Customer Reviews

Peace, Locomotion

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Lonnie Collins Motion (a.k.a. Locomotion) lives in a foster home with a kind woman named Miss Edna and her older son Rodney--they wait anxiously for news of the other son, Jenkins, who is away fighting in Iraq. Locomotion writes daily to his little sister Lili in her own foster home, telling her of his longing for Peace and of the difficulties at his home when Jenkins returns depressed, panicky, and missing one leg.

Being unfamiliar with the first book about Locomotion puts us at a disadvantage to review this one--but reviewing it as a literary whole on its own, it wasn't particularly impressive. So many wonderful things have been said about Ms. Woodson's writing that the plot, style, and overall character development in this book were disappointing. It was okay, mind you, just not the stunning piece of literature we expected. The plot was very predictable and often borderline unbelievable and it was hard to picture the main character as a real twelve-year-old boy.

Finally, it was bothersome to see the one-sided view the author presented of the war. While war is certainly always an evil, it hardly seems fair to use such didactic phrases as "nobody should be over there fighting," or, "it wasn't a good war...we didn't need to be in it but we were" without presenting any alternate viewpoint. Really, there's no such thing as a good war, is there? And no one wants to see people get hurt and die in battle. But many Americans, many soldiers especially, believe that we do "need to be in it" and are fighting for that conviction to get them through the horrors of their daily life. To completely overlook this or any alternate point of view seemed unbalanced and read almost as propaganda, even to someone who generally agrees with the author's opinion.

Recently I was able to pinpoint why exactly I have such a hard time reviewing Jacqueline Woodson's recent books. I mean, "Feathers" was so difficult for me that I eschewed a review altogether and while I managed to put two words together for "After Tupac and D Foster", it wasn't a review that stuck in my mind as one of my more sterling efforts. So what is it about Ms. Woodson that throws me for such a loop? It's not like she isn't good at dialogue or realistic characters. Her books contain depth and complex situations. Reading her newest title "Peace, Locomotion" I was reminded of all of this. I was also reminded, however, that Ms. Woodson isn't the kind of writer for whom fast-action and in-depth plotting holds much allure. There is a plot to this sequel to "Locomotion" but it's slow. And removing it from my To Be Reviewed shelf a month after reading it doesn't help all that much either. "Peace, Locomotion" may well be Ms. Woodson's greatest novel yet. It's thoughtful. Caring. Touching. Smart. And there are layers of depth to it that many a novelist would kill for. Don't expect a car chase or anything, though. This is one for the kids with a brain in their heads and time on their hands.

When last we saw our hero, twelve-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion (or Locomotion to his friends), he was living with his new foster mother Miss Edna, while his nine-year-old sister Lili is living with another woman. There's no one Lonnie really loves quite as much as his sister, but he doesn't get to see her half as much as he would like. In lieu of seeing her, he writes her letters that he hopes to someday give to her when she's older. Of course Lonnie is still mourning the death of their parents thanks to a fire years ago. On top of that Miss Edna's son Jenkins is returning, injured, from the war in Iraq and Lonnie doesn't know how he'll deal with that and if he'll be seen as some kind of interloper. Love and memory intersect in this thoughtful novel, causing Lonnie to work through the notions of families, old and new, and where he fits in.

If "Locomotion" was a novel of poems, "Peace, Locomotion" is a novel of letters, a fact Lonnie acknowledges right from the start saying, "I still write a few poems but mostly I'm writing these letters to you, Lili." A difficulty any author has when creating a realistic child character with a gift like Lonnie's is in determining just how talented to make that child. Lonnie is a gifted poet. But how do you write in the voice of a kid without mistakenly allowing your own adult voice to shine through too strongly? When Woodson writes Lonnie's poems for this book, they are certainly gifted. I would argue that they're not unbelievably so, though. His limerick is a bit choice, but his later poem feels right. It's just the right mix of childhood wisdom, simple words, and deeper meanings. I can see how people might feel otherwise, though. I mean they are pretty smart poems.

