Locomotion

Written by Jacqueline Woodson

Book #1 in the Locomotion series

An orphaned boy uses poetry to cope and reunite with his sister.

4.0 Goodreads · 7,500 ratings

144 pages· 11,491 words· Est. 1 hour read· ~730L

$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Lonnie, an eleven-year-old orphan, channels his grief into poetry, longing to reunite with his sister, Lili, separated by foster care. As he navigates life with his caring foster mother, Miss Edna, and supportive teacher, Ms. Marcus, Lonnie's words reveal his heartache and hope. Can his poetic journey mend his broken family?

From the publisher

When Lonnie was seven years old, his parents died in a fire. Now he’s 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 ain’t babies.” But Lonnie hasn’t given up. His foster mother, Miss Edna, is growing on him. She’s 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 Lonnie’s 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 Woodson’s poignant story of love, loss, and hope is lyrically written and enormously accessible.