Cynthia Voigt Books in Order
Browse Cynthia Voigt books in order, with quick summaries, series guides, standalone highlights, and clear advice on where to start reading.
Last updated: July 12, 2026
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Cynthia Voigt books in publication order
37 books
Homecoming
by Cynthia Voigt
1981
Abandoned in a Connecticut parking lot, Dicey Tillerman leads her three younger siblings on foot toward the only relative they know. It is a gripping survival story about hunger, grit, and the fierce need to stay together.
Dicey's Song
by Cynthia Voigt
1982
Safe at last with Gram in Maryland, Dicey discovers that finding shelter is easier than learning how to live there. As school, work, music, and family grief close in, she has to figure out who she is besides the one who keeps everyone going.
Tell Me If the Lovers Are Losers
by Cynthia Voigt
1982
Ann expects college to be orderly until she is thrown together with brash Niki and mysterious Hildy. Their freshman-year friendship is messy, intimate, and altered by one event none of them can shrug off.
A Solitary Blue
by Cynthia Voigt
1983
Jeff Greene grows up with a distant father and the ache of a mother who left him behind. When she reappears and offers him summers full of warmth, Jeff has to learn what love can give, and what it can take away.
The Callender Papers
by Cynthia Voigt
1983
Jean Wainwright spends a summer sorting old family papers at a lonely country estate and stumbles into a buried scandal. The deeper she digs, the more the past begins to threaten her present.
Building Blocks
by Cynthia Voigt
1984
Brann discovers he has slipped back in time and met his father as a boy. What begins as a strange adventure turns into a moving look at family history and how children make sense of the adults who shaped them.
Jackaroo
by Cynthia Voigt
1985
In a hungry kingdom, Gwyn dismisses the legend of Jackaroo, the masked outlaw who helps the poor. Then a storm, a hidden cache of disguise and weapons, and a sharp betrayal pull her into the making of a hero.
The Runner
by Cynthia Voigt
1985
Before the Tillerman children were born, their uncle Bullet ran hard and stayed angry. As a gifted track star is pushed to mentor another boy, he begins to see both the damage in his family and the limits of running from it.
Come a Stranger
by Cynthia Voigt
1986
Mina Smiths wins a scholarship to ballet camp and imagines a clear future for herself. Instead she runs into hard truths about race, belonging, and desire, and begins to rethink who she is becoming.
Izzy, Willy-Nilly
by Cynthia Voigt
1986
After a car crash costs her a leg, Izzy has to rebuild the life she thought she understood. Recovery is physical, social, and emotional, and the novel never looks away from how hard that change can be.
Sons from Afar
by Cynthia Voigt
1987
James and Sammy Tillerman could hardly be more different, but they share one unanswered question about the father who abandoned them. Their search brings conflict, insight, and a new understanding of each other.
Tree by Leaf
by Cynthia Voigt
1988
Clothilde hears a voice that seems able to mend what war and family damage have broken. As her father returns scarred from World War I, she learns that healing does not arrive in the form anyone expects.
Seventeen Against the Dealer
by Cynthia Voigt
1989
Seventeen-year-old Dicey wants to build boats and run her own business on her own terms. But work, love, and one badly placed trust push her to find out what independence really costs.
On Fortune's Wheel
by Cynthia Voigt
1990
Birle, an innkeeper's daughter headed toward an unwanted marriage, impulsively follows a fleeing stranger and leaves her old life behind. The road ahead is full of danger, shifting fortunes, and a love story shaped by class and power.
Glass Mountain
by Cynthia Voigt
1991
Rida, an orphan who dances for servicemen during World War II, marries Spencer into an old New England family that never quite accepts her. Years later, their daughters try to understand the difficult, magnetic woman at the center of their lives.
The Vandemark Mummy
by Cynthia Voigt
1991
When a girl's mummy is left to Vandemark College, Phineas and his sister expect curiosity, not danger. Soon they are tangled in a theft, a family mystery, and a case that turns genuinely risky.
David And Jonathan
by Cynthia Voigt
1992
After World War II, a troubled Holocaust survivor named David comes to live with Jonathan's family. His arrival changes Jonathan and his friend Henry, forcing all three boys to confront grief, loyalty, and history.
