72 pages • 2 hours read
O.T. NelsonThe Girl Who Owned a City
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1975A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson is a post-apocalyptic novel set in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where a virus has wiped out everyone over the age of 12. The protagonist, 10-year-old Lisa, and her brother Todd, struggle to survive by looting abandoned homes. Lisa eventually organizes neighborhood children into a militia to defend against gangs and fortifies an abandoned high school into a safe haven, fostering a self-sufficient community. It involves themes of child independence, survival, and leadership.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
O.T. Nelson’s The Girl Who Owned a City depicts a post-apocalyptic world where children must fend for themselves. Reviews praise its engaging plot and strong, resourceful protagonist but critique its emotional depth and writing style. While some appreciate its thought-provoking themes, others find its execution lacking. Overall, it provides an intriguing, if uneven, read.
Who Should Read The Girl Who Owned a City?
Readers who enjoy dystopian novels with young protagonists will find The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson compelling. Fans of The Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies will appreciate this tale of resilience and leadership in a post-apocalyptic world, focusing on a girl’s struggle to survive and build a community.
RecommendedReading Age
10-14yearsLexile Level
660LBook Details
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Action / Adventure
American Literature
Food
Grief / Death
Sociology
Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Natural World: Environment