Diceys Song The Tillerman Series 2 Deals on Cynthia Voigt

Dicey's Song (The Tillerman Series #2)

Category: (Book)

30 new, starting at $3.77

48 used, starting at $0.26

Editorial Reviews

Letting Go

The four Tillerman children finally have a home at their grandmother's rundown farm on the Maryland shore. It's what Dicey has dreamed of for her three younger siblings, but after watching over the others for so long, it's hard to let go. Who is Dicey, if she's no longer the caretaker for her family?

Dicey finds herself in new friends, in a growing relationship with her grandmother, and in the satisfaction of refinishing the old boat she found in the barn. Then, as Dicey experiences the trials and pleasures of making a new life, the past comes back with devastating force, and Dicey learns just how necessary -- and painful -- letting go can be.

Customer Reviews

Dicey's Song-The Second Longest Book I've Ever Read

Reviewed by Joy Parker, 2010-03-09

Dicey and her three siblings arrived at their grandmothers' house from Massachusetts. Their gram takes them in. Dicey gets a job, James tries to do well in school and help Maybeth. Maybeth is pestered as always by her teachers, but is tutored and works hard enough to make it pass. She also flourishes with her musical talent. Sammy picks up a paper route and tries to help the others. Their mother is mentally ill and in a hospital the whole book, but at the end she dies with Dicey and her grandmother in the city with her. This makes the children stronger and all of them stronger as a family, especially when Gram signs adoption papers to keep the kids in her life forever.
Literary devices were shown when foreshadowing was seen. It was apparent when Dicey started working on the boat, meaning that she'd be sticking around long enough to finish working on it. Symbolism is shown in the boat, and in her apron that she makes. The boat is symbolizing the only thing that's really stayed constant in her life, water and working. When she makes her apron she puts no thought in it, symbolizing how she doesn't care about petty things like sewing and fashion. A hyperbole is shown when Dicey said her "heart broke into pieces".
The best part of the book was the last half when the children really began to find their niche and yet interesting things were happening. They were making friends and working hard. The death of their mother threw a wretch into their plans, although it wasn't unexpected. But instead of weakening the family it made them stronger and the book ended with Gram finally opening up to the children about their families past.
The worst part of the book is hard to say. No part really stands out as being "bad" or anything specific. I thought it was all good. I may have liked it better than the first one, which is surprising for series. It was very good, as was the first book.
I would definitely recommend it though because it was interesting and especially if you read the first one, you become emotionally attached to the plot and characters.

Prospective Teachers Review

Reviewed by Noland C. Brown, 2009-10-05

Cynthia Voigt's Newberry Award winning book "Dicey's Song" is a timeless treasure about a teenage girl and her three younger siblings who had to travel alone to their grandmother's house in order to stay together because their mother was committed to an asylum. The book begins after the children had already arrived at their grandmother's house and were trying to convince her they were a family and should stay together.
Dicey was a teenage girl who was mature beyond her age, strong willed, determined, caring, giving and intelligent. She was used to being the care giver to brothers, Sammy and James, and sister, Maybeth. Dicey had to learn to slowly let go of some of those responsibilities and focus on being herself again.
Dicey's grandmother had been living alone and in sadness after her husband passed away, her son was killed in combat and two other children became estranged. She was bitter, stubborn and set in her own ways. Hidden behind her stiff personality is the real reason she did not want Dicey and her brothers and sisters to live with her; She was afraid that she would "mess up" these children in the same way she felt she failed her own three children. After she was convinced to let them stay she begins to fall in love with the children and wanted to give them the home they deserved.
James is the older of the two boys. He is very intelligent and everyone always goes to him for solutions to their problems. He loves school but holds back his academic skills in order to fit in with the boys in his class.
Next in line is Maybeth. Musically speaking, she is brilliant and loves the piano and to sing. Academically, she has a very difficult time and is always being referred by her teachers to attend special education classes at school. Although, she struggles in school she is very dedicated and works extremely hard to keep up with the class.
Sammy is the youngest brother, and is full of life and energy. He loves to help Dicey outside with chores and takes over James' paper route because he feels he can do it just as good if not better. He's quick to defend himself and is very protective of his family and often gets into fights at school. He was the closest to his mother because he was the youngest of the four and handled his mother's departure the hardest. He has a huge heart that is full of love and is always thinking of his family before himself.
As they grow accustomed to living in Crestfield they make new friends, jobs, relationships and grow as children and as students. Dicey's Song would be a great in-class reading assignment because the students can relate with the struggles the characters face and Cynthia Voigt does an exceptional job at taking heavy issues and making them applicable and bearable in everyday life. We really enjoy and recommend this book, and the entire Tillerman Series, for all ages young and old.

Rediscovering Cynthia Voigt

Reviewed by Wildflower1977, 2008-07-23

One of my very favorite authors from when I was a "young adult" I recently picked up Dicey's song from a bookstore and now I remember why I loved her books so much. Cynthia Voigt really brings out the characters in her books, and makes it easy to relate to tough issues. I am looking forward to re-reading some of my old favorites and also discovering some new stories from Voigt as well.

A great book!

Reviewed by Sharon Owen, 2007-10-19

Sad, entertaining, and humorous. These are the words I would use to describe this book. This book continues on the Tillerman cycle. The three Tillerman children have now found a home with their granmother, and they are living a h appy life. Their grandmother doesn't have enough money to support the three children so they have to get welfare money. They found out that their mom is going to die so Dicey, and grandma go visit her, and While they are there she passed away in her hospital bed. The children don't cry, and get over the fact because they know that they have to continue their life, and just not give up. They haev each other to ebrace themselves, and they find out that life isn't simple, and it's a hard game!

Dicey Song

Reviewed by Anonymous, 2007-05-30

We all remember Dicey in the book Homecoming. Well, now she is back along with the whole gang. Now they have bigger problems and more trouble. Dicey wants to make boats and that's it. But she has to go to school and she has to take a home economics class. Even thought she would rather be building boats than sewing hems. James is also in school he is getting excellent grades and is even making friends. Sammy is all the same but he is starting to get in fights again. With Maybeth, she is having a hard time in school. Teachers are sending notes home and kids are making fun of her. But Maybeth does find a new talent. But these are the small problems because worse are happening at home. There mother still hasn't gotten better and they have to get money form welfare to support them. Gram isn't happy about the money but they need it. Even with all this bad they still manage to find good times. Everyone is settling down in there new home. Everyone is making friends, even Sammy. But not everything is good. This book is great for people who love to read. There is another book after this on to find out what happens between Dicey and Jeff.