Sunday, February 22, 2009

Peace, Locomotion

Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
Through letters to his little sister, who is living in a different foster home, sixth-grader Lonnie, also known as "Locomotion," keeps a record of their lives while they are apart, describing his own foster family, including his foster brother who returns home after losing a leg in the Iraq War. Read a wonderful introduction to and interview with Jacqueline Woodson at the Brown Bookshelf. This is part of their presentation of 28 of the best and brightest youth literature creators February 1 - 28.

"Dear Lili, When Jenkins leans on me to get out of that wheelchair and onto those crutches, it's like there's a giant on my shoulders. And sometimes it feels like I'm gonna fall right down under all the weight. But I don't, Lili. I stay standing. I stay standing. Peace, Lili. Locomotion" -page 132

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

...Woodson again captures the hearts of younger readers - and much older reviewers - through poetry and prose, masterfully juxtaposing sadness and loss with hope and optimism. Readers' hearts will ache for Lonnie's loss and his longing to be with his sister, but they will find relief in his optimism and in knowing that he has love and happiness in his life.

Anonymous said...

...Moving, thought-provoking, and brilliantly executed, this is the rare sequel that lives up to the promise of its predecessor...
"Peace is the good stuff/That happens to all of us/Sometimes."