When a plague sweeps over the earth killing everyone except children under twelve, ten-year-old Lisa organizes a group to rebuild a new way of life.
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When a plague sweeps over the earth killing everyone except children under twelve, ten-year-old Lisa organizes a group to rebuild a new way of life.
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Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $30.38, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1977 by Laurel Leaf.
Add this copy of The Girl Who Owned a City to cart. $100.57, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1977 by Laurel Leaf.
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.)
