It has been a few months since Dicey and her sibs found a home with Gram.

So much has happened since then. This book in the series finds Dicey sharing the raising of her family with Gram and finding ways to earn money.

The whole family makes friends. Letters arrive from the hospital that is caring for the children's mother, but Gram does not share them.

James helps Maybeth. Sammie gets into fights, but then Gram plays marbles with him.

Gram tells Dicey that she must learn to: 1. Reach out. 2. Hold tight. 3. Let go.

Dicey asks how. She is confused about how to do these things. She wonders what reaching out means. Does it mean making more friends? Or does it mean something else?

She also doesn't understand how to hold tight. What should she hold onto? Her family? Her dreams?

And let go? That seems the hardest of all. How can she let go of the past and move forward?

Dicey is determined to figure it out, though. She knows that she has to learn these things in order to take care of her family and have a better future.

I truly relished this book. It was a captivating piece of realistic fiction.

The story centered around a girl named Dicey Tilderman. She, along with her siblings James, Sammy, and Maybeth, had to move into their Grams' house as their mom was in a mental hospital.

Dicey discovered a boat in her Gram's barn and decided to work on it so that she and her siblings could use it the following spring.

She managed to get a job at the town store. The owner, Millie, made an agreement that she could keep the job if she attracted more customers within the next week. Dicey was successful and thus was able to hold onto the job.

She also gave her siblings an allowance with the money she earned.

When they started school, Dicey and her siblings were doing well, except for Maybeth. Dicey and James were worried about her as she might inherit something negative from their mother. So, they tried to assist her with her studies by teaching her in a different way.

Later, Maybeth came home with a note from her music teacher, the only class she wasn't failing. The note said she should practice the piano more as the teacher saw great potential in her. Dicey used the money she made to pay for Maybeth's piano practice.

One day, while Dicey was on her way to work from school, she met a 19-year-old named Jack who played the guitar. Since then, she saw him every day after school and they became great friends. One day, he asked her to the dance, but she declined, and he said he would ask her next year.

Gram took Dicey to the mall one day. They had a wonderful time shopping and picked out some clothes and fabric to buy.

Then, one day, Gram received a letter about their mom. She and Dicey flew to Boston where their mother was and found out that she was dying.

The next day, her mother passed away, and they had her cremated. After burying her in their yard, Dicey knew she had to let go.

This was a really excellent book. It is highly recommended for those who have a penchant for a historical setting and realistic fiction.

I just couldn't bring myself to like Dicey. There it is. I'm a total jerk.

It's not that Dicey did anything particularly wrong. Maybe it was just a matter of personal taste. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't seem to warm up to her.

FYI - there is a conversation about sex - for parents that are interested. This could be a valuable resource for those who want to have an open and honest discussion with their children about this important topic.

Whether you're a parent or not, it's always a good idea to stay informed and educated about these kinds of things. After all, knowledge is power.

More than 4 stars are given for the haunting, beautiful imagery and prose in this work. The descriptions are so vivid that they seem to leap off the page and transport the reader into a different world. The prose is not only beautiful but also flows smoothly, making it a pleasure to read. I also truly loved the nuanced character development. Each character is well-rounded and complex, with their own unique personalities and motives. Gram, in particular, is a character that I’ve decided everyone needs in their lives. She is wise, kind, and has a way of seeing the good in people. However, the storyline is often slow, which is why it received less than 4 stars in that regard. At times, it felt like the plot was meandering and not going anywhere. But overall, despite the slow storyline, the beautiful imagery, prose, and character development make this a worthwhile read.

This was my favorite of the Tillerman series while growing up.

Now, as I am rereading them, that might potentially change. However, on this re-read, I still found great enjoyment in it.

At the conclusion of the first book, the Tillerman children have managed to find a place they can call home with their grandma.

This particular book vividly showcases the growing pains experienced by both grandma Abbie and the children. The younger ones have learned to follow Dicey's lead, but now they struggle with the shift to a different authority figure. Dicey herself is in a similar situation. She understands that grandma should be the one in charge, yet it's extremely difficult for her to break the habit of being the de facto leader.

Overall, it was a very good read. I truly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it for juveniles. It offers valuable insights into family dynamics and the challenges of adjusting to new circumstances.

The story is engaging and relatable, making it a great choice for young readers.

I re-read Dicey's Song a few days ago.

I've read it several times already, and I've always been in love with it. However, I'm currently facing a challenge in writing a review. The reason is that I find it extremely difficult to express in words precisely WHY this book is so wonderful.

