Andra [Library Binding]

Louise Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1991

In a repressive underground society of the future, teenage Andra yearns for freedom and launches a massive youth rebellion against the system.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this grim futuristic tale, a restricted society inhabits regimented subterranean cities to escape Earth's climatic changes. To restore her damaged sight, Andra, a teenager, receives a brain graft from a boy who died in 1987. The transplant gives her disturbing visual memories of a green Earth, and she becomes a leader among the rebellious youth. Andra's vision--a powerful metaphor--could also help her city colonize an improbably Earth-like planet, but a saboteur destroys the space fleet. In an arbitrary and downbeat ending, Andra is killed at the scene. As is often true of dystopian fiction, Sub-city One echoes our reality, from its conflict with the vaguely Soviet Uralia to the sometimes puzzling British slang. There is also the expected warning, but here Lawrence ( The Warriors of Taan ) seems unsure of her message. Is rebellion necessarily a futile, though romantic gesture? The body of the book says otherwise, and thoughtful teens wil find much of interest in spite of the abrupt ending. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-- Two thousand years into the future, Earth's surface is uninhabitable, and humans have survived by building strictly supervised subterranean cities. Then Andra, an already rebellious teenage girl, is given a partial brain transplant to save her vision and her life. The brain comes from a boy who lived in 1987, and suddenly Andra can see the world as it used to be, with sunlight, grass, and animals. No longer able to accept the oppressively regimented life that the government dictates, she begins a youth revolution. She does not know that plans are already being made to send settlers to a faraway Earth-like planet, and that a rival city is working toward the same goal. Lawrence creates a unique world and a strong heroine. Unlike many science fiction stories, the authority figures are not all malevolent "Big Brother" types. Shenlyn, the ruler of Andra's city, sincerely wants to build a free new world. He is not evil, and is willing to listen to Andra once he recognizes her gifts. By alternating the point of view among several characters, Lawrence builds suspense, gradually unveiling an unwilling betrayal and a devastating twist at the end. At times both hopeful and sorrowful, Andra is a fascinating story about the power of one individual following a dream. --Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, County of Henrico Public Library--Fairfield Area Library, Richmond, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 229 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (May 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060237058
• ISBN-13: 978-0060237059
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,297,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book, August 17, 2001

By 

witten (Thousand Oaks, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Andra (Library Binding)

I found this book very good. It takes place way in the future were the world & it's socity it very different. Andra, the main character becomes blind & docters have to relpace that part of her brain with the brain of a young boy from 1987 in order for her to live in socity. Andra, begans to see things that the boy saw like cows, trees, ect. See also see's what it was like in 1987, were your IQ did not decided how long you would live. I can't tell u to much more because it would ruin it for u. It is a great book though & I would highly recemend for any one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my FAVORITE book, December 5, 1999

By 

Kristin B Blumreich (mnpls,mn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Andra (Library Binding)

This is the most creative, enchanting book I've ever read. The non-stop intrique drove me to the end before I thought I'd even started this delightful adventure about an unusually strong-willed girl driven by a new vision to improve life for human kind in a dark, futuristic, underground world. It's your loss if you don't read it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, September 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Andra (Library Binding)

I read this book and it was awesome. This book takes place 2000 years into the future when people have moved under ground because the surface is no longer inhabitible for man kind. It is about a girl, named Andra, who has a brain graft and the brain they used is from a boy who died in 1987. She soon starts to see the world through the eyes or that boy, and realizes that life in the confines of Sub City One is not free. So she gets all the youth together and they start an open rebellion against the director of the city. It is a very good book