Point of View

The novel is written in first person from the limited perspective of Lonnie C. Motion, whose nickname is Locomotion. The limited perspective means the reader has to depend solely on Lonnie's honesty and on his ability to evaluate what he has seen. Lonnie's parents died in a fire, leaving Lonnie and his younger sister, Lili, orphaned. Lonnie is living in a foster home with a woman named Miss Edna while Lili lives in a separate foster home with a woman named Selma. The separation is difficult for Lonnie, especially after losing his parents. Lonnie does not seem to be especially bitter, though it is clear to see his struggles during the early pages of his poetry. The fact that he has been through so much and is now separated from his only relative indicates that Lonnie may not be a completely reliable narrator, though he...