And writing, after all, is Woodson's trademark gift. It's what gets her all those pretty, shiny, round stickers on her books year after year. It's the gift of being able to synthesize a thought into just a few smart words. For example, a sentence that could have gotten sentimental and too cute goes another way when she writes, "Then she told me that no matter how big you get, it's still okay to cry if you need to because everybody's got a right to their own tears." And I'm sorry but speaking of crying, getting your readers to tear up before you're even ten pages in, heck before you're even EIGHT pages in? Not playing by the rules. Mind you, I felt like Woodson was, for some reason, playing the tear card early, leaving my eyes dry and clear by the ending. That's not a criticism, more an authorial choice that I wouldn't mind thinking over and chewing at a bit.

As for the storyline itself, I was curious to see how she tackled the subject of post-traumatic stress within a scant 144 pages. The solution, it seems, is not to solve all the returning character's problems but simply to show that person as willing learn and grow in new ways. 2009 is the publishing year when a huge swath of children's books decided to finally start talking about the Iraq War. Previous children's novels like "The Homework Machine" and "100 Days and 99 Nights" lightly touched on it, but they were either scant references or they didn't specify what war was being discussed. Now in addition to "Peace, Locomotion" we have "Heart of a Shepherd", "Bull Rider", and a host of other titles dealing with parents and siblings who have gone and come back. And like Woodson's novel, "Bull Rider" also deals with a young man returning to wonder what became of the dreams he left behind. I've little doubt that we'll be seeing quite a few more before the year is out.

But as I've said before, it's a slow kind of story. You're dealing with Lonnie's love and loss when it comes to having a sister he can't grow up with on top of his feelings about his newly returned foster brother. A book about emotions, thoughts, considerations, and growth isn't necessarily going to grab kids in the same way as your average action packed narrative or fantasy conceit will. Remember, however, that there are kids out there that like realistic books that talk about things they live and things they can understand. And there are children out there that enjoy a well-crafted sentence and a perfectly coined phrase. With that in mind, there is an audience for Ms. Woodson's works and there probably always will be. In a book that is oddly timeless for all that it relates to the issues of today, "Peace, Locomotion" is yet another win for the Woodson camp. Slow, steady, it wins the race.

Once again Lonnie's thoughtful and sensitive voice resonates off of the pages of Peace, Locomotion just as they did off of Locomotion. While Locomotion was a book in verse, Peace, Locomotion is an epistolatory (written in letters) novel. All of the letters that Lonnie writes is to his sister Lili because they have been separated into different foster homes and Lonnie is to be the rememberer for the two of them. In these letters, he remembers and shares. While both Locomotion and Peace, Locomotion deal with Lonnie coming of age in a foster home dealing with the death of his parents and his sister being taken away, in Peace, Locomotion it is not the main focus- he has become comfortable with Miss Edna and sees his sister often. In Peace, Locomotion, I felt that it was more about Lonnie finding his place in the world now that he has figured out his place in his own little world.

After a house fire that takes the lives of their parents, Lonnie (12) and his sister Lili (9) are placed in different foster homes. Lonnie, who likes to be called"Locomotion" writes letters to his sister who he misses terribly. He updates her on what is happening at his school, his friends, his poetry, and about the war that is going on and the son that his foster mom has in it. When the war hits close to home.... Lonnie starts writing about peace.

As time passes and Lonnie continues to write to his sister, his writing changes s he grows and matures in to his surroundings. Lonnie starts to really understand the meaning of family, understanding that it can go beyond his sister as he learns to let others in.

If you have never read or listened to a Jacqueline Woodson book I highly recommend that you do. I first read her last year with I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This, and found her writing to be a steady smooth gathering of words that made it hard to put her book down. In this instance, I listened on audio and I am so glad I chose this format.

This audio was read by Dion Graham and he was the perfect voice for Lonnie (Locomotion). I really enjoyed how Dion gave the 12-year-old feel to Lonnie's voice, the excitement, the sorrow, even when he was angry.

