2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge
2026 52 Club Reading Challenge
2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge
2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge
2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge
Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)
2026 Countdown Reading Challenge
Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo
2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge
2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)
2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge
European Reading Challenge 2026
2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)
2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge
The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge
The Life Skills Reading Challenge
Showing posts with label Epistolary Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Epistolary Novels. Show all posts
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Much-Hyped The London House Severely Underwhelming
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Caroline Payne is surprised—and thrilled—when a handsome friend from college whom she hasn't seen in years shows up unexpectedly at her workplace. She is shocked—and dismayed—when she discovers why. Mat Hammond, an adjunct history professor who researches genealogical mysteries on the side, has honed in on Caroline's family. He's investigating Caroline's great-aunt, a British woman who he says ran off with a Nazi officer during the war, disgracing her family and betraying her country. A well-known magazine is already showing interest in what could be a shocking, sensational story. Caroline's convinced he has the wrong person. Her great-aunt, her namesake, died of polio as a child. When Mat shows her compelling proof, Caroline doesn't know what to think. If there's any truth to the matter, she knows such a public airing of dirty family laundry would finish off her already cancer-ridden father. She can't let that happen.
Begging Mat for time to launch her own investigation, Caroline flies to her father's ancestral home in London. There, she finds a collection of letters and diaries that are sure to hold the truth, whatever it may be. With Mat by her side, Caroline delves into the past, getting to know her Aunt Caro and her grandmother—Caro's twin, Margaret—in ways she never has before. The more intimately acquainted Caroline becomes with her great-aunt, the more she fears what she'll find out about her. She doesn't want her namesake to be who Mat claims she is, no matter how damning the evidence she's examining with her own eyes. What happened to Caro? Who was she, really? Caroline has to know. Whatever the truth, she must protect her family, even if it costs her a promising future with the irresistible historian/journalist who wields the power to destroy it.
I've seen nothing but rave reviews for The London House, Katherine Reay's newest novel. Considering all the glowing praise, I couldn't wait to dig into this book that was surely going to blow my socks off. It was quite a disappointment, then, when my socks stayed firmly on my feet throughout! The London House isn't a horrible read. In fact, it's got some elements I always appreciate: an intriguing people-in-the-present-digging-into-the-past premise; charactors who are mostly sympathetic and likable; a clean story, with no graphic language, violence, or sex; and a straightfoward narration that makes the book a fast, easy read. Unfortunately, it also has some issues that drove me batty. For one thing, the story is just...not too exciting. The characters are nice and all, but they're also not very complex or interesting. Even Caro, the center of the tale, doesn't manage to come alive on the page. Part of the problem is that the letters and diary entries through which we get to know her are not just dull but also distancing. Further, although there are two couples falling in love in the novel, there are no sparks between any of them. Where's the love? To complicate matters even further, there's not much action in the book, so it's not exactly a page-turner. It's also fairly obvious from the start how Caro's story is going to end. I kept waiting for some surprise twists to up the suspense and tension; it never happened. As a result of these annoyances, I found The London House severely underwhelming. I definitely wanted something more gripping, more intimate, more exciting, and more interesting. As is? Meh.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other ho-hum World War II novels, but no specific titles are coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Charming Epistolary Novel Warm and Fun
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With World War II raging all around, British writer Juliet Ashton tried to lift people's spirits by penning humorous pieces for her newspaper column. Now that the war's over, she wants to write a novel. The only trouble is she can't for the life of her figure out what it should be about.
