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3.88 of 5 stars
Twelve-year-old Lonnie is finally feeling at home with his foster family. But because he's living apart from his little sister, Lili, he decides it... read full description

reviews

Jan 28, 2012
Emily rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Umm, this was a fair book. Not the best in my opinion, but I'd say it's decent considering how short it seemed to me. The thing I didn't really like was that it never gave me much of those WOWing moments that I'd usually expect in the storyline somewhere. Mabye there was that little POW or something, but it went by real fast and I probably didn't recognize it as much. It just wasn't so surprising, and it was really straight forward. Basically, Lonnie (Locomotion) wrote letters to his little sist More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jan 05, 2011
Love YA Lit rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Em's Review: I have yet to read the 2003 National Book Award Finalist, Locomotion, which first introduces readers to Lonnie, but I was able to jump right into Peace, Locomotion without feeling like I was missing anything. In this sequel, Lonnie is now 12 years old, in 6th grade, and still living with Miss Edna, his foster mother. Lonnie lives apart from his little sister, Lili – each living with kind, loving foster families – and writes letters to Lili which serve as a sort of journal or diary f More...
Aug 06, 2010
Paul rated it: 4 of 5 stars
At first this epistolary novel seemed insubstantial to me, its episodes and themes unconnected with one another. Its slight structure deceives. It crystallizes with such steady confidence within such a paltry number of pages that it reminds one of an illusionist's nowhere bouquet, or, well, a poem -- a minimalist's puzzle.

Though it reminds me of minimalism, I wouldn't catagorize Peace, Locomotion as such. Emotion and images suffuse the novel; Woodson avoids overabundance by manufactu More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Aug 03, 2010
Tahleen rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book continues the story of Lonnie Collins Motion, or Locomotion, told in the letters he writes to his younger sister, Lili. He has been living with Miss Edna, his foster mother, for 2 years at the start of the book, and is starting to feel more and more like he is a part of the family; yet, this causes him to begin questioning the meaning of family, and whether his old one is more important than the new one. This is all happening while his foster mother's youngest biological son, Jenkins, More...
Jun 13, 2010
Adam rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Written as a series of letters, you follow the life of Lonnie Collins Motion (lo-co-motion)that began in in the first book: Locomotion. The first book, being a series of poems by Lonnie, had not only the expected lyrical quality to the writing but also, and even more impressive, had the strength and authenticity embeded deep in the characters voices. Even with the shift in format, both the lyrical and strong voice standout in this follow up. Jacqueline Woodson is quickly becoming a favorite auth More...
Feb 02, 2010
Josiah rated it: 3 of 5 stars
After being widely lauded for the vibrant and unique voice that she created in her 2003 book Locomotion, Jacqueline Woodson did something that not many authors would have attempted: she altered the format of that voice in the book's sequel.

Changing from verse to prose, told now in the form of unsent letters from Lonnie C. Motion to his sister, Lili, Peace, Locomotion is a truly wonderful story, in my view every bit as powerful as its predecessor. Lonnie is such a real person, so op More...
Nov 05, 2009
Deanna rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Realistic fiction, written in letters, foster care, war/peace, family, death/grief.

I read this book a year ago when it was in ARC form but had forgotten what it was about so I reread it today. Strengths of this book are that it is completely written in letters from Lonnie to Lili, the sister. Both are living in separate foster care homes after the death of their parents. Lonnie uses the letters to share about his life--his love of poetry, memories of their parents, thoughts on the wa More...
Oct 24, 2009
Aaron rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Twelve-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion, who many people call Locomotion, is in the process of recovering from the events that took place in the previous novel, Locomotion. He is living in a foster home with Miss Edna and her younger son Rodney. Her older son Jenkins is serving in the war, which is never named, overseas.

Life hasn't been easy for Lonnie. His parents are both dead, and the lives of his sister Lili and him have been changed forever in the fire. Lili is also living with a More...
Aug 27, 2009
Eva rated it: 5 of 5 stars
There are some writers who just knock me right over with their writing talent. They know how to hone their words down to the most essential bones, so that the language is deceptively simple but contains maximum beauty and meaning. Patricia MacLachlan is one, Susan Patron is another. Simplicity, pithiness, grace, and humor – they make it look so easy.

That Jacqueline Woodson belongs on that list was made crystal clear yet again by Peace, Locomotion. This book is told mostly through More...
Jul 24, 2009
Shel added it
Woodson, J. (2009). Peace, Locomotion. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.