Orfe
by Cynthia Voigt
1992
This modern retelling of the Orpheus story follows the gifted musician Orfe and the people pulled into his orbit. It is a brief, intense novel about love, art, loss, and the damage one backward glance can do.
The Wings of a Falcon
by Cynthia Voigt
1993
Oriel has survived cruelty without letting it break him, while Griff has learned to keep his head down. Their escape from a brutal island sets off a dangerous journey through war, pursuit, and a kingdom where freedom has a price.
When She Hollers
by Cynthia Voigt
1994
Tish has reached the point where she can no longer survive her stepfather's abuse in silence. Over one tense day, she has to decide whom she can trust and how to get out alive.
The Bad Girls
by Cynthia Voigt
1996
On the first days of fifth grade, Mikey and Margalo recognize in each other a fellow rule-breaker. Their new friendship turns school into a battleground of rumors, pranks, pride, and unexpected loyalty.
Bad, Badder, Baddest
by Cynthia Voigt
1997
Mikey and Margalo return for more classroom politics, mischief, and hard feelings. Their friendship deepens as they discover that being bad can mean standing up, pushing back, and sometimes going too far.
Elske
by Cynthia Voigt
1999
Saved from death by her grandmother's sacrifice, Elske becomes handmaiden to the proud exiled princess Beriel. As the two travel through a dangerous kingdom, Elske slowly finds a strength and self she can claim as her own.
It's Not Easy Being Bad
by Cynthia Voigt
2000
Mikey and Margalo are older, louder, and no more interested in behaving properly than before. Another school year brings fresh clashes, schemes, and painfully funny social disasters.
Bad Girls in Love
by Cynthia Voigt
2002
As boys and romance enter the picture, Mikey and Margalo find that being confident is one thing and understanding love is another. The story keeps its sharp humor while asking what changes, and what does not.
From Bad to Worse
by Cynthia Voigt
2003
Mikey and Margalo head into another school year where one bad idea can turn into three by lunchtime. Their friendship stays strong, but the trouble around them keeps getting bigger and more complicated.
The Rosie Stories
by Cynthia Voigt
2003
These funny, affectionate pieces follow Rosie, a family dog with more spirit than sense. The stories are rooted in everyday mishaps, which makes Rosie's chaos feel even more lovable.
Angus and Sadie
by Cynthia Voigt
2005
Brother-and-sister border collie puppies arrive at Davis Farm with very different temperaments, Angus bold and Sadie cautious. Growing up means learning the farm, the people, and the kind of courage each of them can actually manage.
Bad Girls, Bad Girls, Whatcha Gonna Do?
by Cynthia Voigt
2006
Mikey and Margalo have made it to high school, but friendship is no easier there. New pressures, old habits, and social fallout test how bold they can be without losing each other.
Young Fredle
by Cynthia Voigt
2011
Fredle is a house mouse with a sweet tooth and too many questions for a safe life behind the kitchen cabinets. When he is forced outside, curiosity becomes the very thing that helps him survive.
The Book of Lost Things
by Cynthia Voigt
2013
When Max Starling's actor parents vanish after a strange voyage, he has to fend for himself in Queenstown. Using disguises and quick thinking, he becomes Mister Max, solving other people's problems while chasing answers to his own.
The Book of Secrets
by Cynthia Voigt
2014
Max's new case begins with fires and smashed windows in the old city, and nobody wants to talk. As he investigates, the mystery pulls him deeper into danger and closer to the truth about his missing parents.
The Book of Kings
by Cynthia Voigt
2015
Max finally knows where his missing parents are being held, but rescuing them will take more than clever disguises. To pull it off, he needs allies, nerve, and the help of a king.
Teddy & Co.
by Cynthia Voigt
2016
Teddy, a thoughtful old bear, lives peacefully with a group of lost toys until two newcomers upset the balance. This gentle story is about friendship, change, and learning how a community makes room for everyone.
By Any Name
by Cynthia Voigt
2017
During World War II, orphaned USO dancer Rida falls for Spencer, a naval officer from a very different world. Their marriage, and the lives of their four daughters, becomes a long reckoning with class, family, and one unforgettable mother.