When Juliet receives an intriguing letter from Dawsey Adams, a dock worker who lives on the island of Guernsey, her interest is piqued. She's especially curious about The Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club Dawsey and his friends formed during the war as a spur-of-the-moment excuse to explain to the occupying soldiers why they were breaking curfew. As Juliet exchanges letters with Dawsey and other colorful members of the club, she becomes fascinated by their lives, the history of Guernsey, and the people's experiences during the war. The more she corresponds with the islanders, the more she realizes she's found not only a fascinating subject for her book but also a new crop of dear, dear friends.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a charming novel told entirely in letters. As you can tell from the plot summary, it's a character-driven tale—and what characters they are! The beauty of this story really lies in its quirky cast. Because of the islanders' lively personalities, the letters they write to Juliet are colorful and fun. There isn't a lot of action to be had in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, so it feels a bit slow, especially at the beginning. It gets better as it goes, however, and readers will soon find themselves wrapped up in the story of Guernsey. I knew nothing at all about the island, so the historical bits interested me. Like any book lover would, I also appreciated the novel's many nods to the power of books to bring people together, spur animated conversation, and comfort people in times of strife. While I know plenty of people who absolutely adore this book, I ended up liking it, not loving it. Still, it's definitely worth the read.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs) and violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Ketchup Clouds As Laugh-Out-Loud Funny As It Is Weep-Out-Loud Sad
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Someone once called me the Simon Cowell of book blogging, a title which I proudly embraced. I'm notoriously hard to please, but guess what? There's someone out there who's even pickier than I am! You're shocked, I know. Jenny, who runs Alternate Readality, is that blogger. I've been a fan girl for a long time because I can always trust Jenny to tell it like it is. She's got a sharp wit, a refreshing honesty, and an abiding loyalty to her blogging friends. I love her. She rarely gushes, so when she posted a rave review of a book I'd never heard of—Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher—I knew I needed to give the novel a go. In the end, I didn't love it as much as Jenny did, but I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who digs contemporary YA.
Here's the low-down:
Few people know what it's like to bear responsibility for the death of someone they love. Few people get how it feels to lug around guilt that big, that crushing. "Zoe"—a British teen—can't reveal her dark, dirty secret to anyone. No one would understand how she fell for two boys, ripped one's heart out (figuratively) and killed the other (literally). No one except another murderer. Desperate to confess to someone, "Zoe" chooses the one person who might get what she's feeling—an inmate on Death Row in a Texas prison. Through the letters she writes late at night, she tells Stuart Harris everything. He may never receive her epistles, but that doesn't really matter. What matters is "Zoe" coming to terms with the horrible thing she's done, the terrible pain she's caused, and the excruciating grief that will be her lifelong penance.
Like Jenny, I appreciate the balance that Pitcher achieves in Ketchup Clouds. Parts of the story are (believe it or not) laugh out loud funny. Other sections are weep-out-loud sad. The narrator's voice is so authentic that it resonates no matter what part of her tale she's telling. All the teens in the story seem step-right-off-the-page genuine—they are realistically thoughtless, impulsive, and fickle, which makes what happens to them all the more poignant. With impeccable pacing, Ketchup Clouds also manages to be tense and suspenseful. I never read story endings first, but I was tempted to in this case because I really, really wanted to know what happened with this ill-fated love triangle. Overall, then, Ketchup Clouds makes for a compelling read. Not a happy one or a hopeful one, but a thoughtful one that will make you think—about guilt, grief, remorse, and the eternal sting of regret. I guarantee you'll still be pondering this one long after you read its last page.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Wickedly Funny Epistolary Novel Not As Fluffy As It Seems
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After swooning over letters their grandparents exchanged during WWII, Cassie Sunday and her sister decide to launch their own written correspondence campaign. A stay-at-home mom obsessed with how she looks on Facebook, 34-year-old Cassie vows to be real in her letters to her older sister—no more hiding behind staged selfies and clever status updates. If she wants to be as close to Sid as she once was, she's going to have to open up like she hasn't since.
Spilling her guts turns out to be a cathartic exercise for the frazzled New Yorker, who hasn't quite adjusted to full-time mommyhood. As Cassie vents about everything from toddler tantrums to her lackluster marriage to her annoying in-laws, she receives the kind of authentic support and reassurance she never gets from her Facebook friendships. Sid, a soft-hearted midwife who's leading a luxurious ex-pat life in Singapore, is likewise invigorated by the correspondence. Despite the physical distance between them, the sisters are growing closer than ever.
