Review: "Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson

"When Miss Edna's voice comes on, the ideas in my
Head go out like a candle and all you see left is this little
String of smoke that disappears real quick
Before I even have a chance to find out
what it's trying to say.

Write fast, Lonnie, Ms. Marcus says
And I"m thinking Yeah, I better write fast before Miss
Edna's voice comes on and blows my candle idea out."

In "Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson, follow the journey of a young boy trying to find his voice. Ever since his parents died in a house fire when he was seven, Lonnie, a.k.a. Locomotion, has known his worth. Put in a group home and separated from his little sister, Lonnie learns, "Don't do this and don't do that. You are a Throwaway Boy." Then there's his foster mother, Miss Edna, who provides a better living space but also tells him, "Be quiet! Shh, Lonnie! Children should be seen but not heard." It's not until his teacher Ms. Marcus encourages him to put his thoughts on paper that he is able to break through his learned silence, expressing his loneliness and grief, what he notices about wealth and race, and even more everyday challenges like the new boy who's teased and finding out his friend has a serious disease. Writing becomes a way for Lonnie to not only work through his feelings but also to recognize and celebrate the good in his life. Told in simple but beautifully stated rhythmic verse, "Locomotion" by Jacqueline Woodson is a quick read for anyone struggling to find their voice. Recommended for readers age ten and up. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

Lindsay B., Headquarters

"The Boy on the Porch" by Sharon Creech

"The Boy on the Porch" by award-winning author, Sharon Creech tells the story of John and Marta, a young married couple, who live on a farm with a few animals and a lot of space. They are simple people with little education but profound kindness and acceptance. One morning they wake to find a sleeping boy of about 5 or 6 years of age in a chair on their front porch. A note is in a pocket of the boy's shirt asking them to take care of Jacob until they return. Jacob is not the first living thing to just appear on their doorstep but he is the first human. If only they knew who left 'the boy', the term John and Marta use often, where he came from, when are 'they' coming back, but they don't know as Jacob cannot speak. The story unfolds in discovery of Jacob, but more importantly John and Marta and what they discover about themselves along the way. Two people that never really looked too closely at the world find themselves profoundly changed by helping those most in need.

Mary G., Grand Glaize