The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The Locale: Emma & Diana’s Home

The Book: It is the story of Lina, a 12-year-old girl who lives in Ember and has been given her first job assignment after school has ended. This sci-fi tale of adventure and friendship is a good read for upper elementary to middle schoolers (although I think adults will enjoy it more as a commentary on society). (Thanks, Creamer Blog)

The Fun: The girls were asked to bring old items, items that have been unused and ready to give or throw away, and come up with an idea for repurposing those items. Some of the items and their uses are listed below.

• A non-writing pen = turn into a flashlight; a"stabber" thing; a trick pen
• View master slide = use as a Frisbee toy
• Broken watch = use as a cat collar
• Gold chain = turn into a bracelet 
• Chewed up pencil = save and use lead; save and use the eraser; incense stick
• Flat tennis balls + tube = use carton tube as a cup; use the balls for a walker to cushion the metal
• Timer = alarm clock; wall holder; beeper to annoy people

                                                      

The girls were also asked to come up with a list of items that they didn’t have in Ember. Here’s their list.

• TVs
• Candles
• Pineapples
• Phones
• Sunscreen
• Wii
• Weeds
• Peaches
• Flashlights
• Birds
• No animals
• Blue sky
• Oil
• Cars
• Weather
• Probably cold and damp
• Salt water
• Beaches

Since the people of Ember often gathered to sing traditional songs, the girls were asked to come up with some songs of their own. Below is a few:

Song of Darkness

The dark of the night and black outs.

We don’t like these things. 

We know every inch of the streets but in the dark we freeze...

Lalalalalalalalalal

We are scared of the dark but we are glad when the lights are back Yaah! 

We don’t like the darkness but we sing this joyful song!

Ember is cold

And it’s really old

There’s nothing good to eat

And the mayor isn’t sweet

But on a happier note

I don’t mean to gloat

It’s save underground

Where Mayor Cole is round

So in Summary

The people live in misery

Cause Mayor Cole is a Cheat

And he gets lots to eat

And so is Looper

The River Song

(Sung to the tune of Bad Romance by Lady GaGa) 

Riv-Riv-Riv-River

Riv-Riv-Riv-River

Riv-Riv-Riv-River

Where we get our water

It’s where we get our water supply

Without our water oh me oh my

oh why, why, why

why, why, why, oh why, oh why, yeah

We need our water to survive

without it we would surely die

oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, 

and we really don’t want to die

oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, 

the river is a giver of life (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)

the underground river

The Food:  

1. •Mayor Cole Is a big Chicken salad
2. •Pineapple with Generator Grease dip
3. •Doon Harro's humus
4. •Lina's Lemonade (made with River Water)
5. •Clary's Greenhouse Veggies
6. •Darkness and Light Cook
   
   
   Up Next: School of Fear at Cassie & Susan’s on January 22nd. 
   
   
   The Vote: No vote was taken at this meeting.
   
   
   Who Presents Next: Both Odessa and Megan should be prepared to bring books to our January meeting. Odessa would be up first, then Megan.