Then, the unthinkable happens. Suddenly, all of the sisters' letters are on the Internet, out in the open for everyone to see. Cassie has poured her heart out to Sid, sharing everything from petty gossip to a confession that will tear her husband apart. Sid's been equally as forthcoming. With their dirty laundry flapping in the Web's wind, the sisters stand to lose everything they hold dear—their marriages, their friends, their families, and, most distressingly, each other.
Keep Me Posted, a debut novel by Lisa Beazley, is an epistolary tale about the risks and rewards of being authentically oneself. It's a cautionary story that will strike a chord with perpetually plugged-in women everywhere. Wickedly funny, Keep Me Posted entertains while teaching some important lessons about honesty, vulnerability, and focusing on what's most important. Although it leaves a few threads hanging, the story wraps up a little too neatly. I would have liked the sisters to struggle a little more so their finale feels more hard-won. Still, this a satisfying novel that's not as fluffy as it first appears. While it didn't blow my socks off or anything, I found Keep Me Posted enjoyable.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books/movies about diaries being revealed to the public, although no specific titles are coming to mind ... Help?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, sexual content, and references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Keep Me Posted from the generous folks at New American Library (an imprint of Penguin Random House). Thank you!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Like the Willow Tree Another Intimate, Fascinating Middle Grade Historical
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As the flu spreads closer to home, Lydia soon realizes that missing the movies is the least of her problems. When her parents and younger sister are overcome by the disease, she must find a new home. Eventually, Lydia and her 14-year-old brother Daniel are adopted by the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake. Although the children are well cared for, they're flummoxed by the Shakers' strange ways. When Daniel runs away from the community, Lydia wonders if she should follow suit. If she comes through the epidemic alive and well, what will become of her? Will she ever be able to leave the Shakers? Even if she doesn't believe as they do? And what about her family? Can she find Daniel, the only blood relative she has left? Or, is everything she loves really and truly gone?
Like the Willow Tree by Lois Lowry is another fine middle grade historical in the Dear America series. The diary entry format makes Lydia's plight personal and real. Readers can easily relate to her fear, her confusion and her uncertainty about her own future. With vivid historical detail, as well as an intimate look at the daily lives of the Shaker people, Like the Willow Tree is as interesting as it is compelling. Like the other novels in this series, this one includes an Epilogue explaining what happens to Lydia after 1918, a historical note and photos depicting the real events on which the story is based, and a note from Lowry in which she talks about her connection to both the novel's setting and the Shaker community. Overall, it's a fascinating read which I enjoyed very much.
(Readalikes: Other installments in the Dear America series; also, A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier and Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary images/situations
Monday, January 27, 2014
Middle Grade Diary Novel Explores History and Mystery of Grand Duchess Anastasia
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
One of my most favorite animated movies of all time is the 1997 Fox film Anastasia. I love everything about it—the characters, the music, the voice talents, and, of course, the story. It's full of mystery, romance, humor, courage, redemption, all of it! I just wish the movie's happy ending echoed what really happened to the grand duchess. But, the truth is, Anastasia Nicholaievna, youngest daughter of Russia's Tsar Nicholas II, was killed along with the rest of her family in 1918. Probably.
Many books have been written about Anastasia, including Carolyn Meyer's middle grade version, which she published in 2000. Part of Scholastic's Royal Diaries series (a spin-off of its popular Dear America series), the novel explores the life of Anastasia through fictional diary entries. Recently re-printed with lovely new cover art, the book begins in January of 1914, when Anastasia is just 12. Through the observations she shares with her journal, readers learn what her day-to-day life must have been like. Although her father worries about his kingdom, his daughter's more interested in ice skating and performing skits with her sisters—anything to escape her boring studies! She's feisty, mischievous and, as the year wears on, terrified. Her country's in trouble, the imperial family at risk of being ousted from their palace home. As Anastasia's privileged life crumbles quickly and irrevocably, she must learn to be strong even in the worst of times. Because, for Nicholas II and his family, these are very bad times indeed.
