First published 2002
James Tillerman wakes up each morning and tells his sister Dicey the same thing. Their mother left them. The four Tillerman siblings must find their way to Great-aunt Cilla in Bridgeport. They have nowhere else to go if they want to stay together. Dicey leads her younger brothers and sister on foot through Connecticut. She carries the weight of keeping her family intact. When they finally reach Bridgeport, they discover that Great-aunt Cilla has died. Her daughter Eunice takes them in, but this arrangement feels temporary and uncertain. The children realize their search for a permanent home must continue. Their journey pushes them toward an ending they never expected. Along the way, they uncover truths about where they came from and glimpse possibilities for their future. The Tillerman children learn that finding home means more than locating an address.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, search-for-home
Setting: Bridgeport, Connecticut
402 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Simon Pulse