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Little Black Girl Lost #1
Little Black Girl Lost
Johnnie Wise was just fifteen years old when her mother sold her virginity to an unscrupulous white insurance man named Earl Shamus. Stunningly beautiful, with long naturally wavy black hair, she possessed the voluptuous body of a thirty-year-old woman. Her skin was the color of brown sugar. Johnnie had heard about Earl Shamus and his escapades among the poor black women in New Orleans. But what she didn’t know was that Shamus had quietly made several of the girls in their neighborhood his reluctant concubines when their youthful bodies ripened—she was next.
Enter 1950’s New Orleans, a world of betrayal, envy, lust and murder, where everyone has ulterior motives. Take a peek at Johnnie Wise, a 15-year-old girl, being pursued by ruthless crime boss, Napoleon Bentley, who will stop at nothing to have this young beauty. Little Girl Lost will shock you right up to the very end with its revealing truths.
Enter 1950’s New Orleans, a world of betrayal, envy, lust and murder, where everyone has ulterior motives. Take a peek at Johnnie Wise, a 15-year-old girl, being pursued by ruthless crime boss, Napoleon Bentley, who will stop at nothing to have this young beauty. Little Girl Lost will shock you right up to the very end with its revealing truths.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2005
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3004 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
January 30, 2014
Ok... This review will cover all 4 books! Wow! DAH!! ( DUM ASS HELL) I mean come on?!! Really?!' This black girl a child no less in this era with a stock portfolio?!' So pretty a white mob boss risks everything fa her young black ass?!' Corrective vaginal surgery?!' BLAH BLAH BLAH THIS WAS SOME DUM SHIT!! The language and content that was used, it is safe to assume that adults are the authors target but the dum fake ass BS that was written in the books may b kindergarteners whose parents let them read about sex and allow them to read the foul language are the real target?
I barely got through the third one, so of course the fourth one was just trash. As I have said previously I bought books blindly.. If I bought part one, I just automatically bought the other parts.. But again books like this, that are written so badly I just can not take in my ripe old age.. So I feel no obligation to even finish a book at this point if it is as awful as this!!
I barely got through the third one, so of course the fourth one was just trash. As I have said previously I bought books blindly.. If I bought part one, I just automatically bought the other parts.. But again books like this, that are written so badly I just can not take in my ripe old age.. So I feel no obligation to even finish a book at this point if it is as awful as this!!
September 5, 2009
This book was a joke. You could tell it was written by a man. I struggled through it and finished it, but felt like I had wasted a huge chunk of my time and brain space reading it. Typical standards of what a beautiful black woman is supposed to look like.
January 30, 2024
2nd Read
I really enjoyed the first book to this series.
The story was believable, the characters were fully developed, and the storyline was interesting.
Johnnie, the main character, is young, but she is fierce, and I am looking forward to seeing how she handles the streets of New Orleans.
The audio was not so great, but I got through it. I will be reading the physical books for now on. 📚
I really enjoyed the first book to this series.
The story was believable, the characters were fully developed, and the storyline was interesting.
Johnnie, the main character, is young, but she is fierce, and I am looking forward to seeing how she handles the streets of New Orleans.
The audio was not so great, but I got through it. I will be reading the physical books for now on. 📚
May 23, 2007
This book is trash from start to finish. Recommended by a friend, so I read it. Neither the elemntary style of writing, the contrived story line, the shallow characters, the implausible setting and plot, the endless poorly written sexual encounters, nor the cliche social commentary make this book worth anyone's time.
February 7, 2021
I had to push myself to finish this book because it was so poorly written. Everything was just slapped together and you could tell it was written by a man. I definitely wouldnt read it again
August 12, 2012
This book was an excellent read depicting the story of many African-American women throughout history who have believed that they only had one tool to survival. It is emotionally moving as you reflect on ancestral history and the victories we've won and the challenges we've overcome. It keeps you wondering what will happen next and leaves you wanting more when you reach the end. I am glad this is a series and hope the other books in the series are just as promising as this one was. For more information on how a hot topic in this book incited a heated discussion @ a book club meeting visit: www.cmichelleramsey.blogspot.com.
