The Girl Who Owned a City

72 pages • 2 hours read

The Girl Who Owned a City

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1975

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Part 1, Chapters 7-9

Part 2, Chapters 10-12

Part 3, Chapters 13-17

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Quiz

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Quiz

Reading Check, Multiple Choice & Short Answer Quizzes

Reading Check questions are designed for in-class review on key plot points or for quick verbal or written assessments. Multiple Choice and Short Answer Quizzes create ideal summative assessments, and collectively function to convey a sense of the work’s tone and themes.

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. The virus that caused society to collapse killed all people over approximately what age?

2. What is Lisa especially excited about recovering from the Williams’s house?

3. What does Lisa ask Todd to do before she searches the nearby farms?

Multiple Choice

1. How does the profession of Mr. Williams (the owner of the home Lisa breaks into) relate to the novel’s themes?

A) He was the president of a business, underscoring the theme of self-sufficiency.

B) He was a senator, underscoring the theme of proper governance.

C) He was an academic, underscoring the theme of thinking critically.

D) He was an engineer, underscoring the theme of practicality.

2. How can the items other children took from the grocery store best be described?

A) inexpensive

B) costly

C) useful

D) fanciful

3. In this section, Lisa’s strategizing mostly focuses on which of the following?

A) protecting herself and Todd from violence

B) securing food and other necessities

C) finding ways to rebuild societal institutions

D) keeping Todd’s spirits up

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. According to Lisa, what distinguishes humans from animals, and why?

2. What is the second story Lisa tells Todd? What is she trying to communicate with it?

3. How does Lisa respond after the gang attacks their house?

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. What sign do Lisa and Todd place outside their house?

2. What does Lisa use to prepare for the neighborhood meeting?

3. Who goes with Lisa to Jewel Grocery?

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following helps develop the novel’s ideas about critical thinking?

A) the invitations Lisa delivers to the neighborhood children

B) the sign Lisa and Todd place outside their house

C) Lisa's explanations of vocabulary

D) Lisa and Julie’s discussion about food

2. Consider the following passage: “[T]here would be a neighborhood militia to protect ‘individual rights’ on Grand Avenue” (Chapter 5). This most strongly implies which of the following?

A) Violence should only be used in self-defense.

B) Community action should safeguard individualism.

C) People only have shared interests when they’re from the same area.

D) The right to private property is the most important individual right.

3. Lisa and Craig’s discussion of the farm centers on which of the following questions?

A) whether rebuilding society is possible

B) whether people are only responsible for themselves

C) whether children can make rational decisions

D) whether democracy is worthwhile

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What historical example does Lisa cite when making the case for a militia, and what does that suggest?

2. Why does Lisa rule out Steve Cole as a possible “general”?

3. Broadly speaking, how does Lisa view the other children in the neighborhood?

Part 1, Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Who is the leader of the Chidester Gang?

2. How does Julie contribute to the militia?

3. Where do Lisa and Todd go after the Chidester Gang burns their house down?

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following best describes how Lisa views the struggle to survive?

A) She thinks it isn’t really a struggle at all.

B) She thinks it could be avoided with cooperation.

C) She thinks it is an unfortunate reality.

D) She thinks it gives life meaning.

2. What is the significance of the “race” Lisa and Craig have while driving back from the store?

A) It illustrates Lisa’s growing recklessness and poor judgment.

B) It symbolizes the two characters’ competing views and personalities.

C) It prevents them from returning to Grandville in time to ward off Tom’s attack.

D) It underscores the importance of taking time to relax and enjoy oneself.

3. Which of the following best describes Lisa’s initial response to the destruction of her house?

A) She is relieved she and Todd weren’t home.

B) She is frustrated the militia didn’t prevent it.

C) She is shaken and questions herself and her goals.

D) She is eager to get revenge on the Chidester Gang.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Lisa decline Tom’s offers of protection?

