Voigt, Cynthia. (2003). Dicey's Song. New York: Simon and Schuster. 359 pp.

Grade Range: 6-9

Genre: contemporary fiction

Summary and Critique

In this heartwarming story of holding on versus letting go, thirteen-year-old Dicey Tillerman and her three siblings learn how to adjust to a new life on their grandmother's old farm in Maryland. This novel is the sequel to Homecoming, which is about the Tillerman children's journey to find their grandmother after being abandoned in a parking lot by their alcoholic mother. In Homecoming, Dicey took on a huge responsibility by being the parent figure for her younger siblings, and now that they are in a good environment she is having difficulty letting go of that role of being a caretaker. As the story continues, Dicey and her siblings find a new beginning with their grandmother, new friends, and new experiences of love, trust and courage. Dicey's relationship with her grandmother blossoms as she struggles to learn to be a child again and to overcome the pain of her past as she is forced to deal with a difficult situation as the book comes to a close.

Many pre-Teens and Teens could relate to this well-written story of growing up and letting go. The pages seem to whip by as the author's craft captivates the reader's emotions and interests. Written in third person, the reader is able to live vicariously through Dicey's struggles -- crying for her losses and cheering for her victories. Using references of music and song throughout the story as a parallel to life and memories, the author creates a notable analogy to which many young readers can compare their experiences.

Awards

Newberry Medal

Buckeye Children's Book Award

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Themes/Topics

Families

Friends and Enemies

Generations

Challenges and Triumphs

Individual vs. Society

Love, Sex, and Romance

Adventure

Author/Illustrator/Editor Information

Before Cynthia Voigt began her writing career she was an English teacher. She has always loved to read good stories and write. She has won many awards for her children's and young adult books. Her first book, Building Blocks was inspired from watching her son, but she put that book on hold to write Homecoming, her first published novel, which was also the first book in the Tillerman saga. Since then, Cynthia has written six other books about the Tillerman's including A Solitary Blue, Seventeen Against the Dealer, Sons from Afar, The Runner, and Come a Stranger. Her other young adult books that deal with teen issues are Izzy, Willy-Nilly, Tell Me if all Lovers are Losers, and Tree by Leaf.

For more information on Cynthia Voigt:

http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/voigt.html Web site with information on biography, author's style, other works and awards.

Scholastic - Cynthia Voigt Biography Very informative site containing author biography, a bibliography, and an extensive personal interview with Cynthia Voigt.

Media Connections

Movies

The Journey of Natty Gan (1985) This story takes place in the 1930s during the Depression where a twelve-year-old girl is left by her father while he goes to look for work in a different state. Natty runs away to follow him and befriends a wolf who helps her with her tough journey along the way.

Where the Heart Is (2000) This heart-wrenching story begins with a pregnant 17-year-old girl named Novalee who is abandoned by her boyfriend in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Having nowhere else to live, she manages to survive in the store unnoticed until the birth of her baby. The plot involves Novalee rebuilding her life with her daughter and some kind strangers that took her in. Through all of this she learns to love and be loved again.

Annie (1982) This movie, which was also a popular Broadway musical, stars a young orphan girl named Annie who lives in a wretched orphanage run by a terrible lady, Miss Hannigan. Her world suddenly turns over when she is selected to spend a short time in a wealthy residence run by a man named Warbucks. Because of her charm and happiness, she wins the heart of the bitter Warbucks and all his staff. Warbucks agrees to help Annie search for her long lost parents, but Miss Hannigan tries to get in the way of her happiness.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) This recounts a true story based on the book and the life of Maya Angelou. At a very young age she is sent to live with her amazing and strong-spirited grandmother in a very close-knit community of African-American people. There she learns strength and courage that she will so desperately need in the upcoming tragic events of her youth. Her world is filled with disappointment, frustration, and pain when she must live with her mother, but she overcomes her struggles with heartfelt self-determination in the end.

Oliver Twist (1997) In this remade Charles Dicken's classic, Elijah Wood stars as Oliver Twist, a young orphan boy in 1837 England who meets Fagin, played by Richard Dreyfuss. Through Oliver's adventures and obstacles, he struggles to survive on his own and with the help of people he meets along the way. He hopes and yearns to find his relatives somewhere in London.

Second Hand Lions (2003) This recent movie has an all-star cast, who bring vibrancy, emotion and expression to the viewers. A young and shy boy, Osment, is left on the doorstep of his quirky and well-lived uncles'house in Texas by his"not quite put together" mother. As the three guys learn to get along, they discover they need each other more than they think.

Television

American Family – any episode (starring Edward James Olmos; family relationships, humor, and drama)

American Dreams – any episode (family relationships, struggles, losses, and triumphs)

Music/Audio Recordings

"The Little Girl." Lyrics by John Michael Montgomery. John Michael Montgomery: Brand New Me. Atlantic, 2000. A little girl loses her parents to alcohol and drugs, but still manages to survive and find her way.

Online Resources

http://www.goalsguy.com/Events/k_kids-Teens .html This is a large Web site sponsored by an event called National Kid's Goal-Setting Week that is put on for Teens to help them reach their goals and be successful. On the site there is lots of good information provided for Teens on ways to reach their goals and overcome their obstacles.

http://inside.bard.edu/academic/specialproj/darling/adolesce.htm This site provides a good amount of information about the physical, emotional, cognitive and countless other changes that occur in the lives of Teens . It discusses different types of transitions that may occur, and various issues that Teens must face. There are also links for parents and teachers to refer to for advice on helping Teens they know cope with these new changes in their lives.

http://www.troubledwith.com/index.htm This is a very thorough site for both Teens and their parents that provide advice on major life issues. The main links are: Abuse and Addiction, Life Pressures, Love and Sex, Parenting Children, Parenting Teens , Relationships, and Transitions.

http://www.orphan.org/ This is the website of the "Orphan Foundation of America: Helping Parentless Teens Since 1981." This supportive foundation has many different programs to help needy Teens . In addition, there is a link to student resources that provide ways of helping parentless Teens get money for college. There is also information about a mentoring program for these Teens , so that they have some support for what they are going through.

http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/booksf/kidsbooks.html ("The Reading Room'') This site has a links to several sites for children and young adult literature. It also includes links to book awards, the history of children's literature, different genres and reading lists, journals and research, multicultural book sites, sites and books about children's literature, and sites and sources for young adult literature.

http://teachers.net/lessons/ This website provides a very efficient way to search for teaching ideas and lesson plans on all subjects and all levels. You can search, browse, submit, or request a lesson.

