Homecoming - Cynthia Voigt

Classic novel spotlights four brave children.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
1211_orig.jpg
Book details
  • Author:Cynthia Voigt
  • # of pages: 312
  • Publisher:Simon and Schuster BFYR
  • Original Publication Date: 01/01/1981
  • Genre: Fiction - Contemporary Fiction
  • Paperback: $5.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 9-12
  • Read Aloud: 9-10
  • Read Alone: 11+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the plot follows four children, aged 6 to 13, who are abandoned by their mother and left in the family car to fend for themselves. While trying to find their mother again, they must endure difficult circumstances, including poverty, hunger, and serious physical danger. Mental illness and death are also discussed.

Families can talk about the various definitions of "home" and "family," as well as the importance of sticking together in the face of tough times. Does Dicey's relationship with her siblings change over the course of the book? How so? If you were in Dicey's position, would you have done anything differently?

Message

Social Behavior:

A villainous character calls a kind circus owner a "nigger." The children accept help, including rides, from several strangers.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Children are abandoned by their mother.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Amy Brotman

Part survival tale, part family story, this classic on-the-road novel features a family of four brave children led by thirteen-year-old Dicey. Abandoned by their mother in the parking lot of a Connecticut mall, the Tillerman children make a long, dangerous trip to Maryland to find a home.



Is it any good?

4

The lead character, Dicey Tillerman, carries this book. She is a magnificent girl--fiercely loyal, endlessly resourceful, and intuitive, yet with the short temper and quick emotions of any thirteen-year-old. Seen through Dicey's watchful eyes, the other children are every bit as believable.

The plot sprawls, but that's acceptable in a road novel. The tedium, heat, danger, and unexpected pleasures of the journey are evoked in beautiful, sometimes heart-stopping images. However, some of the adult characters' dialogue doesn't sound entirely believable.

Gram is a likable adult in the story full of less-than-desirable ones. She shows Dicey that, even with all she's got going for her, the girl has some things to learn. When Gram agrees to give Dicey sailing lessons, it's clear Dicey's next journey will be one of personal growth. This incident ends the book with a feeling that is, as Dicey would say, "as warm as swallowing sunshine."

Dicey's Song, the sequel to HOMECOMING, won the 1983 Newbery Medal. Brock Cole's The Goats is an excellent story about kids on the run.

Other choices

For another young-adult novel featuring a smart, tough girl with an unusual family, try The Ashwater Experiment, by Amy Goldman Koss.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

4


Posted on 05/27/08 by Shelby~Renee Kid contributor, age 14

Sad and happy. I didn't want to put it down until it was done!

After raising four children by herself, their mother just broke down. Her mind just stopped, she ran away from her problems. Then she never came back. Their mother stopped at a shopping center in Connecticut. She left the children in the car alone on a hot summer day. The children were worried and didn’t think she was coming back, but they still awaited her return. A whole day and whole night went by and still nothing. The only thing they could do is stay together. Dicey, the eldest child of the four took charge and began to be the mother of the family. They left the car in parking lot by the shopping center, and set off to meet an aunt whom they’d never met, in Bridgeport. After a while the four realized how far away it really was to aunt Cilla's house. Dicey got a lot of fighting and tantrums from her younger siblings James, 10, Maybeth, 9, and Sammy, 6. They traveled from five to ten miles per day, by walking. They only had seven dollars to begin with, so it was hard to get food and everything else in order to live, without any money. Luckily for them Dicey could to read a map, and was able to find some place safe to sleep at night, most of the time. The first place that they stayed was at a camp ground. Dicey was able to find small jobs to earn little money so they could still eat. The Tillermans never steal, but I think that trait skipped Sammy, who felt he had to steal for his family, in order to be able to eat. When they got to a town with a college there was nowhere to sleep. Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy stayed under a bush in front of the college, until young student at the college sat next to her. She didn't know what to think, and when he asked to help her she was even more confused and unsure of things. She hesitated at first, but then decided her family needed a place to stay. This was the best decision thatDicey could make for her family. They were fed, washed, and slept in warm beds. They were even offered a ride to their great aunt Cilla’s house. They were very grateful, so Stewart, the one who was helping them, gave them a ride to aunt Cilia’s. By that night, they made it to their aunt's house. They waited, and waited until a small woman with big hair walked past them into the house. Confused they waited for her They asked for their aunt Cilla and the woman with big hair had told them Cilla died awhile ago. This woman’s name was Eunice and she was the children’s cousin. The Tillermans stayed with cousin Eunice for awhile. Staying there was a bad idea. James was getting good schooling, but Maybeth and Sammy were having trouble in their schooling, and Dicey wasn't enjoying doing chores for Cousin Eunice everyday. After getting a check for the car they had abandoned in Peewauket, Connecticut, Dicey got a few more jobs washing windows. After getting enough money to travel to Crisfield to see her grandma the four children were alone and traveling again. It seemed like forever to get to get to their grandma's house. Now you finish the story. Those are just bits and pieces of the story It was great!!
5