The diary ends in May of 1918, a couple months before Anastasia's death. Although the Epilogue gives "the rest of the story," the book's open-ended conclusion leaves room for the reader's imagination to create her own ending. I choose to believe it happened like it does in the cartoon—with triumph, love, and a whole lot of happily ever after!
While Meyer's Anastasia may not be the greatest historical fiction ever written, I found it to be a quick, intriguing read that taught me some new facts about Russia, royal life and, of course, the mysterious Grand Duchess Anastasia.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Royal Diaries series as well as books in the Dear America series)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and intense situations/scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Anastasia from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
Friday, January 10, 2014
Another Satisfying Installment in an Always Enjoyable Series
(Image from Amazon)
There's nothing Patsy Davis, a preteen slave girl, wants more than to go to school. She longs to study with a real teacher, to get an education as rounded as those the master's children take for granted. Most of all, she wishes she could stop hiding her ability to read and write. If anyone on the plantation knew she'd been taught these illegal skills, it would mean severe punishment. It's a risk she simply can't afford to take. So, she pours all her yearnings into the diary one of her charges gave her as a joke—it's the only way she can keep her heart from bursting with all the hopes and desires she keeps hidden inside of it.
When the Civil War ends, granting slaves the right to schooling, Patsy can hardly contain her excitement. But, as the months pass, it becomes obvious that the master has no intention of fulfilling his promise to bring a teacher to his South Carolina plantation. Disappointed and angry, Patsy can think of only one viable solution. It's a crazy idea, but maybe, just maybe, she can start a school all on her own. Does she have the courage to defy her master? Is she even capable of being a real teacher, with her shyness and stuttering? And what will happen when everyone knows about her secret reading and writing? Is she brave enough to face the consequences, whatever they may be?
Originally published in 1997, I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl by Joyce Hansen, was recently re-issued along with other books in the popular Dear America series. These historical novels feature stories about young girls living in the U.S. during periods of great change. Since they are all told through diary entries, the novels offer a reading experience that is both intimate and exciting. All the heroines in the series are strong, courageous young women who must face trying circumstances. As they strive to solve their problems, they discover they're tougher and more powerful than they ever believed. Patsy is no exception. Her story offers a unique glimpse into the post-Civil War experience of freed slaves and teaches an important lesson about not just recognizing your strengths, but also using them to help others. It's another satisfying installment in an always enjoyable series.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Dear America series; the historical American Girl novels are also similar)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for some intense situations
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
Saturday, September 07, 2013
New Dairy Queen Novel as Satisfying as an Oreo (Or Two, Or Three, Or Four ...)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sarah Zorn and Curtis Schwenk (yes, he's one of the sports-obsessed Schwenks from Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Dairy Queen series) are such good friends that people tease them all the time about being boyfriend and girlfriend. They're not. No one else needs to know that, though, so they pretend to be madly in love. It's their "Brilliant Outflanking Strategy." The only problem with the plan is that 14-year-old Sarah's played her role a little too well—she's developing some real, but definitely inconvenient boy-liking feelings for Curtis. Her out-of-whack emotions are messing with her head. Good thing her zany Grandma Z just presented her with a blank journal in which to chronicle all her adventures (which, so far, only exist in her imagination). She'll use it to figure out her wonky relationship with Curtis, her best friend or maybe more-than-a-best-friend (although that one might be an only-in-Sarah's-dreams kind of thing, too).
When Grandma Z begs Sarah's parents to let Sarah accompany her on a vacation in Rome, she's a little nervous. As fun as her grandma is, even Sarah knows she's not the most responsible adult in the world. Plus, Curtis worries like no one's business—will her BFF (or maybe-more-than-a-BFF) survive without her? In the end, she goes despite her concerns, deciding the trip will offer her not just an adventure, but also a chance to clear her head without Curtis around to mess with her pinballing thoughts.