Related Texts

Patterson, Katherine. (1990). Jacob Have I Loved. New York: HarperTrophy. 256pp. This story involves sibling rivalry between twins Louise and Caroline. Their grandmother reads them the biblical story of Jacob and Esau, who always compare themselves. Louise narrates the book, and like Easau, she often unable to recognize her own talents because she is always comparing herself to her beautiful and gifted sister Caroline. This is a good story for sibling relationships.

Hinton, S.E. (1997). The Outsiders. New York: Puffin Books. 180pp. Ponyboy is a parentless child who is in a gang of kids called the Greasers. His gang's rival is the Socs, whom they fight frequently. One night, things get rough and the Socs kill one of Ponyboy's good friends. The plot thickens as Ponyboy and his Greasers decide what they are going to do, and how they are going to get revenge.

Rylant, Cyhthia. (1993). Missing May. Yearling Books. 96pp. Summer must deal with being passed around to different relatives after her foster mother's death. Finally, she end up at her Aunt May and Uncle Ob's and observes the couples remarkable and loving relationship. Tragically, May dies, and Summer and her uncle must deal with the painful loss. Summer befriends a neighborhood boy who helps her deal with her aunt's death.

Taylor, Mildred D. (1991). Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. Puffin Books. 288pp. An African-American family bonds together through different trials and tribulations to fight against racism and prejudice in the Deep South in the 1930s. Prejudice is a difficult concept for nine-year-old Cassie Logan to understand and she clings to her loving family for support as they all try to stay together through the injustices that they experience. Family strength and love is an evident theme in this novel.

Sachar, Louis. (2000). Holes. New York: Yearling. 240pp. Stanley is a troubled boy who is sent to a boy's detention center, Camp Green Lake. They boys are told that they must dig holes to build character. Stanley soon discovers that the boys aren't digging for discipline, but to uncover a mystery. As Stanley forms deep friendships, he also does his best to figure out the purpose of their digging and about his grandfather.

George, Kristine O'Connell. (2002). Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. New York: Clarion Books. 80pp. This collection of poems ranges from funny, confused, lonely, and emotional stages of experience in middle school. Told through the eyes of one girl, she recounts her trials and tribulations of middle school. This book also deals with significant issues such as making new friends, crushes, gossip, and overcoming bullies. Students will be able to relate to the short poems of searching for their own place in the world.

Gallo, Donald R. (1999). No Easy Answers: Short Storied About Teenagers Making Tough Choices. New York: Laurel Leaf Books. 336pp. This anthology is made up of sixteen original stories by young adult writers. The issues in this book consist of things Teens must deal with every day such as drugs, teen pregnancy, peer pressure, and more. It is said to be very appealing to younger audiences because of the form in which it is written.

Glenn, Mel. (2002). Split Image. New York: HarperCollins. 160pp. This unique and eloquently written story told in poetry, involves a teenage girl named Laura Li who is the most popular girl in school. She feels the pressure to depict the image she holds like so many Teens today. The story tells what happens when a teenage girl is denied the freedom to choose her own identity. Many Teens will be able to relate to the issues and themes in this poetic novel.

Teaching Ideas

(1)"Memories" Students first need to reflect on things that have shaped their lives and experiences. Have students bring three to five personal items to assemble their own mosaics. Have them use things that are or have been meaningful and important to their lives. Before the mosaic is made, have the students write a two or three page paper explaining why they chose each of the commemorative items. Next, have each of the students prepare their personal mosaics and share them in front of the class. Have someone keep a tally of the most common, memorable item just for fun. Discuss the importance of memories, family, love, and tradition.

[Summarized from "Memory Mosaic" by Bernadette Graff and Gail Thomas in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. October 1992, p.1-2.]

(2) "Moral Lessons in Song Lyrics" Discuss the fact that many well-known songs tell moral lessons. Tell the students that they have one week to pick out a favorite song or poem that they think contains a good moral or lesson that could relate to everyone's life. Have the students check with the teacher to ensure appropriateness of selection and good variety. Each student is to play song or read poem and have a visual to go along with it that depicts the moral or lesson they believe their piece is conveying. Discuss each student's selection and its relevance to life. As a class pick two favorite selections to display in the hall.

[Summarized from "Finding Lessons in a Song" by Cathy McKinney in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. October 1991, p.7.]

(3) "Walking in a Character's Shoes" Have students write a letter, pretending to be and sounding like one of the main characters in the story. Have them direct the letter to someone who is mentioned in the story but who plays no main role in the climax. The writer must be able to explain what they are feeling about what has happened to them in the story and truly"step into" the character's shoes. Also, the students should be familiar enough with the character's feelings and expressions to use their dialect and personality in their writing. Students who truly use their imagination will gain more of an insight into the assignment as well as the character's role. Hopefully, this will help the students delve into the story and become more personally involved with the characters. [Summarized from "Stepping into the Character's Shoes" by Margaret Sailor in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. September 1987, p.3.]

(Review written by Stephanie Sierra and edited by Jennifer E. Moore)