Perhaps it's the beauty and humanity that shine through in the struggles of all the characters. Voigt possesses my favorite quality in an author - that mysterious and brilliant ability to capture complex and complicated things with simple and straightforward writing.

This book has numerous layers, and it is both beautiful and enjoyable on every single one of them. It's a literary gem that continues to captivate me with each reading, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story filled with heart and depth.

I was completely engrossed while reading the story of this remarkable young woman. As she learns the crucial skills of holding on, reaching out, and letting go, it truly captures one's attention.

The author has done an outstanding job in allowing the characters to form a unique and functional family dynamic. It's fascinating to see how they interact and support each other.

Moreover, deeper issues such as race and gender are explored through the well-developed supporting characters. This adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the story.

Although it's a relatively quick read, it manages to cover a significant amount of ground. It touches on various aspects of life and relationships, leaving the reader with much to think about.

Overall, it's a captivating and thought-provoking story that I would highly recommend to others.

Some Newberry books age better than others.

This is an interesting observation. The Newberry Medal is awarded to outstanding children's literature in the United States.

Over the years, many books have received this prestigious honor.

However, not all of them have stood the test of time equally well.

Some books seem to lose their charm and relevance as the years pass.

Their themes or writing styles may become outdated or less appealing to modern readers.

On the other hand, there are those Newberry books that continue to captivate generations of children.

These books have universal themes, engaging characters, and excellent storytelling.

They are able to transcend time and cultural differences, remaining as popular today as they were when they were first published.

It is fascinating to see how some books can age gracefully while others fade away.

The enduring popularity of certain Newberry books is a testament to the power of great literature.

A good book that, I suspect, will be considered slow-moving by at least some of its intended audience.

Really, it's a book that adults (re: parents) want their children to like as opposed to one they actually will like. Some will get it.

Hopefully, others will come back and recognize that the pace is intentional. The plot only suffers from comparison to the (sadly more common) hyper-unrealistic stories for teenagers in books and on TV.

And that being big and loud aren't always prerequisites--or even desirable elements--for emotional power.

It's a quiet book, for better or worse.

Perhaps it's because in today's fast-paced world, we are so accustomed to immediate gratification and flashy entertainment. But this book offers something different.

It requires the reader to slow down, to pay attention to the details, and to engage with the story on a deeper level.

It may not have the excitement and action of some other books, but it has a quiet charm and a power all its own.

Maybe it's a book that will grow on you over time, or maybe it's a book that you will love from the very first page.

Either way, it's a book that is worth reading and considering.

Dicey’s Song is the remarkable second installment in Cynthia Voigt’s outstanding Tillerman Cycle. It was honored with the prestigious Newbery Award in 1983. This is truly an excellent young adult series that I would rank among the likes of Madeleine L’Engle’s Austin Family Chronicles or Jeanne Birdsall’s Penderwick series.

The four Tillerman children have finally found a semblance of a home with their grandmother. However, adjusting to this new life is no easy feat for any of them. Their grandmother, who has lived alone for many years, now has to cope with the sudden presence of four active young children, which is a massive adjustment for her.

All the children are also grappling with various challenges as a result of their previous lives of neglect. Maybeth is struggling in school because she has been unable to learn to read. Sammy has anger issues and often gets into trouble for fighting. James, on the other hand, is an outstanding student but has difficulties making friends. And Dicey, who is used to being independent and making decisions for her brothers and sister, finds it hard to let her grandmother take charge.

I devoured this book in just two days. I was on the edge of my seat, eagerly waiting to discover how things would unfold for this family. I am extremely glad that there are five more books in this series, and I am excitedly looking forward to delving into the next one, A Solitary Blue.

When I was a teenager, I didn't have a great affection for this one. However, upon this recent re-read, it proved to be so powerful that it left me eagerly anticipating reading the others.

The relationships depicted in the story were extremely convincing. The author managed to bring out the complex emotions and dynamics between the characters in a way that made them feel real and relatable.

Similarly, the characters' voices were distinct and engaging. Each character had their own unique personality and way of expressing themselves, which added depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, this re-read has made me realize the true value of this work, and I am now looking forward to exploring the rest of the series with great excitement.

A wonderful story awaits both young people and adults alike. From the very first chapter, I found myself “trapped” by Dicey, and soon after, Gram, James, Maybeth, Samuel, not to mention Mina and Jeff, all captured my attention. It was remarkably easy to step into the lives of the individuals within the story. This is an outstanding story, particularly suitable for middle school-aged kids, especially girls. It has the power to engage and inspire them. Thank you, Bethany, for choosing this story. It truly is a gem that will be cherished by many.