Reviewed by Olivia.
Rating: High Three- I like it, and would recommend it to some
Who I'd Recommend to: People with a love of poetic writing- people who enjoy writing by Jerry Spinelli (Hokey Pokey, Stargirl, etc.). and who are okay with going a little deeper into the story to grasp the situation.
Fav Quote: (Lili speaking) "And maybe when you find God, Lonnie, we can be together again."
Summary (by Amazon)
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.
Rating: High Three- I like it, and would recommend it to some
Who I'd Recommend to: People with a love of poetic writing- people who enjoy writing by Jerry Spinelli (Hokey Pokey, Stargirl, etc.). and who are okay with going a little deeper into the story to grasp the situation.
Fav Quote: (Lili speaking) "And maybe when you find God, Lonnie, we can be together again."
Summary (by Amazon)
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.
