First published 2009
Twelve-year-old Lonnie writes letters to his little sister Lili, chronicling their lives while in separate foster homes. As Lonnie settles into a new family, he finds joy but also worries, especially with his foster brother deployed in the Iraq War. Lonnie's reflections on family, loss, and the meaning of peace resonate as he fights to keep his connection with Lili alive through the pages. A poignant companion to Woodson's acclaimed Locomotion.
Genres: family, american-fiction, coming-of-age, 21st-century, adoption
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: epistolary, found-family, sibling-relationship
Setting: Iraq
Period: 21st-century
134 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: war