As it turns out, though, she's just as confused in Rome as she is in Red Bend, Wisconsin. Her grandma's acting strange—well stranger. Which isn't helping Sarah figure anything out. But, as she delves into some deep family secrets, she learns a lot about her grandmother and herself. Maybe the answers to her problems with Curtis are in there somewhere, too.
If you enjoyed the Dairy Queen books (like I did), you'll find lots to love about Murdock's newest YA novel. It's geared toward an older middle grade/younger teen audience than the other books, so it's tone is a little bit lighter. Nonetheless, it's full of Murdock's signature upbeat, witty style. Sarah's a fun, enthusiastic narrator, one to whom it's easy to relate. Heaven is Paved With Oreos is a quick, appealing read that's sure to please Murdock's many fans while gaining her legions of new ones.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of Murdock's Dairy Queen novels [Dairy Queen; The Off Season; and Front and Center)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for some mild sexual innuendo and brief references to sex, including homosexuality
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Heaven is Paved With Oreos from the generous Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Thank you!
Friday, June 22, 2012
It's Not the Most Original Dystopian in the World, But Still ...
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Kaelyn Weber's lived most of her 16 years on a small island in Canada and she's never had any real desire to leave. Until now. With a mysterious virus sweeping through the coastal community, felling everyone in its path, her home no longer feels safe or comforting. It's become not just dangerous, but deadly. Especially when the government decides to quarantine the island, blocking all residents—sick or healthy—from leaving. Anyone who tries, the people soon find out, will be shot.
As the crisis rages on, food supplies dwindle, medication runs out, and tempers blaze as hot as wildfire. Before long, the island—once an idyllic vacation spot—looks like a war zone. It's so bad that Kaelyn doesn't dare go outside without a face mask and a weapon. The safest thing, she knows, would be to stay inside and pray for a miracle, but Kaelyn's desperate to do something. She can't just stand by while everyone she loves dies. She has to help her microbiologist father find a way to stop the epidemic from killing everyone on the island. But how? What can she do, especially when something as simple as leaving her house can mean instant death? When the virus hits too close to home, she must risk everything to save the people she loves.
Told in letters Kaelyn writes to a friend in New York City, The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe tells a tense, harrowing tale. The story's nothing we haven't seen before, but the setting's a little different and the characters are vivid enough to make the novel compelling. Although it's not the most original book in the world, I enjoyed The Way We Fall and am definitely looking forward to the sequels (it's the first in a planned trilogy).
(Readalikes: Reminds me a lot of The Last Survivors series [Life As We Knew It; The Dead and the Gone; This World We Live In] by Susan Beth Pfeffer; the Gone series [Gone; Hunger; Lies; Plague; Fear; Light] by Michael Grant; and Empty by Suzanne Weyn)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder invectives), violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Way We Fall from the generous folks at Disney/Hyperion. Thank you!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Dear America Titanic Story Familiar, But Still Entertaining
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Margaret Ann Brady's older brother sails to America, leaving her in a London orphanage, she's devastated. Well-cared for certainly, but lonely for the only person in the world she can truly call family. The 13-year-old has been in the orphanage for five years when, in March of 1912, a golden opportunity falls in her lap: A wealthy American woman who will soon be traveling home is in need of a companion to help her on the trip. Margaret's only a little reluctant to leave England. Mostly, she's thrilled for the chance to earn some money, live in America and, of course, be reunited with her brother. The fact that she'll be aboard the R.M.S. Titanic, the most glorious ship ever built, is just frosting on the cake.
