Homecoming (novel)

Homecoming is a 1981 young adult novel authored by American writer Cynthia Voigt. This book marks the beginning of the seven-part series known as the Tillerman Cycle and was later adapted into a television movie.

Plot

Set during the late 1970s, Homecoming centers on four siblings between the ages of six and thirteen whose mother abandons them at a shopping mall in Connecticut during an unsuccessful attempt to visit a relative in Bridgeport. Their father has been absent since before the youngest child was born. The children—Dicey (13), James (10), Maybeth (9), and Sammy (6)—embark on a mostly pedestrian journey, driven by the hope of finding their mother or other family members who can help.

The Tillerman family had been living in poverty in Provincetown, Massachusetts. After their mother leaves them stranded at the mall and does not return, Dicey steps up as the leader, managing their scarce resources and earning money as they travel. Their journey exposes them to hunger, danger, and hardship but also to moments of kindness, such as when college students assist them in reaching Bridgeport.

Upon arriving at Aunt Cilla's home, they learn she has recently passed away. Her daughter Eunice, a devout Catholic intending to enter a convent, reluctantly agrees to care for them following advice from a priest but struggles with their non-Catholic background and difficult family circumstances. The siblings face additional difficulties: Sammy exhibits behavioral problems, Maybeth struggles academically, and James becomes increasingly withdrawn. They discover their mother is catatonic in a psychiatric facility with little hope of recovery, ending any chance of reunion.

Resolute in finding stability, Dicey decides to seek out their maternal grandmother in Crisfield, Maryland. The siblings come back together and set off once more. After narrowly avoiding exploitation while working in agriculture, they receive help from a traveling circus that transports them to Crisfield.

Their grandmother Abigail lives alone on a dilapidated farm and initially offers only temporary accommodation. Gradually, through perseverance and hard work, the children earn her trust. Abigail reveals her fear of forming emotional bonds due to past losses but eventually commits to providing them with a permanent home. The story concludes with Dicey sensing that they have finally found a true place to belong.

Characters

• Dicey Tillerman serves as the central character; she is thirteen years old and defies typical expectations by assuming adult responsibilities after their mother’s abandonment. Practical and resilient, Dicey is fiercely protective of her siblings and only accepts assistance when absolutely necessary.
• James Tillerman, aged ten, is an intellectual introvert who excels academically but struggles socially. He values intelligence highly and sometimes overlooks ethical shortcomings, ultimately adopting a pragmatic and self-preserving outlook influenced by those he admires.
• Maybeth Tillerman, nine years old, is shy and perceived as having learning difficulties; however, her challenges largely stem from intense shyness. She possesses strong emotional awareness, is gifted vocally, and physically resembles her mother. Dicey and James worry she may inherit their mother’s mental health issues.
• Samuel "Sammy" Tillerman, the youngest sibling, is physically sturdy and loyal but has trouble with discipline. Deeply impacted by their mother’s disappearance, Sammy occasionally displays stubbornness but remains devoted to his family.
• Momma, Liza Tillerman, appears only briefly but has a significant presence through memories. She was a gentle yet unreliable woman who had four children with an unstable partner and struggled with single motherhood before ultimately abandoning them amid personal decline.
• Gram, Abigail Tillerman, the maternal grandmother previously unknown to the children before they sought her out. A widow who enjoys solitude following a strict marriage, she initially resists taking responsibility for her grandchildren due to past regrets involving her own children.
• Cousin Eunice, Aunt Cilla’s daughter and Gram’s niece, is an unmarried devout Catholic whose life is governed by strict duty. She takes in the Tillerman children out of obligation rather than affection and expects strict discipline along with gratitude in return.

Reception

In 1981, the book was featured on the New York Times list of recommended summer reads.

Sequels

This story marks the beginning of the seven-volume Tillerman Cycle, introducing prominent figures such as Bullet Tillerman and Francis Verricker. With the exception of Dicey's Song, which directly follows Homecoming, the installments are presented in a non-sequential order. Each volume delves into the lives of various characters initially introduced in either Dicey's Song or Homecoming. The series includes titles like Seventeen Against the Dealer, which centers on Dicey at age 21; A Solitary Blue, focusing on Jeff Greene; The Runner, highlighting Samuel 'Bullet' Tillerman; Sons from Afar, narrating the quest for Francis Verricker; and Come a Stranger, which tells Mina's story.

Homecoming lays the groundwork for character exploration throughout the entire Tillerman Cycle.