chesilbeach Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Title: The Carbon Diaries 2015 Author: Saci Lloyd Publisher: Hodder Synopsis: (from waterstones.com) It's January 1st, 2015, and the UK is the first nation to introduce carbon dioxide rationing, in a drastic bid to combat climate change. As her family spirals out of control, Laura Brown chronicles the first year of rationing with scathing abandon. Will her mother become one with her inner wolf? Will her sister give up her weekends in Ibiza? Does her father love the pig more than her? Can her band the dirty angels make it big? And will Ravi Datta ever notice her? In these dark days, Laura deals with the issues that really matter: love, floods and pigs. The Carbon Diaries 2015 is one girl's drastic bid to stay sane in a world unravelling at the seams. Review: This was a very thought provoking look at the near future in a world where the Great Storm has led to the UK becoming the first country in the world to introduce a form of rationing on energy consumption to try and combat the effects of global climate change. An innocuous enough start to the year with Laura's family having to make changes to their usual lifestyle such as virtually eliminating car use, significantly reducing the time they spend watching TV and using the computer, and cutting back on the central heating. Gradually, Laura's story reveals how much the changes affect her and her family, her friends, college, neighbourhood and society in general. Newspaper clippings, printed emails, leaflets and posters are "stuck" in, adding an authenticity to the diary format. Incredibly accessible, this book has some great science and climatology without being too scientific, facts, figures and theories are put forward in a way that neither preaches nor condescends, and the mixture of teenage life, the changing climate and the sociological implications of the situation give a well balanced story that I can imagine causing some interesting discussions in a classroom environment. I would say that it is definitely a YA book. I like books for this demographic, and I think that while there is plenty for adults to enjoy, there is content designed to appeal to teenagers (relationships, rebellion, peer pressure, etc.) which might put some people off, but for me I felt that it added to the authenticity of Laura's world, showing that no matter what the situation, some of the things that teenagers go through will always stay the same. There is a second instalment "The Carbon Diaries 2017" out now, and I will definitely be looking to get hold of a copy to see how Laura and the world are coping another year into the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Thats brilliant I am going to get these when I get back from my holidays they sound really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfDreamsCameTrue Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Thank for the suggestion and by the sounds of your review it is a good book. So, I shall order it straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randa23 Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 It is a great book and the sequel is just as good get reading!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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