Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

Twelve-year-old Lonnie is finally feeling at home with his foster family. But he still lives apart from his little sister, Lili, so he decides it's his job to be the "rememberer"--and write down everything that happens while they're growing up. He says to her: "I'm going to hold on to all these letters, and when we're living together again, they're gonna be the first present I give you."

Now that Lonnie and Lili are settled with good foster families, he can focus on some new worries. His foster brother, Jenkins, is in the army, and Lonnie is wondering about what peace means. News comes to his foster mother that Jenkins is wounded and the whole household mourns and worries about his fate.

Through his letters to Lili, Lonnie shares the strains of war in his foster family, in himself, and in the Jenkins who returns, discouraged and disabled. Lonnie finds encouragement and hope through the love of his brother and his new "mom." who guides them all.

After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

"It was hard to read anything about Tupac dying and not think about D. Seems D was right--you listen to Tupac's songs and you know he's singing about people like D, about all the kids whose mama went away, about all the injustice."

When D Foster walks into Neeka and her best friend's lives, their world opens up. D doesn't have a "real" mom constantly telling her what to do, and the girls envy her independence. But D wants nothing more than to feel connected, and the three girls form a tight bond--and a passion for the music of Tupac Shakur. Di's the one who understands Tupac's songs best, and through her, his lyrics become more personal for all of them.
Woodson's compelling story for older teens shows how music touches our lives and translates our challenges, how much life can be lived in a short time, and how all-too-brief connections can touch us to the core and remain a part of us forever.