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.
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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.
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Seller's Description:
Good. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are solid. the cover is intact, but may show scuffs or light creases, as well as a possible rolled corner. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, The former owner may have written their name inside the front or back cover. COVER WILL VARY.
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Seller's Description:
This item is fairly worn, but continues to work perfectly. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn corners, bends, tears, small stains, and partial water damage. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing, if applicable. Pages may include excessive notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
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.)