September 23, 2016
Could not put this book down...finished it today and what can I say...Keith Lee Johnson knows how to tell a story...I think everyone can relate to at least one thing in this book and if not are able to empathize with the protagonist.
January 5, 2009
Introspections
Early 1950's in New Orleans we have a budding beauty Little Miss Johnnie "Wise" her very name is golden, and no one has yet to realize that this little miss is more than a sight for sore eyes! With a heart pure as gold, and a voice filled with praise Miss Wise is a child of God, and all she wants is to live accordingly. God bless the children!
That is until that rainy Christmas Eve. Miss Johnnie Wise innocence is loss forever thanks to the lust of a well known child molester, and a devious mother. A mother who in her own sick mind thought that she was sparing her child's heart! Did the ends justify the means?
Was I not a good Christian? Miss Wise pondered why she'd been lead astray. It wasn't even her who initiated the sin, yet Miss Johnnie Wise would have to incur the ridicule and try to understand the way of the world with or without God.
As Miss Johnnie Wise realized that she held the note for the most delectable "brown sugar" in New Orleans she uses her senses to profit utilizing her astonishing gift.
As jealousy steals her mothers life Johnnie Wise realizes that maybe it's too much. Or is it? She's found a secure new love in young Lucas, while maintaining her stocks, balancing her insurance, and the protection of the mob Miss Wise will ultimately school the onlookers.
This is a very detailed book filled with painstaking truths, lust, betrayal, and more importantly greed! Will Little Miss Wise be triumphant in the end?
Early 1950's in New Orleans we have a budding beauty Little Miss Johnnie "Wise" her very name is golden, and no one has yet to realize that this little miss is more than a sight for sore eyes! With a heart pure as gold, and a voice filled with praise Miss Wise is a child of God, and all she wants is to live accordingly. God bless the children!
That is until that rainy Christmas Eve. Miss Johnnie Wise innocence is loss forever thanks to the lust of a well known child molester, and a devious mother. A mother who in her own sick mind thought that she was sparing her child's heart! Did the ends justify the means?
Was I not a good Christian? Miss Wise pondered why she'd been lead astray. It wasn't even her who initiated the sin, yet Miss Johnnie Wise would have to incur the ridicule and try to understand the way of the world with or without God.
As Miss Johnnie Wise realized that she held the note for the most delectable "brown sugar" in New Orleans she uses her senses to profit utilizing her astonishing gift.
As jealousy steals her mothers life Johnnie Wise realizes that maybe it's too much. Or is it? She's found a secure new love in young Lucas, while maintaining her stocks, balancing her insurance, and the protection of the mob Miss Wise will ultimately school the onlookers.
This is a very detailed book filled with painstaking truths, lust, betrayal, and more importantly greed! Will Little Miss Wise be triumphant in the end?
Want to read
July 16, 2012I loved this book! In the beginnig of the chapter I didn't like it because of the rape session but something about my dislike for this chapter made me want to read on just so I could find out about Johnie reaction of her mom's and Earl's action. Everything was detailed fine. I love how no one in the story had a secret that someone else didn't know about. From her, to her mom, to her brother, and others who surrounded her or Lucas everyone had a problem or a secret and the person who new about their secret helped them in a positive way or a sexual way. I loved how the Author put some history in the book because there really was a RIOT IN NEW ORLEANS.
I'm a junior now in highschool but I was a sophmore when I read this book so I will say this book is not suitable for SOME young adults but if you believe that your child is mature for this book (as for the sex scenes) then it's ok. I will say that this book taught me something and that is that you should never judge someone by what they do because you never know what was done to them for them ending up being a prositute, drug dealer, drug user and etc.
To end off the thing I loved the most was how this book shows how a 15 year old girl who was force to be grown by doing the grown thing carried herself well and she had to become stronger and smarter than the people who did her wrong just so she could make it.
