Dicey's Song By Cynthia Voigt

Book Overview: Dicey is a thirteen year old girl with three siblings she has had to care for ever since she could remember. They are abandoned when their mother puts herself into a mental instituition. The children travel to their grandmother's and hope she will take them in. While staying with their grandmother they experience what it's like to have a home and to be loved. They are all very supportive of one another and Dicey and the oldest brother get a job to help with the family. As they go to school, they realize that there are more struggles within life then just surviving. Failing grades, making friends, and bullying classmates all factor into the obstacles of their life. Will they find happiness and build a family that they can hold onto?

Teaching Suggestions:

Key Vocabulary:
Adoption
Civilization
Responsibility

Before Reading: This book could be utilized within the classroom library for IRW (independent reading workshop). When a student moves on to a new novel, this one for example, they should read the first few pages to the teacher. The teacher should ask the student questions such as:
"What made you choose this book? What interested you about it?"
"Do you think this book is too easy for you to read? To hard?"
"From reading the first few pages, do you think this will be a book you will enjoy reading?"

During Reading: Within IRW, students should write down any words they may come across within their book that they may not know. They can build their vocabulary by looking up these words in the dictionary at a later time.

After Reading: Within this book, the Tillerman children faced many struggles and obstacles to become a family. Write a letter to one of the Tillerman children telling them about a time in your life where you were determined to succeed. Write about your struggles, but also how you made it through! Also include any questions you may have towards the Tillerman children.

Extra Resources:
Read Homecoming to find out what happened before Dicey's Song.
All about Cythia Voigt

Voigt, Cynthia. Dicey's Song (The Tillerman Series #2). New York: Aladdin, 2003