Three children- Sammy, Maybeth, and James were left with their elder sister Daisy, who was just 13 years old, at the Provincetown parking lot by their mother, Liza. Without a father to turn to and with their mother vanished, what would they do? How would they survive?
We meet many brave and responsible teen characters in the book pages. Our protagonist Daisy in “Home Coming” by Cynthia Voigt is no less than any of them. Though according to her grandmother, a foolish letter was attached to her name (C for ‘Connecticut’), she was not at all silly. She was left without a parent to take care of three younger siblings, but she never backed away from the responsibility.
Sammy, the youngest one had to believe that Momma had left them, but he was determined in his belief that Daisy was not going to leave them. So even when Jake and Maybeth feared the worst that Daisy had left them, he waited for Daisy to return with their gram (grandmother) Abigail Tillerman, hoping for a home.
The story is not only a long journey from Connecticut to Bridgeport in search of Aunty Cilia Logan, a distant relative, who used to send them Christmas cards every year, but it was also a search for home and shelter. “Home Coming” by Cynthia Voigt is more about the resilience, struggle, and determination of a 13-year-old girl to protect and preserve her siblings even in the worst face of adversity. It was a long journey on foot with little money and convenience. But they made it. Cynthia Voigt has narrated their physical and emotional journey, most poignantly. It was not merely the search for a physical home but also seeking their root, love, and security in this world.
The most bubbling feature of this story is the character portrayal of Daisy. Her resilience and sense of responsibility make her a truly inspiring protagonist.
“Homecoming” is a deeply moving tale for teenagers as well as adults. It was also adapted into a film in 1996, bringing its wonderful story to the screen.
