If you haven't read The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau, do not judge it by the movie. This book is a perfect read -aloud, exemplifying tension, theme, and foreshadowing, among other elements. It is perfect for fourth and fifth grade reluctant readers.
"The city of Ember is in trouble, but the complacent citizens seem to ignore the food shortages and frequent blackouts. The Builders, when they created the city some 241 years ago, made provisions for its citizens in the form of a note called "The Instructions." Unfortunately, The Instructions were not handed down through the generations as they were supposed to be, and suddenly 12-year old Lina, a city Messenger, has discovered them. After trying to tell her friends and even the Mayor about the discovery of the partially destroyed Instructions, Lina turns to a one-time school friend, Doon, a worker in the underground Pipeworks, whom she believes will understand their importance. But what can two children do with such important information, and who would even believe them?"
Maybe some of your students went to see the movie over Fall Break. This would be the perfect time to read the book and compare it to the movie. The imagery it presents and the questions it sparks lend themselves to higher order thinking skills. Your students will beg you to keep reading!
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