I'm a junior now in highschool but I was a sophmore when I read this book so I will say this book is not suitable for SOME young adults but if you believe that your child is mature for this book (as for the sex scenes) then it's ok. I will say that this book taught me something and that is that you should never judge someone by what they do because you never know what was done to them for them ending up being a prositute, drug dealer, drug user and etc.
To end off the thing I loved the most was how this book shows how a 15 year old girl who was force to be grown by doing the grown thing carried herself well and she had to become stronger and smarter than the people who did her wrong just so she could make it.
December 20, 2013
It was a good read. I love how it keep me on my toes through the whole book. I kind of knew at some point what was going to happen. I just wish i knew it was a seires. Now I have to wait until the other books come in.But like i said all in all i love the book.
July 10, 2022
I found this interesting for all the elements the author incorporated into the story. It was loaded with interesting issues and characters that were engaging. I found it a surprise and enjoyed it quite a bit. I will be looking for the next in this series to see if it holds up to the first one.
September 1, 2017
Book 1
Very good read. It's amazing the way history tends to repeat itself. Storyline deep and compelling as Johnnie's life is introduced. I am looking forward to reading this series in its entirety
Very good read. It's amazing the way history tends to repeat itself. Storyline deep and compelling as Johnnie's life is introduced. I am looking forward to reading this series in its entirety
January 14, 2021
Steamy with a touch of justice!
October 14, 2016
What ever happened to Lucas? What and how did the riot end? Why was everyone happy and when did Johnnie get a job. Will she ever see her family again? I am having all these question! I feel like ghee is a big chunk of the book the author forgot to write. Or maybe it's a mystery awaiting to be write in another book. Johnnie really fought and stood up for what she believed in even though she has been through a horrible experience. I recommend this book for an older mature audience. Great job Mr. K.L. Johnson!
March 24, 2017
Review to come.
I was going to quit this book, because of the scene that takes place at the beginning. Her Mamma's a Bitch. It bother me badly. I'm glad I didn't quit, because I so enjoyed this book. Johnnie and the whole crew are memorable. Johnnie had me laughing out loud the entire book.
I was going to quit this book, because of the scene that takes place at the beginning. Her Mamma's a Bitch. It bother me badly. I'm glad I didn't quit, because I so enjoyed this book. Johnnie and the whole crew are memorable. Johnnie had me laughing out loud the entire book.
May 13, 2010
Omqoshh Dis Book Is Crazy Because Dere Was Dis Gurl Named jonnie Wise Nd She Was Only 15 wen her mom had sold her virginity to an unscrupulous white insurance man named Earl Shamus.
February 25, 2013
Not exactly what i thought was getting into; clearly it was written by a man who believes that women who are abused eventually come to enjoy the abuse.
June 29, 2014
Great book the story line kept me very interested. I will be reading the rest of the book to this series. Don't want to say to much because I will tell the whole story. 5 star read.
January 4, 2021
3.5 Stars
Little Black Girl Lost is a tale of black womanhood and a young black girl's struggle to survive in 1950s segregated New Orleans.
When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued that a black man would write a book on the struggles and complexities of black women growing up in a time that hypercriticized and hypersexualized black bodies. Johnny Wise is such a girl. She's 15 when she is "sold" by her prostitute mother to a white man infatuated by her youth, flesh, and beauty.
I was intrigued to see how Johnson would portray this, since all too-often stories about the 50s rarely harp on the taboo race relations that also went on during the hypocritical era of segregation.
This book has some level of self awareness to do that, but quickly devolves into this overly simplified perverse narrative that is ridiculous at best, and misogynoir through the black male gaze at worst.
There is something deeply unsettling to me about a black man writing the narrative of a black girl being sexually exploited by grown white men ---who for some reason .
I'm not saying that this story has to show only 1 reality of what a young black girl goes through in 50s Orleans, but to boldly write a character who actually benefits in the end from her stacked misogyny and racism? That's more than absurd, but speaks to what the other thinks of the black female experience in a post-racial society.
There seems to be this underlying assumption and myth, particularly among black men, that black women somehow "have it easy" because white men lust after them, and thus can use their sexuality to climb their socioeconomic status.
