Imagine living in a city where the sky is always dark, illuminated only by electric light bulbs. 

The citizens of Ember are told it is dark and dangerous beyond the city limits. As time passes, the electric lights begin to flicker more and more. Sometimes there are long blackouts that terrify the citizens. 

Will their city soon lose all of its electricity? 

The townspeople are eventually supposed to receive a message allowing them to leave the City of Ember and return to their homes above ground. That was many generations ago; over 200 years have passed and most people have given up hope. 

Then Lina finds an ancient message written on fragments of parchment- can this help them save the city?