Tillerman Cycle #1

Homecoming

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It's still true...

That's the first thing James Tillerman says to his sister Dicey every morning. It's still true that their mother has abandoned the four Tillerman children somewhere in the middle of Connecticut. It's still true they have to find their way, somehow, to Great-aunt Cilla's house in Bridgeport, which may be their only hope of staying together as a family.

But when they get to Bridgeport, they learn that Great-aunt Cilla has died, and the home they find with her daughter, Eunice, isn't the permanent haven they've been searching for. So their journey continues to its unexpected conclusion -- and some surprising discoveries about their history, and their future.

402 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1,1981

This edition

Format
402 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
August 1, 2002 by Simon Pulse
ISBN
9780689851322
ASIN
0689851324
Language
English

About the author

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Cynthia Voigt is an American author of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure, mystery, racism and child abuse.


Awards:
Angus and Sadie: the Sequoyah Book Award (given by readers in Oklahoma), 2008
The Katahdin Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Anne V. Zarrow Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Margaret Edwards Award, for a body of work, 1995
Jackaroo: Rattenfanger-Literatur Preis (ratcatcher prize, awarded by the town of Hamlin in Germany), 1990
Izzy, Willy-Nilly: the Young Reader Award (California), 1990
The Runner: Deutscher Jungenliteraturpreis (German young people's literature prize), 1988
Zilverengriffel (Silver Pen, a Dutch prize), 1988
Come a Stranger: the Judy Lopez Medal (given by readers in California), 1987
A Solitary Blue: a Newbery Honor Book, 1984
The Callender Papers: The Edgar (given by the Mystery Writers of America), 1984
Dicey's Song: the Newbery Medal, 1983

Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
26(26%)
4 stars
39(39%)
3 stars
35(35%)
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100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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This could have been so much shorter if everything that wasn't really relevant to the point was cut out.

Often, in our writing or communication, we tend to include a lot of details that might not be essential. These extraneous elements can make the message seem convoluted and difficult to understand.

By being more discerning and removing the unnecessary information, we can present our ideas more clearly and effectively. It requires a careful examination of each sentence and paragraph to determine if it truly contributes to the main point.

Doing so not only shortens the piece but also makes it more engaging and impactful. It forces us to focus on the core message and present it in a concise and straightforward manner.

In conclusion, cutting out the irrelevant details is a crucial step in improving the quality and clarity of our communication.
July 15,2025
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This remarkable book truly seized my attention and held it firmly.

We follow the story of an unstable single mom who drives to the mall and leaves her kids in the car. As the mall closes, she mysteriously vanishes. The kids, fully aware of the consequences, know that if they turn to the police, they will be separated and placed in different foster care homes.

With great determination and using every resource at their disposal, they embark on a journey to the one relative they believe might take them in, despite the fact that she is several states away.

The situation is desperate and gripping, and the spare yet elegant writing style makes it incredibly powerful. Although this book won a Newbery Honor, I firmly believe it is just as outstanding as Dicey's Song, which won the Medal. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a captivating and thought-provoking story.

July 15,2025
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I’ve never read anything by Cynthia Voigt before. However, after delving into Homecoming, I find myself completely hooked on the Tillerman Cycle. I simply can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this captivating series.

This is a truly heartbreaking story that is specifically targeted at young people, with my book indicating an age range of 12 and up. It revolves around Dicey Tillerman and her three younger brothers and sisters. Their mother embarks on a car journey with them, intending to take them to their Great Aunt Cilla in Bridgeport, Connecticut. But then, she mysteriously disappears, leaving all the children abandoned in the parked car at a shopping mall in the middle of Connecticut.

After waiting anxiously for a day for her to return, the children have no choice but to set out on foot to reach their great aunt’s home. They are absolutely terrified of trusting the authorities because they firmly believe that they will be separated and sent to foster homes. Along their arduous journey, they encounter both kind people who offer them help and support, and cruel people who take advantage of their vulnerable situation.

The book is extremely well-written, and the story is completely believable. Although there is some degree of resolution at the end of the book, my curiosity is piqued, and I’m eager to discover what lies ahead for this brave and resilient family in the next installment.
July 15,2025
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Thirteen-year-old Dicey and her three younger siblings find themselves abandoned by their mother.

They embark on a search for a home where they can remain together. However, the pacing of this novel is disappointingly slow. At times, the story seems to drag on interminably. Both the plot and the writing itself suffer from a sense of repetitiveness.

On the other hand, the characterization in this novel is its undeniable strength. Dicey is a truly memorable protagonist and serves as a strong role model for middle grade readers. All four children possess distinctive and fully developed personalities, and they grow and evolve over the course of the story. Even the cousin and the grandmother are portrayed as fully realized individuals with their own flaws and human frailties.