Within this short story you really get the feel for how important teachers are to kids. When teacher tells Lonnie what a great writer he is, he blooms, and not only improves in his already great writing, but in his other classes as well. When we is told that is not a poet, he crumbles.... and both sides of this is reflected well.

Written as a series of letters, I found this short audio to be a perfect listen and a new dimension to experience with Woodson. If this book would have been large I can see where it may have drug out and become too much, yet in a short amount of time Woodson bundled up a young foster boys life into a careful package of hope, love, and peace.

I am a fifth grade teacher, teaching in an area with very little cultural diversity. I found the book Locomotion in a recycling center and read it all on a cold snowy afternoon. I had been working on reading and writing poetry with my students, and had recently introduced them to Langston Hughes, so I thought they might enjoy Locomotion. I bought follow-along copies and read it to them. They LOVED it. One of them discovered that there was a "sequel", Peace, Locomotion. So I bought these from Amazon. They came very quickly and the students are loving it, too. It has been very thought and feeling promoting for them and has inspired many good discussions, as well as a greater willingness to try writing in different forms. It is a beautifully written and touching book and Amazon's price and service were the best I found!

This middle grade book is what I would term a "quiet" book. It's not a fast-paced, plot-driven story, but rather a story that gently unfolds as you turn each page. I think it will appeal to readers who don't mind a slower-paced character-driven book. Because of its epistolary format (with short chapters), it's not a difficult read, and may very well appeal to more reluctant readers. I enjoyed it very much, and have found that it has stayed with me long after I finished the book.

Peace, Locomotion is told in a series of letters that are written by twelve-year-old Lonnie (Locomotion to his friends) to his little sister Lili. We learn that they are living in different foster homes, although we don't immediately know why. From the first chapter, Lonnie's voice comes through loud and clear. You can't help but like this young boy, who is sensitive, artistic and has experienced some incredible losses in his young life. He lives with Miss Edna and her two sons, although one of them--Jenkins--is over fighting in an unnamed war. Miss Edna is kind and loving to Lonnie, and we watch over the course of 134 pages as his definition of family changes to be inclusive of her, as well as Lili and her foster family.

Not a lot happens in Peace, Locomotion and yet Lonnie experiences tremendous growth. He has a best friend Clyde, and their friendship is typical twelve-year-old boy stuff, and much more. On the one hand they play basketball and soccer, while on the other we learn that Clyde and his sister live with his aunt, and that his mom just drops in every now and then. Once again, pushing the definition of family to the edge.

When we learn that Jenkins has gone missing from the war, the fear and worry are palpable in the house. Lonnie starts to grapple with the idea of war and peace, and all that entails. When Jenkins is eventually found, he is injured. The story depicts his re-entry into the household, shell-shocked and in a wheel chair. Woodson doesn't shy away from anything, and the story is told in spare, beautiful prose, that is absolutely appropriate for the middle grade reader. She's a wonderful writer who manages to say a lot, without a lot of words. It's an art.

Lonnie is in one foster home, and his beloved little sister Lili is in another. Lonnie deals with missing her by writing her letters which he saves, planning to give them to her when they grow up and can live together. Lili's foster mother had been willing to take a little girl but not Lonnie.

Fortunately, kind Miss Edna, whose two sons are grown, took Lonnie in as her foster child.Lonnie and Lili, whose parents died in a fire, are able to see each other occasionally. Lonnie's life improves under Miss Edna's care and he gradually becomes happier as revealed through his letters. He also becomes more concerned about war and peace as he matures and feels concern

for Miss Edna's son Jenkins who is fighting as a soldier. When Jenkins returns home wounded,Lonnie learns about the personal costs of war first-hand.

In this epistolary novel, the author makes her protagonist seem absolutely real. She reveals Lonnie's love for his old family, his new family and especially his sister through his open prose.The protagonist matures in his thinking as he writes of his experiences to his little sister. The

author shows true insight into the thinking processes of a young boy.

