Lonnie is an 11 year old African American boy in foster care after the death of his parents in a house fire. With the encouragement of his teacher, Ms Marcus, he fills notebooks with poetry, experimenting with form, to describe his world in a shorthand manner. In colloquial, direct language, mixing sadness and humour, he sketches portraits of classmates, teachers and carers, episodes from everyday life, and gradually discloses his innermost feelings regarding the loss of his parents and his hope of being reunited with his beloved younger sister.