9780399246555



This sequel to Locomotion continues Lonnie’s story in the form of letters to his little sister (instead of as poems—although these letters certainly have a poetic feel, and a few poems are included throughout the narrative). Lonnie is about to turn twelve. He is still living with his foster mother Miss Edna and separated from his sister, Lili. He hopes to someday be reunited w More...
Aug 09, 2011
Julie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
This book is a quick read but doesn't have a lot of action, twists or turns. It's mostly a character study about dealing with emotions, specifically grief and loss. The narrator of this epistolary novel (fancy word for novel in the form of letters) writes to his younger sister as they heal from the loss of their parents. They are separated and living in foster care. Unfortunately, in the news, we often hear only the worst stories about individual foster care situations, but both Locomotion a More...
Jul 08, 2010
Jo rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I have not read the first book entitled Locomotion but wish I had before reading this one. I read this one first because it is on the 2011 NCCBA list. Very interesting style of writing in the form of letters. I liked the fact that finally there are good foster homes depicted. Rare thing in books. I was hurt by the war and Rodney's loss of a limb.

Lonnie Motion is 12
Lili Motion is is 9
Mrs. Cooper Lonnie's teacher who puts down his dream of being a poet.
last year his More...
Nov 17, 2009
Caroline rated it: 5 of 5 stars
In this sequel to Locomotion, Woodson follows Lonnie Collins Motion through the aftermath of his parents' death and his separation from his younger sister into different foster homes. The story is told through letters Lonnie writes to Lili about his experiences and plans for the future. Lonnie struggles with conflicting emotions about missing his family and their life together while appreciating the love and support provided by his foster family. His foster mother, Miss Edna, has two grown sons, More...
Jan 29, 2011
Leane rated it: 1 of 5 stars
This was a total let-down for me after reading its prequel, "Locomotion." "Peace, Locomotion" is once again told by Lonnie, a twelve-year-old boy growing up with a foster family and apart from his younger sister, Lili. The story is completely told in letters from Lonnie to Lili which he never sends but puts in a drawer.

I felt like there was absolutely no point to this book. It didn't go anywhere, it was boring, and I felt like Woodson really didn't add anything More...
May 04, 2010
Sarah rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I can easily see why the production of this novel for children won the Odyssey Honor Award this year. Wow, I'm impressed! First of all, I've never read much Woodson, even though I know she's a Newbery-National Book-Honor and just about everything else winner. She's a great writer who usually tackles inner city life. I never read Locomotion, but was perfectly able to understand this novel, supposedly for kids in grades 4-7.

Lonnie Collins (aka Locomotion) is a poet and his narrative is More...
Jan 11, 2010
Prairie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
A sweet and tender portrait of a twelve year old boy writing to his younger sister as they live in separate foster care homes. What I really enjoyed about this novel was that it presented a story about goodness and peace instead of painting a dark portrait of urban life in the foster care system. Although separated, the system mostly works and the siblings each go to caring, loving foster homes and have opportunities to see one another. Lonnie is a sentimental, caring, and sweet boy who think More...
Sep 18, 2011
Emmett rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Told in the form of letters from a pre-teen boy to his younger sister, Peace, Locomotion shares the insights of a boy learning about his world, and discovering where he should truly place value.

It’s a sweet story, all things told. The voice of youth and enthusiasm is adequately captured, even if some of the descriptions seem well above the capabilities of even the most capable 11 year old… a drawback of any story written by an adult from a child’s point of view. We get to read the in More...
Aug 02, 2009
Dominic rated it: 4 of 5 stars
The young, timid poet, Lonnie, returns in this sequel to Locomotion. Lonnie is a little older, and he's abandoned the poetry form since his new English teacher has told him he's not "really a poet." Instead, his story is not a series of letters to his sister, Lili.