Margaret's amazed by the enormous ocean liner and amused by the wealthy toffs who inhabit the Titanic's First Class staterooms. Her employer, Mrs. Carstairs, is just as ridiculous as the rest, but at least she gives Margaret plenty of time to herself. Margaret spends those hours exploring the ship; visiting with Robert, a 16-year-old cabin steward from Liverpool; and writing all about her adventures in her diary.
Just when Margaret's getting used to all the luxuries of the great ship, the unthinkable happens: the Titanic hits an iceberg. Suddenly what was supposed to be an exciting pleasure ride turns into a desperate struggle for survival. Margaret's caught in the thick of it. As everyone fights to save themselves, she experiences firsthand the fear, the horror, and the heroism that occurred on the fateful night of April 14, 1912.
With the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic coming up, a slew of books on the subject are being released. First published in 1998, Dear America: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady: Voyage on the Great Titanic by Ellen Emerson White, was recently re-issued as part of Scholastic's effort to update its popular historical fiction series. Like the other books in the series, this one is written in diary entries which use well-known facts to provide an eye-witness account of a famous happening. Although Margaret Ann Brady never lived, breathed, or traveled on the Titanic, she represents the children who did - her "thoughts" allow readers to put themselves into the shoes of the people who really did sail on the great, "unsinkable" ship.
So much has been written about the Titanic tragedy that creating an original account of it may be impossibile. Indeed, this one tells a familiar tale, one that didn't add any new information to my collection of Titanic lore. Still, it's an exciting story, told in an engaging manner. Margaret's a plucky heroine, funny and brave, who will capture readers' interest with her playful mischeviousness. Her dual place in the working class and First Class worlds of the Titanic make her universally appealing. Her story moves quickly, keeping readers entertained with action, adventure, humor, even a little romance. It wasn't enough to completely blow me away, but I enjoyed this ride on the Titanic - especially since I experienced the voyage in my recliner, safe at home in 2011.
(Readalikes: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis and the Titanic trilogy by Gordon Korman [Unsinkable; Collision Course; S.O.S.]; also, the Dear America series reminds me of the American Girl historical novels)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Woodson Does It Again With Touching Companion Novel
(Image from Barnes & Noble)(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for Peace, Locomotion, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from Locomotion, its predecessor. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
After a fire kills their parents, Lonnie Collins Motion ("Locomotion") and his younger sister, Lily, are placed in foster care. Separately. Now, it's been five years since they've lived under the same roof. Maybe they never will again. Maybe Lili, with her doting new foster mama, will forget everything - her real parents, her real brother, and her real life. Lonnie can't let that happen. To help Lili remember who she really is, he's writing letters to his sister, sharing his memories, reminding her of the close, loving family of which they were both a part.
Even though Lonnie's not with his sister, he's happy enough with his own foster home. Miss Edna may be a little grouchy, but she's kind and takes good care of him. He's finally feeling comfortable living with her when the situation changes. With her son coming home from an overseas war, it's going to get a little crowded at Miss Edna's. Too crowded for Lonnie? As he fights to maintain control over his own life, Lonnie worries about his little sister, worries about forgetting, worries about being displaced once again. As he pours it all out in his letters to Lili, Lonnie's soul finds an unexpected peace - even if his happy ending isn't coming in quite the way he thought it would.
Peace, Locomotion, a companion novel to Jacqueline Woodson's award-winning Locomotion, is told with the author's trademark simple, but profound, style. Because it's composed entirely of Lonnie's letters to Lili, the story's intensely personal. The 12-year-old's love for his sister comes through loud and clear, as does his changing definition of the meaning of family and his great longing for peace. I love Woodson's books for so many reasons - this one shines because of its engaging hero, its (mostly) positive exploraton of foster care, and, of course, that unique warmth that radiates out of every novel the author writes. Like its predecessor, Peace, Locomotion is another gem from the incomparable Jacqueline Woodson.
(Readalikes: Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)
Readin'
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
Listenin'
Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson
Followin' with Feedly
-
-
-
-
Sweet Spot by Kemper Donovan4 hours ago
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Design by:
2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