2. How does Jill feel about Lisa’s views on earning one’s way?

3. Why doesn’t Craig like being a “general” in the militia?

Part 2, Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. Where do the children from Grand Ave decide to move to?

2. How many children live in Lisa’s “city” by the time a year has passed?

3. What happens when Lisa goes to check on the guard dogs?

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following quotes best captures the novel’s views on private property?

A) “[The children] have nothing of their own—no real duties, no way of helping. It’s nice to share things if you want to. But it’s stupid to force people to share” (Chapter 10).

B) “Other kings demanded cattle and gifts and jewels because they wanted them. But they gave nothing in return” (Chapter 10).

C) “The classrooms had been converted into small apartments, with mattresses on the floor and blinds over the window […] A family name was written on each door” (Chapter 11).

D) "The kids are starting to call you selfish. They don’t like it when you call [the city] yours. They want to own it too” (Chapter 11).

2. Which of the following characters’ worldviews contrasts most strongly with Lisa’s?

A) Craig

B) Jill

C) Todd

D) Julie

3. What is the “contract” new residents of Glenbard agree to?

A) They will leave behind their siblings and possessions in exchange for input in governing.

B) They will leave behind their siblings and possessions in exchange for protection.

C) They will work and follow the community rules in exchange for input in governing.

D) They will work and follow the community rules in exchange for protection.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the main message of the story Lisa tells about the king of “Real Fun” and his son?

2. Why does Lisa believe she should have ultimate authority in Glenbard?

3. How are Tom and his gang able to take over Glenbard?

Part 3, Chapters 13-17

Reading Check

1. Where do Todd, Craig, Jill, and Erika take Lisa after rescuing her?

2. What does Lisa task Jill with as part of their plan to retake Glenbard?

3. How does Lisa get the “army” she takes to Glenbard?

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following motifs underscores Todd’s character growth over the novel?

A) home

B) fire

C) storytelling

D) food

2. Craig’s criticism of Lisa’s approach to life implies which of the following?

A) The less one has, the more precarious the existence will be.

B) The more one has, the more precarious their existence will be.

C) The less one has, the more virtuous their existence will be.

D) The more one has, the more virtuous their existence will be.

3. Lisa’s “victory” over Tom suggests which of the following?

A) Reason is more powerful than brute force.

B) Brute force is more powerful than reason.

C) Freedom is more important than equality.

D) Equality is more important than freedom.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Tom dissatisfied with his initial capture of Glenbard?

2. What are the towns Lisa visits while trying to raise an army like?

3. How does Lisa react to learning about the “King of Chicago”?

Quizzes – Answer Key

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. 12 (Chapter 1)

2. a can opener (Chapters 1-2)

3. try fishing (Chapter 3)

Multiple Choice

1. A (Chapter 1)

2. D (Chapter 2)

3. B (Chapters 1-3)

Short-Answer Response

1. Lisa concludes that thinking distinguishes people from animals. Unlike animals, which act on instinct, humans rely on thinking, which “[keeps] people alive and […] [gives] them all the wonderful things” (Chapter 2).

2. Lisa tells Todd a story about a brother and sister who lose their parents and decide to reopen a defunct candle-making factory to support themselves (Chapter 2). The story emphasizes hard work, self-reliance, and perseverance in the face of misfortune.

3. After comforting Todd, Lisa decides to safeguard against future attacks by hiding their supplies, boobytrapping the home, and organizing a local militia (Chapter 3).

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. a sign claiming the house as private property and warning that trespassers will be shot (Chapter 4)

2. her notes from social studies (Chapter 5)

3. Craig Berman (Chapter 6)

Multiple Choice

1. C (Chapters 4-5)

2. B (Chapter 5)

3. A (Chapter 6)

Short-Answer Response

1. Lisa references the Pilgrims when arguing for a militia (Chapter 5). Though she may not realize the full significance of the allusion, Nelson uses it to link Lisa’s arguments about rights, society, and property to a broader American tradition.

