Laura Brown is a teenager in
Britain 2015. She has all kinds of stuff to deal with; a dysfunctional
family, sulky and difficult friends, the pain of unrequited love,
trouble with teachers and trying to make a success of her band. All of
these problems are compounded by ensuing climate chaos and the advent
of personal carbon rationing as a response. Britain is leading the way
in Europe following a tragic storm in 2012 when over 8000 people died.
Laura chronicles everyday teenage angst alongside bitter winters,
floods, droughts and water and power shortages and the reader gets to
see these world changing events through the lens of the mundane and
daily happenings in the Brown family. The adults here seem as confused
as the adolescents and, although they try to take back control, they
are in uncharted waters and their children soon recognise this.
This
book brings home very clearly how quickly society can shift with many
of the things we now take for granted suddenly becoming scarce. The
science underpinning this possible future is well considered and
doesn’t pull any punches with regard to how soon the impacts of climate
change may be felt. Despite this difficult message, Saci Lloyd has
written a book that is both serious and humorous at the same time, and
created a memorable heroine in Laura, whose dry wit and understandable
confusion and exasperation with the world around her is vividly brought
to life. Some of the funniest moments in the book relate to Laura’s
parents attempts to ‘find themselves’ and the embarrassment they cause
to their daughters in the process.The message of this book is unsparing
and bleak yet leaves you with a sense of optimism as communities are
reunited and humanity shines through. Laura Brown could well become the
Adrian Mole for a post-carbon society.
5/5
Guest Reviewer:
Charlotte Revely
Programme Director
National School of Government
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 February 2009 16:49 )