Dicey's Song
| Industry | Literature |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Cynthia Voigt |
| Products | Novel |
Dicey's Song is a novel authored by Cynthia Voigt that received the Newbery Medal in 1983, recognizing its outstanding contribution to American children's literature.
Plot
Picking up the story from Homecoming, Dicey Tillerman and her siblings—Sammy, Maybeth, and James—reside with their grandmother Abigail Tillerman, known as Gram, on her farm near Crisfield, Maryland. After their mother left them abandoned in a parking lot in Provincetown, the children embark on a new chapter in their lives, though unresolved tensions linger. Dicey finds it difficult to surrender control and fully accept Gram as their guardian while remaining concerned about their mother Liza, who is in a catatonic state at a psychiatric hospital in Boston.
At their new school, the Tillermans develop relationships with several individuals: Mr. Lingerle, the music instructor who gives piano lessons to Maybeth; Mina, an African-American peer of Dicey; and Jeff, a high school student who plays guitar. To contribute financially, Dicey takes a job with Millie Tydings, the proprietor of the local grocery store and an old friend of Gram.
Gram adapts to managing Social Security benefits to support raising her grandchildren and confronts memories of her late husband and children. She declines to discuss her past with the grandchildren and reacts angrily when they attempt to inquire about it.
As they establish daily routines and responsibilities, Gram receives updates from the psychiatric hospital about Liza’s health but reveals little information to the children. Dicey becomes increasingly frustrated by Gram’s reticence regarding both her own history and their mother’s circumstances while living under the same roof.
In December, Gram is informed that Liza’s condition has worsened significantly. Dicey accompanies Gram to Boston, where they find Liza unresponsive to treatment. After Liza passes away, financial constraints prevent them from affording a traditional funeral or transportation for the body, so they opt for cremation. A local shop owner gifts Dicey a hand-carved wooden box to hold the ashes. Upon returning to Crisfield, the family inters it beneath a paper mulberry tree on their land—a meaningful emblem of delicacy and grace for them.
Reception
Upon release, Kirkus Reviews remarked, "Despite numerous challenges and transitions, Dicey remains the steadfast figure introduced in Homecoming; together with Gram they form a strong, resilient duo, while the other children progress along thoughtfully individualized paths. A durable family portrayed through a satisfying conclusion." Literary critic Zena Sutherland later commended the novel for its consistent character development, well-established setting, and tightly constructed storyline, noting that its polished prose compensates for occasional slow pacing.