Plot Summary

Dicey's Song

Cynthia Voigt
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Dicey's Song

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1982

Book Brief

Cynthia Voigt

Dicey's Song

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1982
Book Details
Pages

359

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Maryland • 1980s

Theme
Publication Year

1982

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-15 years

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Super Short Summary

Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt follows thirteen-year-old Dicey Tillerman and her three younger siblings as they adjust to life with their grandmother on a farm in Maryland after their mother is found catatonic in a psychiatric facility. Dicey navigates new friendships, family responsibilities, and school challenges while grappling with her mother's mental health and their family's past. Some topics may be emotionally challenging, including mental health issues and the death of a parent.

Contemplative

Emotional

Inspirational

Hopeful

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.3

19,027 ratings

73%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Cynthia Voigt's Dicey's Song is widely praised for its deep character development and compelling portrayal of family dynamics. Readers admire the emotional growth of Dicey and her siblings, but some find the pacing slow. The novel's intense focus on personal struggles earns it a place as a beloved, albeit sometimes challenging, young adult read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Dicey's Song?

Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt will resonate with readers who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven stories about family, resilience, and personal growth. Fans of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell will find similar emotional depth and memorable, strong-willed protagonists.

4.3

19,027 ratings

73%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

359

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Maryland • 1980s

Theme
Publication Year

1982

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-15 years

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