Littsie of Cincinnati

by Jinny Powers Berten, Norah Holt

Littsie of Cincinnati, co-authored by Jinny Powers Berten and Norah Holt and illustrated by Elizabeth W. Schott was published in December 2003. This 125 page paperback book is for children ages 8 - 12.

The novel, Littsie of Cincinnati, is the story of eleven year-old Littsie O'Donnell, daughter of Irish immigrant parents, and her life growing up in colorful, dynamic early Cincinnati. This high adventure story, set in 1832, involves pioneer life, slavery, steamboats, a cholera epidemic, separated sisters, prominent people of the time, and consistent, courageous love. Although it is fiction, the story is based on the lives and historical events of people who lived in the Cincinnati area between 1800 and 1850.

125 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2003

Reviews

[Hannah]

This book is cute for young children and I can see them getting into the story. I didn’t like how the story would be interrupted by having Littsie as an old woman talking to her grandchildren about these experiences. I don’t think that was necessary. Also, I was bothered by the change in narration when Littsie was lost in the woods. The whole time it was told from Littsie’s perspective and then it switched to the riverboat people finding her. It was a strange transition. I also didn’t like the ending because it left me with more questions.

[Sarah]

Kids loved this book. Living in Cincinnati really brought the story alive for the kids.

[The Nutmeg]

This was so cute!

[Lauri]

Wow! There’s a lot packed into a thin little book

[James Crawford]

The story is about an older woman recalling her lifetime as a child around 1832 in the area that is now the city of Cincinnati.

There are a lot of difficulties that Littsie has to go through, including a terrible cholera plague in the city that results in personal tragedy for her. She ends up living in New Orleans for a while.

She's eventually able to return to Cincinnati and continue to look for her sister. During these adventures she meets a variety of people who are important in Cincinnati history and also describes the early appearance of the city, when it was known as Porkopolis due to the pig business and pigs running loose everywhere.

The book also contains information about slavery, and the girl in the story plays her part in an attempt to set a young slave girl free.

The story itself is fairly good, aimed at an age group of around ten years old. There is quite a bit of historical material covered, but herein lies one problem with the book. A bookmark (which is easily lost) is filled with relevant information. It would have been better if the bookmark idea had been dropped and the information would have become a physical part of the book, as in the historical sections of books in the American Girls series.

I don't care for the cover artwork, however.

[Emeline]

I read this book for the first time in second grade and it really stuck with me having grown up in the Cincinnati area myself. It shows a lot of the history of Cincinnati plus the life of a young girl during that time. I haven't read it in a while and can't wait to read it again. I totally recommend this to elementary students especially girls but honestly it doesn't matter what age you are i still love this book!!!

[Debbie]

I think Jinny Berten had the Ohio 4th grade social studies content standards on her desk as she was typing this book. Great book hitting a lot of the things 4th graders need to know in an interesting chapter book format. Cliff hanging chapters and a main chartacter that kids can relate to and root for.