Homecoming

Dicey Tillerman emerges as the novel's leading, multifaceted protagonist and the primary focus of the third-person narrator. At 13 years old, she is the oldest of the Tillerman siblings. Dicey is introduced as fiercely independent and resourceful, assuming a leadership position in her family under extreme duress. She is tough, priding herself in never allowing others to bully her. She doesn’t fuss about her appearance; she wears her brown hair short and is often confused for a boy—a mistake she frequently uses to her advantage. She cares more about maintaining integrity and a solid moral compass, disallowing her brothers to steal food and money.

Dicey’s primary goal is to keep her family together while they search for home and security. She cares profoundly for her siblings, showing them compassion while trying to feed and meet their needs. Settling in at Eunice’s house, Dicey purchases a ball for her siblings and enjoys watching them play, feeling “[g]lad in her heart that she had been able to give it to them” (156). Dicey finds satisfaction in seeing her brothers and sister thrive. She selflessly ignores her needs and desires, sacrificing her adolescence to act as a parent. However, Dicey briefly shows an interest in sailboats and learning to sail.