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Locomotion
100 pages
A tender, verse-driven exploration of a young boy piecing his heart back together through the power of poetry.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting quietly with a friend who is slowly learning how to trust the world again. Because it is written entirely in verse, the pages turn briskly, yet the emotional resonance lingers long after each poem ends. The narrative voice is incredibly intimate and authentic, capturing the raw, jumbled feelings of an eleven-year-old navigating profound loss and the confusing landscape of foster care. There is a deep, aching melancholy here, but it is constantly warmed by rays of hope, humor, and the fierce love between siblings. It is a perfect read for those who appreciate tender, character-driven stories where the simple act of putting pen to paper becomes a profound tool for healing and self-discovery.
- Mood
- intimate
- tender
- melancholy
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- poignant
- reflective
- vulnerable
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- healing through art · sibling bonds · navigating grief · finding chosen family · power of self-expression
- The writing
- Lyrical, accessible, and deeply authentic to an eleven-year-old boy's voice, using varied poetic forms to capture raw emotion.
- The arc
- Moves from fragmented grief and isolation toward a tentative, hopeful sense of belonging and self-discovery.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate gentle, character-driven stories about resilience and the quiet power of finding one's voice.
Content notes
- death of parents
- grief
- foster care system
- separation of siblings
About the book
Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
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.
Description from Open Library.
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