Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

Chapter 7 is called "A Day of New People." The people of Ember gather in the plaza and are assigned to work teams. Doon and his father are put on a team which begins digging toilet pits for the people living in The Pioneer. The work is hard, and the Emberites are not used to the heat and sun.

At noon, they break and go to the houses they have been assigned for eating. Doon, his father, Edward Pocket and some others go to the home of the Parton family. Martha Parton, the wife and mother of the family, is proud to put out a large spread of food, some of which is new to the Emberites, but some of which is familiar, although the greenhouse versions they know are smaller.

Doon meets Kenny Parton, a boy younger than he, who is...