Homecoming begins with four children: Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy. Their mother abandons them, leaving them sitting in their car in a mall parking lot, and she never comes back. She had informed Dicey that if anything were to occur, they could go to their Aunt Cilla's house. They spend the night in the car and set off the next morning.

They journey for several days on foot. At night, they search for places to sleep. They work for money and fish to survive. Every now and then, they encounter people who assist them, but they also have some very close calls.

They manage to reach their aunt's house only to find out that Aunt Cilla has passed away and their cousin now lives there. However, their cousin doesn't really want them and was hoping to become a nun. There is even talk of separating them. So, they set off for their grandmother's house in Crisfeld, but they are unsure of what to anticipate there.

Upon arriving at her house, they realize that she is strict but loving. They start to help fix up the house to extend their stay. Eventually, when they run out of things to do, they prepare themselves to return to their cousin's. But their grandmother has other plans in store.

I rate this book 5 stars because from the moment I picked up the first book in the Tillermen series, I was completely enthralled. It makes me eager to read the entire set. The plot is amazing and the characters truly come to life.

I read Dicey’s Song, which is the sequel to this book, as a part of my Newbery winners list.

I was completely captivated by it and loved it to such an extent that I knew without a doubt that I had to go back and read the first book in the series, Homecoming.

And I'm so glad I did because I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. It's an absolutely great story that is beautifully written.

I have fallen head over heels in love with the whole Tillerman family. Their story is so engaging and full of heart that I just might have to read every single book in the series.

This book is appropriate for ages 11 all the way up to adult. It has the power to touch the hearts and minds of readers of all ages and leave a lasting impression.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story that is both thought-provoking and emotionally satisfying.

In fifth grade, I fell deeply in love with this remarkable book. I devoured it cover-to-cover with an intense obsession that only surfaces within me whenever I encounter a truly compelling story.

The following week, at the school library, I returned my book and promptly checked out the sequel. I was so enamored with my book that I purchased a paperback copy at the school book-fair. Not wanting it to feel lonely, I also bought the sequel.

In seventh grade, on the way home from school, I carelessly left my book on the bus. However, the next day, a girl I knew handed it back to me. Inside the front cover, she had written my name in pencil, albeit misspelling my last name. Her handwriting has since distinguished this copy as mine to this very day.

My book has accompanied me on countless moves, from my mom's house to my dad's house and back and forth numerous times. It followed me to the dorms in college, resided in several apartments, and even joined me during the years I spent at my grandparents' house. Today, it sits on the bookshelf in the living room of my condo. Every year or two, regardless of where I live or what changes have occurred in my life, I peruse my shelves in search of something to read. Inevitably, my hand gravitates towards the worn spine of my book, for this is the tale that speaks to me more profoundly than all the others on my shelves.

However, it wasn't until last month, when winter blanketed us with mountains of snow, that I truly realized the profound impact my book has had on me. For the first time since I began writing seriously, I went and retrieved my book from its shelf. I opened the cover, skipped over my handwritten, misspelled name, and turned to Chapter 1.

I worried that perhaps this time it would be different. That my writer's brain would overanalyze the author's use of adverbs and choice of point of view. That I would no longer be able to lose myself in the story because, after twenty-three years, I had somehow outgrown the tale. As the story began, for the first two pages, my brain screamed, bombarding me with all my doubts. By the third page, the voice was merely talking, by the fourth it was whispering, and by the fifth it was silent. Because this was my book, and it holds the magic that fuels my desire to be a writer.

It was just as I remembered, yet at the same time, it was also different. I journeyed with my heroine as she embarked on a long and arduous adventure, and I thought, "Hey, that's like in the book I'm writing." I visualized the places she traveled due to the vivid detail and spot-on imagery, and I thought, "Hey, that's like in the book I wrote." I noticed two minor characters subtly named after cartoon characters that were interconnected, and I thought, "Hey, that's like in my book." Page after page turned. I adored every single one of them, but by the end, I knew what was different.

It's not that her story was like the book I've been writing; it's that my story was like the book she had penned decades ago. It's that the author's voice has been speaking to me since I was ten years old, and somewhere along the way, her book became an integral part of me. Whatever small measure of skill I possess was unconsciously modeled after her talent, and she is an aspect of the voice I hear when I write. And I realized that if I ever manage to write something that shapes a person's entire being, that's when I will have truly accomplished something remarkable.

Cynthia Voigt changed my life when she wrote Homecoming. I just didn't fully comprehend it until now. I wonder if she has a special book of her own too?

p.s. This piece was composed for an old blog of mine in March of 2013. At that time, I also forwarded this to Ms. Voigt. I was sitting on my boyfriend's couch when the reply email arrived, and I couldn't stop exclaiming, "She wrote back! She wrote back! She wrote back!" It took me a good twenty minutes before I could coherently explain to him who had written back. It's one of my most cherished writer memories.

I had the great pleasure of re-reading this book for the very first time since I was a teenager.

It was truly a remarkable experience to revisit the story and characters that had once captured my imagination.

Dicey, the protagonist, is a character of great authenticity and bravery. Her actions and decisions throughout the book are both inspiring and relatable.

Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, she never gives up and continues to fight for what she believes in.

Her courage in the face of adversity is truly timeless and serves as a reminder to us all that we can overcome anything if we have the determination and strength within us.

This book is not only a great read but also a powerful lesson in perseverance and the importance of staying true to oneself.