We see this hit home through Margeurite, Johnny's mother, and Johnny herself. Margeurite, a beautiful black prostitute is able to "get by" and "save enough money to take care of herself without needing to pimp out Johnny" because white man can't get enough of her.
And Johnny, little 16 year old Johnny, is able to Why well-to-do white men would compromise their entire livelihoods for a poor, uneducated, and unruly black girl in 1950s New Orleans is beyond me. But it just goes to show how this story can manage to highlight the misogynoir of the era and explore the slavery-based stereotypes that manifested in modern times--- all while perpetuating these very same stereotypes it tries to condemn in the same breath.
That's what I couldn't stand with this book. The blatant hypocrisy. Johnny becomes a smart, quick-witted complex character who emerges from her trauma and learns to leverage her body for a better life. And at the same time is the biggest mixed Mary Sue character, where all the men lust for her and all women envy her. Margeurite's twisted form of "teaching" Johnny about how life truly reflects the generational suffering and hurt she too went through as a young black girl to survive, and there's a sort of pity for her. But then we see her in other segments relishing in being a prostitute and telling Johnny how empowering it is. So is sex empowering for them or crippling? Is Johnny to be admired or sulked at? Because the author's attempts at exploring all these possibilities just ends up being half hearted in the end.
And by the end of the novel, this story turns into a soapy mess with more twists and turns than a Love & Hip Hop storyline. Sex, lies, infidelity, murder, more sex, my golly. I have a feeling I would have been 2x as frustrated with the book if I'd read the words myself. The audiobook has this piquing effect on you, where I was still overall entertained by the book due to the lively narration, but still had these underlying concerns about it.
A book about taboo race relations in the 50s should know better. Especially to cheapen its own talking point by toeing the line between exploring and exploitation. I see that its sequels, Book 2 - 5, focus on the other outlandish soap-opera-y subplots aforementioned, and I don't want to entertain any of those books w/o the proper rendition of Johnny's story. But oh well.
Little Black Girl Lost is a tale of black womanhood and a young black girl's struggle to survive in 1950s segregated New Orleans.
When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued that a black man would write a book on the struggles and complexities of black women growing up in a time that hypercriticized and hypersexualized black bodies. Johnny Wise is such a girl. She's 15 when she is "sold" by her prostitute mother to a white man infatuated by her youth, flesh, and beauty.
I was intrigued to see how Johnson would portray this, since all too-often stories about the 50s rarely harp on the taboo race relations that also went on during the hypocritical era of segregation.
This book has some level of self awareness to do that, but quickly devolves into this overly simplified perverse narrative that is ridiculous at best, and misogynoir through the black male gaze at worst.
There is something deeply unsettling to me about a black man writing the narrative of a black girl being sexually exploited by grown white men ---who for some reason .
I'm not saying that this story has to show only 1 reality of what a young black girl goes through in 50s Orleans, but to boldly write a character who actually benefits in the end from her stacked misogyny and racism? That's more than absurd, but speaks to what the other thinks of the black female experience in a post-racial society.
There seems to be this underlying assumption and myth, particularly among black men, that black women somehow "have it easy" because white men lust after them, and thus can use their sexuality to climb their socioeconomic status.
We see this hit home through Margeurite, Johnny's mother, and Johnny herself. Margeurite, a beautiful black prostitute is able to "get by" and "save enough money to take care of herself without needing to pimp out Johnny" because white man can't get enough of her.
And Johnny, little 16 year old Johnny, is able to Why well-to-do white men would compromise their entire livelihoods for a poor, uneducated, and unruly black girl in 1950s New Orleans is beyond me. But it just goes to show how this story can manage to highlight the misogynoir of the era and explore the slavery-based stereotypes that manifested in modern times--- all while perpetuating these very same stereotypes it tries to condemn in the same breath.
