In this companion volume to Jacqueline Woodson's award winning story,
Locomotion,
Lonnie and his little sister Lili are in foster homes, but not the same foster home. They both
seem to have good homes now, and Lonnie feels comfortable with his situation. It's Lonnie's job
to write down everything that happens and to keep in touch with his sister.
This story is written in the form of letters from Lonnie to Lili as he explores his life in
foster care, and the worries about his little sister, and his foster brother who is in the army.
Lonnie has a lyrical language that is all his own, and he reflects on the concepts of family,
peace, love and loss. I could really feel his joy as well as his pain in these emotional letters.
His growing maturity shines through.
Woodson is in a class of her own when it comes to chronicling the lives of kids who are at
risk and live in the world of slums, foster homes and abusive family relationships. Her
thought-provoking stories should be read by kids in every level of society, and belong in every
library.