Dicey's Song

By Cynthia Rylant
1983 Newbery Award Winner
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Continuing the story begun in Homecoming, Dicey Tillerman and her 3 siblings, James, MayBeth and Sammy, have made it finally to where their grandmother lives in Crisfield, Maryland after weeks of traveling by themselves on foot . Although she hadn't known of their existence until recently, Gram decides to take them in and adopt them. But Dicey finds that even though their biggest problem of finding a home has been solved, many other issues remain. Sammy is fighting in school, MayBeth can't seem to learn how to read, James has a hard time making friends, and Dicey keeps herself held back from getting too involved in anything. Plus money is always a worry, and Gram's rather unconventional ways have townspeople's tongues wagging. But the biggest blow is still to come. Slowly, slowly, the Tillermans learn that they need to reach out if they want to hold onto the good things in life, and that there are good things to reach for. This beautifully written novel will take you inside of Dicey's life as she struggles to adjust to her new world and to take the bad with the good. There are many other novels about the Tillermans and their friends that you might want to read, including The Runner, Sons From Afar, Seventeen Against the Dealer and A Solitary Blue. Good stuff, from beginning to end.