Another 'what book was this' from the early 2000s

[WhatGoesUpMustComeDown]

Two sisters, one a youngish teenager and her little sibling who's a toddler. Their mum disappears (can't remember exactly what, I think she just doesn't come back one day?) so they leave where they're living and become homeless.

The bigger sister tries to look after her little sister, finding them safe places to sleep etc, finding food.

I think at one point they sleep on a beach? And I feel like the big sister's name began with D but not 100%.

I'd love to know what it was called and read it again.

Answred my own question - Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

Have you read the others in the sequence? Several others about the Tillerman family as they grow up, and two about important side characters who turn up in the second book. If you haven’t, I really encourage you to!

That's the thread ruined then. 🙃

@DRS1970 haha sorry, hopefully I made up for it by remembering a BRILLIANT book that I recommend you read!

@Latenightreader no, I didn't know they existed! Only read the first Homecoming! Thankyou I will definitely go and find them!

I had forgotten about these books I loved them!

The second (Dicey’s Song) is probably my favourite (follows almost straight on from Homecoming) but you should reread Homecoming first. I’d read A Solitary Blue or Come a Stranger next - the order doesn’t matter but they fill in the story of two important characters from Dicey’s Song. The Runner is set preHomecoming and is about about Dicey’s uncle, Sons from Afar is mostly about Sammy and James and Seventeen Against the Dealer is Dicey after she leaves school. The first four I’ve read many times - favourites from my teens.

Read them all as a teen and always stayed with me. Cynthia Voigt is a brilliant writer.