If ever there was a book that proves that families come in all shapes and sizes, it’s Dicey’s Song. Just because Dicey and her siblings lost their parents doesn’t mean they can’t create a new family on their own. It may seem like a big cliché, but it’s true anyway: love is what really makes a family, no matter how messy things get.
Questions About Family
- Do you think Dicey is afraid that if her younger siblings go up into the attic, where the memories of Gram’s past family are stored, Gram will kick them out? If so, how do you think it makes Dicey feel when Gram brings down the coats?
- Is Dicey’s restoration of the boat a way of asserting her individuality from her siblings, or do you think she plans to take them with her if she sails away? What is it about Mr. Lingerle that allows him to become a part of the Tillerman family?
- What are the characteristics a friend would have to have to make you accept them as honorary family?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Mr. Lingerle is the saddest character in the book, because he clearly lacks a family of his own.
It's only after Gram officially adopts her that Dicey slowly starts reaching out and making friends. She needs to know she has a stable home with a trustworthy adult before she can start trusting others.