2. Lisa rules out Steve when he complains it isn’t “fair” the children of wealthier parents have more supplies (Chapter 5); she doesn’t approve of people complaining about their circumstances and resists the idea that those with more have any obligation to share.

3. Lisa mostly views the other children with impatience (if not outright suspicion) and considers much of their behavior lazy and illogical (Chapters 4-6). However, she concludes she has to rely on them to protect herself: “[S]he would have to […] help to build their community into one that could protect her freedom” (Chapter 6).

Part 1, Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Tom Logan (Chapter 7)

2. She trains her dogs to attack (Chapter 8).

3. to Jill’s house (Chapter 9)

Multiple Choice

1. D (Chapter 7)

2. B (Chapter 8)

3. C (Chapter 9)

Short-Answer Response

1. Lisa doesn’t feel they need Tom and his gang’s help to find supplies or to protect themselves. She also says she could never fully trust him knowing he’s stolen from her in the past: “If you would betray a neighbor once, you’d probably do it again” (Chapter 7).

2. Jill thinks Lisa is being unreasonable and uncaring in asking little children to act as sentries. More broadly, she feels the pleasure Lisa takes in hard work downplays the real hardships they are facing: “To Jill, life was just little orphans and the problems of finding food and medicine for them. Somehow, she just couldn’t think of those real problems as fun or satisfying” (Chapter 7)

3. Craig still wants to withdraw from society and live on the farm with his sister. His heart isn’t in fighting, and he worries Lisa’s defensive measures could provoke violence they aren’t prepared for: “I know we need some protection, but we’re getting carried away with the whole thing” (Chapter 8).

Part 2, Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. Glenbard, the former high school (Chapter 10)

2. over 500—Lisa can’t remember if the exact figure is 510 or 518 (Chapter 12)

3. Tom’s gang ambushes and shoots her (Chapter 12).

Multiple Choice

1. A (Chapter 10)

2. B (Chapters 10-11)

3. D (Chapters 11-12)

Short-Answer Response

1. The story suggests people will never be happy unless they have something to work toward; the prince, who has never had to work for anything, isn’t satisfied until he leaves his home and “earns” his happiness (Chapter 10).

2. Lisa argues that because she came up with the idea of settling in Glenbard, she does by right “own” the city. She also makes the pragmatic case that allowing others to share power with her would prevent anything from getting done: “With no one in charge and no one to make decisions, the group would argue all the time about whose property should be shared” (Chapter 11).

3. The gang captures Lisa and uses her as leverage, causing the “frightened and helpless” residents of Glenbard to let them walk in unchallenged (Chapter 12).

Part 3, Chapters 13-17

Reading Check

1. the Swift Road farm (Chapter 13)

2. rejoin the city and feed Tom misinformation—most notably that Lisa is dead (Chapter 15)

3. Many of the children are dissatisfied with Tom’s rule and defect from Glenbard, giving her an army of about 300 (Chapter 16).

Multiple Choice

1. C (Chapter 13)

2. B (Chapter 14)

3. A (Chapters 13-17)

Short-Answer Response

1. Tom did not expect Lisa to get hurt in the altercation, and he finds running the city more challenging than he expected (Chapters 13-15). Most of all, he does not feel he earned his position as Glenbard’s leader: “He was frustrated, too, for his luck, because that’s all that this victory was—a matter of luck” (Chapter 13).

2. The places Lisa visits are either desolate or populated by children too cowed or frightened to join her army. She eventually comes across a settlement with a “general,” but he plans on joining forces with the “King of Chicago” (Chapter 16); the implication is these kinds of local gang leaders have bullied the surrounding populations into submission.

3. Lisa mocks the idea of a leader calling himself “king,” asking, “Why not president or premier? Is this the Dark Ages or something?” (Chapter 17). The remark implies that monarchy is an inferior and less advanced form of government, though Lisa’s rule over Glenbard isn’t really democratic.