It's a new school year, and Lonnie Collins Motion (Locomotion --- get it?) has a new teacher. Unfortunately, Ms. Cooper isn't quite as nice as his old teacher. When Lonnie tells her he's a poet, she says he can't be because he has never published a book. Thankfully, Lonnie is too smart to take her seriously. His former instructor, Ms. Marcus, told him he was a poet simply because he writes poems, and Lonnie knows that's the case.

Lonnie is also a letter writer. He and his sister, Lili, live in different foster homes. They've been in this situation for a while, ever since their parents died. Since they can't see each other every day like most siblings do, Lonnie writes letters and plans to give them all to Lili one day so she can read everything about him, his foster home and their family before they had to go their separate ways.

Lonnie's correspondences cover everything --- how hard it is to do well at school, what it's like making and keeping friends, and the difficulties of going on when painful memories of the past keep cropping up. Even when good things happen, Lonnie's letters seem mostly sad, especially when his kind foster mother, Miss Edna, receives bad news about one of her sons, a young man who has been away fighting in the war. Jenkins comes home injured and angry.

Surprisingly, though, it is the sadness in both Jenkins and Lonnie that allow them to find common ground. And it gives Lonnie the chance to see that family can mean a lot of things, and a person can have more than one.

PEACE, LOCOMOTION is the sequel to Jacqueline Woodson's LOCOMOTION, a National Book Award finalist and a story told entirely in poems. While it would be great to have read the first book, Lonnie is such a good writer that you learn all you need to know from his letters to Lili. Whenever he produces a poem, he also includes it in these correspondences. Lonnie probably isn't the loudest kid in school, but he pours his heart out in his writing. His letters and poems are as personal as diary entries.

If you've read other novels by Woodson, you know how talented she is. Despite its short length and slightly thin plot, PEACE, LOCOMOTION is another excellent, emotional and honest book that will appeal to a variety of readers.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez

A few years ago, the always wonderful and inspirational Jacqueline Woodson came out with her book, Locomotion, the story of a young boy dealing with losing his parents, being new to foster care, and being separated from his sister, through the writing of poetry. This follow-up entitled Peace, Locomotion continues the story of Lonnie and his sister, though this time through Lonnie's letters to Lili.

Lonnie is now twelve and has started getting used to living with Miss Edna, enjoying his time in her home and in having two older brothers. His younger sister Lili is still living across town in a different foster home, causing Lonnie to decide to write down all the events in their lives, so when they're together again, they can have an account of of their time apart.

Through his letters we learn that Lonnie's foster brother is serving in the war in the Middle East and has been declared missing. The word "peace" begins to take on a whole new meaning to Lonnie, at first simply being a manner of saying goodbye to Lili in his letters, now becoming an incredibly important part of his life. He begins to want peace in regards to the war, and also peace within himself as memories of his family together continue to linger and cause contant heartache.

Another beautifully written story by Woodson. The cover is beautiful and conveys the title perfectly. Lonnie's letters are written with the mind of a child, yet show the maturity Lonnie has been forced to exhibit because of his situation. The love for his sister is glowing throughout each letter and the touching accounts of their visits together are beautiful.

Peace, Locomotion is a hopefully book that speaks of the different definitions of family. Biological family, foster family, and your country. I believe the book is set around current issues but really it's relevant for any time period. I hadn't realized when I started reading, that this is a companion book to the book, Locomotion, but I felt it had to power to stand alone just fine.

The book is a series of letters that Lonnie Collins Motion aka Locomotion writes to his little sister Lili. After losing their parents in a fire they are put into separate foster homes and don't get to see each other as often as they would like it. In his letters Lonnie tells his sister all about his life, his classes, his poetry, his friends and also his foster family who has a son in the war.

I thought this was a sweet book that deals with some heavy issues in a very hopeful way. It made me smile but also made me a little teary eyed. The character of Lonnie is wise beyond his years and his love for his sister and foster family is touching. It's inspiring to see what a good person he remains after having to deal with so much at a very young age. The author has captured his voice perfectly.