A killing virus has swept the earth, sparing only children through the age of twelve. Fierce gangs form, and many children go hungry. It would be the same on Grand Avenue but for ten-year-old Lisa. Lisa decides to make a fortress from the abandoned high school, a city in which the children can live safely and happily. After dramatic struggles with a violent gang, and though some of her followers choose a different sort of life, she brings her new city under control.
Read More
A killing virus has swept the earth, sparing only children through the age of twelve. Fierce gangs form, and many children go hungry. It would be the same on Grand Avenue but for ten-year-old Lisa. Lisa decides to make a fortress from the abandoned high school, a city in which the children can live safely and happily. After dramatic struggles with a violent gang, and though some of her followers choose a different sort of life, she brings her new city under control.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City Format: Paperback to cart. $6.78, new condition, Sold by indoo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Avenel, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Carolrhoda Books (R).
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $9.15, new condition, Sold by Just one more Chapter, ships from Miramar, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Carolrhoda Books ®.
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City Format: Paperback to cart. $9.62, new condition, Sold by indoo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Avenel, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Graphic Universe (Tm).
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $19.07, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2012 by Carolrhoda Books (R).
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $19.08, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2012 by Carolrhoda Books (R).
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $23.96, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2012 by Carolrhoda Books (R).
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $50.79, new condition, Sold by Just one more Chapter, ships from Miramar, FL, UNITED STATES, published 1977 by Laurel Leaf.
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City: the Graphic Novel to cart. $50.97, new condition, Sold by BetterBookDeals rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toronto, ON, CANADA, published 2012 by Graphic Universe ™.
Let me start by saying that I didn't finish the novel -- in fact, I didn't get past chapter 5. I kept thinking to myself that it would get better, but as the plot got rolling the unrealistic elements leaped out even more strongly than before; from page one I felt the writing was less than acceptable for a published novel. (And when I saw the author's dedication to 'Lisa and Todd' I knew that a large conceit like super-characterizing your own children would lead to many, many others.)
The protagonist, Lisa, is amazingly prescient, especially in comparison to the other children. She also exhibits rather dated, contrived child-speak and emoting that many adult authors used to force from their diminutive characters on a regular basis. Otherwise, the kids think and talk and interact like robots. The prose in general felt stilted, and the author was way too eager to spout his new world order philosophy. Unfortunately, he does it rather clumsily. (Don't compare yourself to the American founders, as in chapter 5, and then set yourself up as a benevolent dictator later in the story.) There are a number of very well-written post-apocalyptic young adult and juvenile novels that are far more worth your time than this one.
Try instead: Scott Westerfeld, Megan Whalen Turner, Ann Rinaldi, Maria V. Snyder, Gary Paulsen, for starters. (These authors generally write for adults and older teens.)
