Locomotion

Locomotion by Woodson, Jacqueline. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780399231155.

When Lonnie was seven years old, his parents died in a fire. Now hes eleven, and he still misses them terribly. And he misses his little sister, Lili, who was put into a different foster home because "not a lot of people want boys-not foster boys that aint babies." But Lonnie hasnt given up. His foster mother, Miss Edna, is growing on him. Shes already raised two sons and she seems to know what makes them tick. And his teacher, Ms. Marcus, is showing him ways to put his jumbled feelings on paper. Told entirely through Lonnies poetry, we see his heartbreak over his lost family, his thoughtful perspective on the world around him, and most of all his love for Lili and his determination to one day put at least half of their family back together. Jacqueline Woodsons poignant story of love, loss, and hope is lyrically written and enormously accessible.