That's what I couldn't stand with this book. The blatant hypocrisy. Johnny becomes a smart, quick-witted complex character who emerges from her trauma and learns to leverage her body for a better life. And at the same time is the biggest mixed Mary Sue character, where all the men lust for her and all women envy her. Margeurite's twisted form of "teaching" Johnny about how life truly reflects the generational suffering and hurt she too went through as a young black girl to survive, and there's a sort of pity for her. But then we see her in other segments relishing in being a prostitute and telling Johnny how empowering it is. So is sex empowering for them or crippling? Is Johnny to be admired or sulked at? Because the author's attempts at exploring all these possibilities just ends up being half hearted in the end.
And by the end of the novel, this story turns into a soapy mess with more twists and turns than a Love & Hip Hop storyline. Sex, lies, infidelity, murder, more sex, my golly. I have a feeling I would have been 2x as frustrated with the book if I'd read the words myself. The audiobook has this piquing effect on you, where I was still overall entertained by the book due to the lively narration, but still had these underlying concerns about it.
A book about taboo race relations in the 50s should know better. Especially to cheapen its own talking point by toeing the line between exploring and exploitation. I see that its sequels, Book 2 - 5, focus on the other outlandish soap-opera-y subplots aforementioned, and I don't want to entertain any of those books w/o the proper rendition of Johnny's story. But oh well.
August 17, 2017
I wasn't too thrill with the story. It was about a young girl who in my opinion began to prostitute herself because of her mother. I feel that what her mother did to her was very upsetting for any you girl at the age of twelve to begin with. This young girl who was so innocent for her age had to grow up really fast and surviving the only way she knew how.
It's sad that her mother ended up dead the way she did due to be jealous of her own daughter learning what she had been taught, however she just learned to be a bit more smarter than her mother.
It was interesting to see that she did learn to invest in some stocks for I'm supposing a better life for herself. How could any mother want to see her child endure such abuse from white men in that day in age. I guess centuries ago back then women had to do what they had to to provide for their families, but I'm sure there were smart women who knew not to introduce their young daughters into a life of prostitution because that what it was. For Johnnie to be 16 I would say that she had to deal with quite a lot, but she was learning so young. I guess I'll get book 2 eventually to see what happened from there. Overall I gave the story 4 stars.
I think some young girl could maybe learn from this book as to see how some men use them for the all the wrong reasons instead of giving them guidance in life as to know what not to do and how not to allow men to treat them. Young women need to respect themselves first and not allow others to brainwash them into what they want them to know.
It's sad that her mother ended up dead the way she did due to be jealous of her own daughter learning what she had been taught, however she just learned to be a bit more smarter than her mother.
It was interesting to see that she did learn to invest in some stocks for I'm supposing a better life for herself. How could any mother want to see her child endure such abuse from white men in that day in age. I guess centuries ago back then women had to do what they had to to provide for their families, but I'm sure there were smart women who knew not to introduce their young daughters into a life of prostitution because that what it was. For Johnnie to be 16 I would say that she had to deal with quite a lot, but she was learning so young. I guess I'll get book 2 eventually to see what happened from there. Overall I gave the story 4 stars.
I think some young girl could maybe learn from this book as to see how some men use them for the all the wrong reasons instead of giving them guidance in life as to know what not to do and how not to allow men to treat them. Young women need to respect themselves first and not allow others to brainwash them into what they want them to know.
October 7, 2023
Little Black Girl Lost provided an eye-opening look into the harsh realities faced by underprivileged youth in inner city neighborhoods in the 1950's and I'm sure is still just as relevant today. The narrator brought the story to life and evoked empathy for the characters. The plot was gripping as it followed a young girl's journey through abuse, addiction, and criminal activity. While certainly tragic, it shed light on systemic issues that lead to cyclical poverty and lack of opportunity. My main critique would be that the storytelling tended to be a bit heavy-handed at times. The numerous sexual situations described in such detail made me uncomfortable as it felt dangerously close to child porn as the main character is between 15-16 years old and all the perpatrators were grown men. I know that there are several other books in this series and I just don't think I can read another book in this series because of it. Overall though, it was a worthwhile and thoughtful listen that handles sensitive topics in a realistic way. I would recommend this audiobook to those interested in understanding the social factors that affect at-risk youth. The narration and production quality were top-notch as well.