Nevertheless, even after all the hardships the children endure, the ending doesn't quite feel deserved. The children are desperate to stay with their grandmother simply because they have no better options, not because they truly love her. The grandmother initially states that the children cannot stay with her permanently, but then changes her mind shortly afterwards without any clear catalyst. The happy ending feels rather abrupt, as if the author simply added it on to conclude what was already a overly long story.
July 15,2025
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I spent the majority of my 7th grade year constantly complaining about how incredibly boring this book was and how much I truly disliked it. Recently, I reread it for the SSR Podcast. The concept of the podcast is to reread books from your childhood and assess how well they hold up or don't hold up. I'm rather pleased to state that my 7th grade self was completely accurate. This book was torturously boring.

And then there are those truly bizarre scenes. For instance, the one where Dicey and her brother have a conversation about girls not wearing bras and having jiggly boobs. Or that other time when she describes her other brother's penis bobbing around as he runs. These moments were just so strange and out of place.

A book that is supposed to be about kids who have been abandoned by a mentally unstable mother and are trying to find their family should have been far more interesting. However, this one was a whole lot of telling rather than showing. Minus, of course, those rather uncomfortable jiggly bits. It really could have been a much better and more engaging read if only the author had taken a different approach.
July 15,2025
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Beautiful writing indeed!

The author's transitions between chapters are truly remarkable as they masterfully capture emotions through the vivid描绘 of nature and sounds.

We follow the journey of a family of 4 who are heartlessly abandoned by their mother as they strive to figure out the elusive definition of home.

The author does an outstanding job of delving deep into this profound theme, exploring the complex emotions and challenges that the family faces.

However, it must be noted that the beginning of the story does lose some of its pacing as the plot becomes a bit repetitive.

Nonetheless, the book as a whole is a captivating read that reminded me of other great works such as "Turtle in Paradise" and "Becoming Naomi Leon", which also depict unfit parents who are unable to take proper care of their children.

It is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of family, love, and the search for a sense of belonging.
July 15,2025
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I really hated this book.

I'm truly sorry to all those who have a fondness for it. However, in my personal opinion, I felt that it was not written in a very good manner.

The plot seemed disjointed and lacked a clear flow. The characters were not well-developed, and it was difficult for me to form any sort of connection with them.

The writing style itself was rather平淡 and failed to engage me on an emotional level.

There were also several parts of the story that I found to be quite predictable, which further detracted from my enjoyment.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book to others.
July 15,2025
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Homecoming, by Cynthia Voigt, has truly transformed my perception of what a book should be like.

Typically, I am drawn to adventurous and mystery books. However, after delving into Homecoming, I came to realize that adventure and mystery are not the sole genres capable of crafting a fulfilling story for me. Homecoming is an outstanding book that I would unhesitatingly recommend to a friend.

The story revolves around a group of four children who have been abandoned by their mother. Armed with only a meager amount of money, they must find their way to Bridgeport. The children, namely Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy, each possess unique qualities that have both positive and negative impacts.

Although the story evoked strong emotions in me, the beginning initially seemed rather improbable. I thought that four children wandering alone would be a highly conspicuous sight. Nevertheless, as I read about the children's search for a home, I was overcome with sentimentality.

Despite its excellent writing, the book is a bit wordy, which is the only drawback I can point out.

Each child has distinct characteristics. Dicey, a 13-year-old girl, has the heart of a leader. She is brave, cautious, and responsible. James, an 11-year-old boy, is intelligent and loves to learn and make his own decisions. Maybeth, a shy 9-year-old girl, is often thought to be retarded, but her family believes she can understand a great deal of knowledge. Sammy, the youngest at 6 years old, adores his mother and was heartbroken when she abandoned them. He is prone to fighting and sticking up for himself.

The four kids encounter numerous hardships on their journey to Bridgeport. They have to worry about money, the police, and finding a place to stay. At one point, Dicey runs out of money, and the children are hungry and tired. Just when I was losing hope for them, Windy and Stuart, college students, come to their aid and help take them to Bridgeport.

However, upon arrival, they discover that there is no Aunt Cilla. Instead, they meet a self-absorbed cousin named Eunice who treats Maybeth like a doll and comments on Sammy's behavior in school. Dicey realizes that Eunice's house is not a true home, and they set off to find their crazy grandmother.

I found this part of the story particularly appealing. It is inspiring to see the children give up a shelter in pursuit of a real home. When they finally meet their grandmother, initially their impression is not great, but as they get to know her, they become great friends. The grandmother, known as Gram, provides them with a loving home and becomes their new guardian.

Cynthia Voigt is an inspiring author who has created an engaging and realistic story. She has made me change the types of books I enjoy reading. I would highly recommend this book to a friend because of its outstanding writing. I absolutely love Homecoming and would be more than happy to read it again.
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