Locomotion: Letters, Family, and the Search for Peace

Study Notes

The novel is a series of letters written by Lonnie Collins Motion, called Locomotion, to his younger sister, Lili.
Locomotion and Lili were separated after their parents died in a fire.
Lili was placed with a loving foster family, while Locomotion went to a different home.
Locomotion struggles with missing Lili and wants to maintain their connection through his letters.
He reflects on the meaning of peace, especially with his foster brother, Jenkins, fighting in a war.
Miss Edna, their foster mother, is worried about Jenkins, adding tension to their household.
Locomotion tries to understand peace and find it within his fractured life.
Locomotion shares stories about school, poetry, and observations about the world in his letters to Lili.
He thinks more deeply about peace, seeing it as more than just the absence of war, but as something personal.
Locomotion notes the differences between his life and Lili's.
Lili's foster family is religious and strict, while his is more practical and reserved.
Jenkins's situation overseas becomes more concerning, increasing Miss Edna's anxiety.
Locomotion tries to be strong for Miss Edna, and uses writing to process his emotions.
Locomotion recalls memories of his parents and the love they provided.
He wonders what his parents would think of his life now.
He grows more aware of his foster family's importance, even though Miss Edna can be strict.
Locomotion finds comfort in writing poetry and receives encouragement from his teacher.
He develops a friendship with a classmate, offering a sense of normalcy.
The fear of losing Jenkins looms, making him more introspective about war and loss.
News arrives that Jenkins has died in the war, devastating Miss Edna.
The household is filled with grief, and Locomotion struggles to comfort her.
He recognizes how much he cares for Miss Edna and realizes she has become a mother figure to him.
Lili remains a source of comfort, though he wants them to be together.
Locomotion continues writing, using poetry to express his sorrow and confusion about Jenkins's death.
He questions why wars happen and how peace can exist when so many lives are lost.
Locomotion starts to heal alongside Miss Edna, though the pain of losing Jenkins lingers.
He focuses on the importance of family, both his original family and his current one.
Through writing, he understands that peace is not about having a perfect life, but about moments of love and connection even during hard times.
He assures Lili that they will always be family, no matter what.
The novel ends with Locomotion embracing hope, love, and the power of words for healing.

Themes

The bond between Locomotion and Lili remains important, despite their separation (Family & Love).
The deaths of Locomotion's parents and Jenkins highlight the pain of losing loved ones (Loss & Grief).
Locomotion struggles to define peace in a world filled with war and personal struggles (The Meaning of Peace).
Poetry and letter writing help Locomotion process his emotions and find hope (Writing as Healing).