October 23, 2020
Setting aside the fact that the entire book seemed like it was written, at best, by a sixth grader, and was a complete waste of paper, I do not get the interest or the entertainment that is supposed to be derived from triflin' ass "men", and skeezy women who use their 😺 like some sort of unlimited debit card.
The only decent part of the whole book was the line about Bubbles' goofy ass and how he got his nickname. SMH. Needless to say, I will not be continuing the series.
April 19, 2019
This is a story of a teenage black girl in retrNew Orleans in the 1950s, daughter of a prostitute, who grew up wanting to be good and pious but was irretrievably corrupted at age 15 by her mother's design. She then becomes a sexy seductress using men to get what she wants. There is sex on almost every page, impossible situations like everyone wanting to have sex with the first beautiful person they see within seconds of seeing him/her, and really very simplistic writing. I can't believe there are a bunch of sequels, but there are!
September 20, 2019
3.75 ☆☆☆ - This book is heart throbbing, suspenseful and steamy. It is hard to rate a book that deals with child prostitution and such sensitive subjects like abuse, neglect, murder, sexual assault, etc. However, it was done very well. My issues with the book lie with the realism aspect. Johnny gets away with things that are not realistic often. Characters make unlikely decisions and everyone in the book just seems so ready to have sex at all times. Not a single character wasn't aroused at any given point. However, I did enjoy the book regardless.
March 13, 2021
This was a great read and first time reading this author. A page turner for sure because you want to know what is going to happen next. Written about the early 50's, the author told the story of many African American women during this time what they went through and what we today call survival. If you have an empathetic heart, it will be an emotional read. What these women did, was generational. Don't make it right, it was all they knew.
No spoilers here. I'm glad it's a series because I was left hanging at the end. Ready for book 2
No spoilers here. I'm glad it's a series because I was left hanging at the end. Ready for book 2
September 21, 2017
Urban read...interesting concept, yet...some of the references don't line up...which completely ruined the "mood" of the read for me. I give it 3 stars for interest and a decent plot. It loses rating for character likeability and character development. Plus, the story was waaaay too predictable. I made it to the end, only for there to be a anti-climatic, and I use this word loosely, "cliffhanger". C'mon! I haven't made up my mind if I want to read the next book...
January 21, 2025
Alot of SMUT. Right off the bat went directly into how the 15 year old gets sold as a sex slave, then by the middle of the book gets really in depth to the plotline, and then by the ending I couldn't help but shake my head because now I'll have to read and get the next book. I felt that it could've been written better, example, names in the book were ridiculously unimaginative. However, this was the first time I read something like this, so I found it interesting and a decently good read.
October 6, 2017
Great Read!!
Wow this book had me in my feelings how can a mother do that to her child Marguerite was more of a pimp than a mother to Johnnie. Greed that's what took Marguerite life. I don't think Earl is going to leave Johnnie alone things aren't going to be the same between her and Lucas. I can go on and on but on to book 2.
Wow this book had me in my feelings how can a mother do that to her child Marguerite was more of a pimp than a mother to Johnnie. Greed that's what took Marguerite life. I don't think Earl is going to leave Johnnie alone things aren't going to be the same between her and Lucas. I can go on and on but on to book 2.
June 15, 2018
Riveting
A lot of twist and turns in this book. The beginning is sad knowing this young girl was forced into a life she did not want nor needed to be subjected to. Her mother was less than a mama to have her daughter turned out by nasty gross perverts. I hope she uses that wealth to grow and better herself.
A lot of twist and turns in this book. The beginning is sad knowing this young girl was forced into a life she did not want nor needed to be subjected to. Her mother was less than a mama to have her daughter turned out by nasty gross perverts. I hope she uses that wealth to grow and better herself.
November 22, 2022
WOW! ...Just wow! This was a good read. I declare, trauma can certainly be hereditary. As much as the main character seems to try to make the RIGHT progress in her life, too much of the WRONG "stuff" seems to be left unhealed - and it'sjust gonna keep getting in the way. The end gave me heart palpitations 🥵. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews