This week I have been so busy with working on inventory at school, I have hardly had time to think about what book I want to write about for Throwback Thursday. Luckily I jotted down some titles long ago, so when I am having a lack of inspiration I can at least go to that.
Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt is a book I read in fifth grade -my first experience where I remember recognizing what a quality book really is. I fell in love with this story immediately. Even though Dicey's song is the second book in the Tillerman series, it didn't matter to me and is also a stand-alone novel. Dicey has successfully shepherded her sister and two brothers to her grandmother's house after their mother deserted them in the parking lot at a mall. Now they are living with their mother's mother, a woman they do not know and trying to learn what she expects. While Grandma seems gruff and a bit abrupt, I loved this character and how she forms relationships with her grandchildren. As the series unfolds all of the Tillermans develop into such wonderful characters. I re-read all of these books while getting my masters degree, but I have recommended these books to various readers through the years and even though these books are now a bit older, they seem to stand the test of time.
Dicey's Song may be the first book that allowed me to experience a reading hangover and I still remember standing in front of Mrs. Warner's book shelf in her classroom trying to find anything that looked appealing after that wonderful book.
3 comments:
I read the previous book in the series, HOMECOMING, and then I read this one. It was while my daughter was in elementary school, kindergarten probably. That would have been 1988 or 1989. I was volunteering with her school librarian, a wonderful woman, who encouraged me to read many youth books. I remember her running around pulling books off the shelf one after another, telling me I had to read this one and this one and...you get the picture.
Thanks for the memories, Tina!
Love, love, LOVE the Tillerman Saga! I read all the books when I was younger, and have actually been planning to do a reread sometime soon! These books are, I think, a large part of why I prefer Contemporary literature, and why I often find myself seeking out books that deal with tough subjects.
I remember this series. I absolutely loved these books. Thanks for the reminder :)
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