Dicey's Song

Dicey's Song picks up where 'Homecoming' left off, with the four Tillerman children now living with their grandmother, Gram, on her Maryland farm. Having journeyed hundreds of miles alone, the children are safe, but Dicey, the eldest, struggles to relinquish her deep-seated responsibility for her younger siblings. The narrative explores Dicey's personal growth as she learns to trust Gram, make new friends, and define herself beyond her role as caretaker. A poignant subplot involves their mother's severe mental illness and eventual death, forcing Dicey and Gram to confront profound grief and make difficult decisions. This Newbery Medal winner is a powerful story about resilience, the complexities of family, and finding belonging after trauma, suitable for middle-grade readers.

When Momma abandoned Dicey Tillerman and her three siblings in a mall parking lot and was later traced to an asylum where she lay unrecognizing, unknowing, she left her four children no choice but to get on by themselves. They set off alone on foot over hundreds of miles until they finally found someone to take them in. Grams rundown farm isnt perfect, but they can stay together as a family which is all Dicey really wanted. But after watching over the others for so long, its hard for Dicey to know what to do now. Her own identity has been so wrapped up in being the caretaker, navigator, penny counter, and decision maker that shes not sure how to let go of some responsibilities while still keeping a sense of herself. But when the past comes back with devastating force, Dicey sees just how necessary and painful letting go can be.