The Girl Who Owned a City

A deadly plague has swept the earth, killing everyone over the age of 12. Children are hungry and afraid. Some have joined fierce gangs that roam the streets, bullying and stealing. The children of Grand Avenue have a better life than most. Lisa, their 10-year-old leader, has found a supply of food. She has even devised a plan to keep them safe-for now. They have a lot to learn, though, such as how to defend the school that is now their city, how to get along with each other, and how to do all the jobs that adults used to do. Espousing such values as cooperation and the importance of making informed choices, O.T. Nelson tempers a potentially disturbing situation with a strong young heroine and a positive prognosis for the future. Julie Dretzin's skilled narration brings life to this powerful book requested by teachers all over the country.