I actually liked the letter format better, especially because it still had a beautiful lyricism to it. By the end of the book, Lonnie's letters sound and even look more like poetry, as he builds back up his confid More...
Dec 06, 2008
Kerri rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This is a really sweet follow up to Locomotion. In this book, Lonnie has a teacher that discourages his use of poetry and tells him that he really isn't a poet becuase he hasn't published anything yet. All of the writing is in the form of letters to his sister that he plans to give her when they are old enough to live on their own. It really upsets me that Lonnie listens to this teacher to the point of not writing poetry anymore. It makes me think of those kids who just need one good thing More...
Jan 10, 2010
Olive705 rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I thought this book, a sequel to Locomotion, was slower than the first.
When I read Locomotion, I found it moving and sweet but raw. I think it was pushing it to have a stab at the second one. I thought Locomotion was deep and true and honest, but Peace, Locomotion was kind of like the happy ending (or that's what it was as far as I got), which is really unlike most of Jacqueline Woodson's books.
I did, however, find the way Lonnie spoke to his sister in the letters in such a loving More...
Oct 18, 2010
Emily rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I'm not sure if I liked this less or more than the first. I admit, I was disappointed when I started reading and it wasn't all in poems, as Locomotion is. But I like the letters to his sister, though it was a bit confusing to me why he chose to keep them rather than mail them to her. My one complaint is that it may be a bit unrealistically happy, which seems really odd to say about a book where the main premise is that a 12-year-old boy is writing to his 9-year-old sister because they are in More...
Dec 09, 2010
Brenda added it
Twelve-year-old Lonnie is finally starting to feel at home with his foster family. But he still lives apart from his little sister, Lili, so he decides it’s his job to be the “rememberer” — and write down everything that happens while they’re growing up.
Lonnie’s reflections in his letters to Lili are bittersweet. He’s happy that they both have good foster families, but while his new family brings him joy, it also brings new worries: With a foster brother in the army, concepts like Peace h More...
Jan 08, 2010
Lisa rated it: 3 of 5 stars
A sweet and tender portrait of a twelve year old boy writing to his younger sister as they live in separate foster care homes. What I really enjoyed about this novel was that it presented a story about goodness and peace instead of painting a dark portrait of urban life in the foster care system. Although separated, the system mostly works and the siblings each go to caring, loving foster homes and have opportunities to see one another. Lonnie is a sentimental, caring, and sweet boy who think More...
Jun 03, 2010
Marija rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this poetic account of war through the eyes of a young boy. I also enjoyed the way the book was written, in the form of letters from Lonnie to his sister Lily. The children are orphans that have been placed in different foster homes, and the boy, Lonnie feels the need to write letters to his sister in order to inform her of what is happening to him while they are separated. He tells her about his friends and the special bond between them. He also talks of Mrs. Edna, his foster m More...
Mar 02, 2010
Treasa rated it: 4 of 5 stars
In this sequel to Locomotion, Lonnie Collins Motion writes letters to his sister, Lili, telling her about his life and his dreams, especially his dreams of the two of them being together once more some day. When his foster mother's son is injured in the war, life takes on a whole new meaning for Lonnie.

I liked this book almost as much as the first one - in fact, over all, I liked it equally, but I didn't always enjoy reading the letters as much as I liked reading his poems in the fir More...
Jan 26, 2012
Zandra rated it: 5 of 5 stars
After his parents die in a house fire, twelve-year-old Lonnie, also known as Locomotion, is separated from his younger sister Lilli when they are placed in different foster homes. Although he loves his foster family and feels at home with them, he terribly misses Lilli. In an effort to remember the past, he deems himself the “rememberer” and writes letters to Lilli with memories of life when their parents were alive and what happens while they are growing up. His letters are poignant and insi More...
Oct 31, 2009
Sandra rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Lonnie Motion, known as Locomotion by his friends, has been separated from his sister since their parent’s death. Both live in separate foster homes. To keep in touch with her he starts writing her a series of letters about their lives since they have been apart. He hopes that he will one day give them to her. If he doesn’t they are a memory for himself. He tells of the days they get to see each other and what they do. He tells her of his memories of their parents. He tells her of his foster fam More...
Jun 14, 2010
Jessica rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book is told completely through letters from 12 yr. old Lonnie to his younger sister Lilli. The two of them are living in separate foster families, and Lonny wants fill Lilli in on everything going on in his life. From him being a poet to his foster mom’s son being away at war. This book explores the ideas of peace from the perspective of a child.
I liked the form that this book was written in, and thought that it was creative that we are seeing everything through the eyes of someon More...
Feb 06, 2010
Purpleswag84 added it
The title of this book is Peace, Locomotion. This book isn't kike you average everyday book. This book was made of letters tha a young boy named Lonnie wrote to his little sister. Lonnie & his sister have two different foster paernts; their parents died in a house fire. Lonnies foster mother has a son who went to fight in the war & after coming up missing Lonnie thought about how much safer & better the world would be with peace. At the end of the book Lonnie writes a letter to his sister saying More...
Jul 19, 2010
Kathy added it
This is the recently-published companion book to her classic, Locomotion. Locomotion and his little sister are still not living together in the same foster home, but each has a kind and loving foster family, and they do get to see each other sometimes. Locomotion has an older foster brother whom he has never met because the brother is off fighting in a war (so far I don’t know which war, but it’s either Iraq or Afghanistan). Locomotion tells this story in the form of letters to his sister. H More...