Lizzie: Lethal Innocence - Softcover

J. Robert Whittle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0968506135 ISBN 13: 9780968506134

Publisher: Whitlands Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

Nine-year-old Lizzie Short is street smart and spunky. She needs to be, for living on the streets in the harsh environment of Eastside London in the early 19th century, has been anything but easy, especially for a girl. Lizzie, however, is no ordinary girl and when her four friends are deported to Australia (at beginning of the story) for merely stealing food, she finds herself forced to begin a new life and she is up for the challenge.

This Canadian bestselling novel is the heartwarming story of a homeless young girl who through a series of incidents, changes the direction of her life and soon gains a reputation for her compassion, credible business decisions, and imaginative feats of daring adventure. Although Lizzie displays some very adult traits, the author is able to provide enough believability to draw us into this fast-moving story.

Lizzie has a remarkable way of dealing with people - her friend, Quon Lee, the Chinese boy who lives in a barrel, her adopted father, Joe, and the many other memorable characters of all ages and walks of life who frequent the dockland area on the Thames. The combination of loyalty, frivolity and family life depicted in this remarkable story of ordinary working-class people is an excellent achievement lacking both sexual innuendo and scenes of gratuitous violence.

Recognized internationally as a delightful, multi-cultural, multi-generational read, these books are applauded by homeschoolers, libraries and school teachers in many countries.

About this title

Review

Engaging, exciting, funny, and a touching story set in a historical setting. Recommended. -- Michael Dlugos, Entertainment Magazine May 2000

Mr. Whittle surprised himself by finding out he was not only a fine writer but was a feminist to boot! -- Terri Hunter, Times-Colonist, Feb 2002

Packed with imagination, colorful dialogue and adventure, young audiences will admire and strive to emulate the enterprising and irresistible Lizzie. -- Beth Bruno, School Psychologist and Author of

From the Publisher

If you are reading about J. Robert Whittle's novels for the first time, you're in for a surprising treat. Although his books have already amassed a huge following, Whittle is a relatively new novelist on the scene. Born in Yorkshire, England, he credits four things with having greatly influenced his life: his mother, his grandfather, a strong work ethic, and a love of history. Being an amateur historian since a child, his historical research for these books is impeccable. Having four sisters no doubt also played a role. For when he began writing in 1994, he often found himself telling the stories of women struggling against all odds, and many say his sensitivity to the subject of women's rights is both remarkable and heartwarming.

Lizzie: Lethal Innocence, set in early 19th century London, England, was Whittle's first published novel and, beginning with the area of Western Canada where he now calls home, I am delighted to admit that it appears we have quietly created a phenomenon. Selling these books solely in local bookstores and markets/craft shows, this remarkable man soon realized his readers must be right - he could write - and so, happily, he continues to do so when he isn't out amongst his public selling and signing books. This appeases his now international audience which grew in an extraordinary manner through the tourist trade of Victoria, BC, and word of mouth, as readers of all ages discovered these 'family-friendly' novels. We often hear delightful stories of families setting up reading schedules of a few hours each when a new novel surfaces. Of course, there are many cheaters to this system! I wonder how many books can brag of this joyful situation?

Hence, because of this popularity, Whitlands Publishing has now published four books in the Lizzie Series and two in his more recent series set in Canada/USA, The Victoria Chronicles. Lizzie: Lethal Innocence and Bound by Loyalty (the first book in the Chronicles) are Canadian bestselling novels and his eager and devoted fans keep us busy producing novels each year as we try keep up to his readership. In 2005, distribution across Canada and the USA became a reality and, thanks to the internet, all Robert's books are now available worldwide.

If I could wish for one thing with regard to these books, it would be to interest a large publisher or agent to take on what I have begun. History needs these gentle, refreshing stories, like many of those favourites of yesteryear ... Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Woman of Substance. Personally, I would like more time to read Robert's books as I, like many readers, want to reread them over and over again. He has many more books waiting to be published and I fear that only through the help of a larger publisher will they see the light of day and that would be a travesty.

This often outspoken former mining engineer had no idea he could write such inspirational stories and I am proud to be the first publisher to have brought them to light. Robert was a young 65 years at the time and, like Lizzie, he was a child phenomenon who never stops producing winning ideas ... and writing wonderful stories.

Edition details

• Publisher: Whitlands Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0968506135
• ISBN 13: 9780968506134
• Binding: Paperback