Let's all pay attention to this as we read forward!
-Katie
Eric,
ReplyDeleteYou raise a really interesting point in your comment. You said that Doon seems concerned about saving Ember and Lina doesn't seem to be concerned about saving Ember. I wonder if they will both stay in these same roles as the book continues or if their feelings will change. What do you think?
-Katie
Max,
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point. Why do the people of Ember not seem to realize they might be underground? Is there anything you know about them that might help explain that?
-Katie
What I meant about Lina being the light, was that she can make people happy in the darkest of times!
ReplyDeleteLeela