Posted on 02/25/08 by Xoluv649 Kid contributor, age 14

I loved it!

Hi, i read this book with a group of people. We all loved it and i want to read on but since were in a group i cant. Although i didnt finish reading it im about thalf-way through, i still cant wait to find out what happens. i loveeee this book. its awesome! you definitly have to not just read, but buy this book!
5

Posted on 08/21/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

this is one of the best books i've read in quite a while

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5

Posted on 08/21/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

this is one of the best books i've read in quite a while

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4


Posted on 05/27/08 by Shelby~Renee Kid contributor, age 14

Sad and happy. I didn't want to put it down until it was done!

After raising four children by herself, their mother just broke down. Her mind just stopped, she ran away from her problems. Then she never came back. Their mother stopped at a shopping center in Connecticut. She left the children in the car alone on a hot summer day. The children were worried and didn’t think she was coming back, but they still awaited her return. A whole day and whole night went by and still nothing. The only thing they could do is stay together. Dicey, the eldest child of the four took charge and began to be the mother of the family. They left the car in parking lot by the shopping center, and set off to meet an aunt whom they’d never met, in Bridgeport. After a while the four realized how far away it really was to aunt Cilla's house. Dicey got a lot of fighting and tantrums from her younger siblings James, 10, Maybeth, 9, and Sammy, 6. They traveled from five to ten miles per day, by walking. They only had seven dollars to begin with, so it was hard to get food and everything else in order to live, without any money. Luckily for them Dicey could to read a map, and was able to find some place safe to sleep at night, most of the time. The first place that they stayed was at a camp ground. Dicey was able to find small jobs to earn little money so they could still eat. The Tillermans never steal, but I think that trait skipped Sammy, who felt he had to steal for his family, in order to be able to eat. When they got to a town with a college there was nowhere to sleep. Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy stayed under a bush in front of the college, until young student at the college sat next to her. She didn't know what to think, and when he asked to help her she was even more confused and unsure of things. She hesitated at first, but then decided her family needed a place to stay. This was the best decision thatDicey could make for her family. They were fed, washed, and slept in warm beds. They were even offered a ride to their great aunt Cilla’s house. They were very grateful, so Stewart, the one who was helping them, gave them a ride to aunt Cilia’s. By that night, they made it to their aunt's house. They waited, and waited until a small woman with big hair walked past them into the house. Confused they waited for her They asked for their aunt Cilla and the woman with big hair had told them Cilla died awhile ago. This woman’s name was Eunice and she was the children’s cousin. The Tillermans stayed with cousin Eunice for awhile. Staying there was a bad idea. James was getting good schooling, but Maybeth and Sammy were having trouble in their schooling, and Dicey wasn't enjoying doing chores for Cousin Eunice everyday. After getting a check for the car they had abandoned in Peewauket, Connecticut, Dicey got a few more jobs washing windows. After getting enough money to travel to Crisfield to see her grandma the four children were alone and traveling again. It seemed like forever to get to get to their grandma's house. Now you finish the story. Those are just bits and pieces of the story It was great!!
5


Posted on 02/25/08 by Xoluv649 Kid contributor, age 14

I loved it!

Hi, i read this book with a group of people. We all loved it and i want to read on but since were in a group i cant. Although i didnt finish reading it im about thalf-way through, i still cant wait to find out what happens. i loveeee this book. its awesome! you definitly have to not just read, but buy this book!
Review It
Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
33%
Mister Grin (giant crocodile, Peter and the Starcatchers)
17%
Vermicious Knid (shapeshifting monster, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)
0%
The Incredibly Deadly Viper (harmless snake, Series of Unfortunate Events)
8%
Bunnicula (vampire bunny, Bunnicula series)
42%
12 votes