Toaff's Way
by Cynthia Voigt
2018
Toaff is a young gray squirrel with too many questions for everyone else's comfort. When curiosity pulls him beyond the safe rules of home, he has to learn how the wider world really works.
Little Bird
by Cynthia Voigt
2020
Little Bird is the smallest crow in her flock, and no one expects much from her. When danger strikes and a treasured charm is stolen, her journey to recover it becomes a brave, curious adventure.
Where to start with Cynthia Voigt
If you want the essential family story: Homecoming → Dicey's Song → A Solitary Blue
If you like smart fantasy adventure: Jackaroo → On Fortune's Wheel → The Wings of a Falcon → Elske
If you want a clever mystery series: The Book of Lost Things → The Book of Secrets → The Book of Kings
If you want funny school friendships: The Bad Girls → Bad, Badder, Baddest → It's Not Easy Being Bad
If you prefer tough realistic standalones: Izzy, Willy-Nilly → When She Hollers
Cynthia Voigt sub-series and character series
Bad Girls (Cynthia Voigt) books in order
Explore this series
The Bad Girls
by Cynthia Voigt
1996Bad Girls, Book 1
Bad, Badder, Baddest
by Cynthia Voigt
1997Bad Girls, Book 2
It's Not Easy Being Bad
by Cynthia Voigt
2000Bad Girls, Book 3
Bad Girls in Love
by Cynthia Voigt
2002Bad Girls, Book 4
From Bad to Worse
by Cynthia Voigt
2003Bad Girls, Book 5
Bad Girls, Bad Girls, Whatcha Gonna Do?
by Cynthia Voigt
2006Bad Girls, Book 6
Bad Girls (Cynthia Voigt) books in chronological order

The Bad Girls
by Cynthia Voigt
1996Bad Girls, Book 1
Bad, Badder, Baddest
by Cynthia Voigt
1997Bad Girls, Book 2
It's Not Easy Being Bad
by Cynthia Voigt
2000Bad Girls, Book 3
Bad Girls in Love
by Cynthia Voigt
2002Bad Girls, Book 4
From Bad to Worse
by Cynthia Voigt
2003Bad Girls, Book 5
Bad Girls, Bad Girls, Whatcha Gonna Do?
by Cynthia Voigt
2006Bad Girls, Book 6
Davis Farm books in order
Explore this seriesMister Max books in order
Explore this seriesTales of the Kingdom books in order
Explore this seriesTillerman Cycle books in order
Explore this series
Homecoming
by Cynthia Voigt
1981Tillerman Cycle, Book 1
Dicey's Song
by Cynthia Voigt
1982Tillerman Cycle, Book 2
A Solitary Blue
by Cynthia Voigt
1983Tillerman Cycle, Book 3
The Runner
by Cynthia Voigt
1985Tillerman Cycle, Book 4
Come a Stranger
by Cynthia Voigt
1986Tillerman Cycle, Book 5
Sons from Afar
by Cynthia Voigt
1987Tillerman Cycle, Book 6
Seventeen Against the Dealer
by Cynthia Voigt
1989Tillerman Cycle, Book 7
Tillerman Cycle books in chronological order

Homecoming
by Cynthia Voigt
1981Tillerman Cycle, Book 1
Dicey's Song
by Cynthia Voigt
1982Tillerman Cycle, Book 2
A Solitary Blue
by Cynthia Voigt
1983Tillerman Cycle, Book 3
The Runner
by Cynthia Voigt
1985Tillerman Cycle, Book 4
Come a Stranger
by Cynthia Voigt
1986Tillerman Cycle, Book 5
Sons from Afar
by Cynthia Voigt
1987Tillerman Cycle, Book 6
Seventeen Against the Dealer
by Cynthia Voigt
1989Tillerman Cycle, Book 7
Cynthia Voigt collections, short stories, and related book types
Standalone Cynthia Voigt books

Tell Me If the Lovers Are Losers
by Cynthia Voigt
1982
The Callender Papers
by Cynthia Voigt
1983
Building Blocks
by Cynthia Voigt
1984
Izzy, Willy-Nilly
by Cynthia Voigt
1986
Tree by Leaf
by Cynthia Voigt
1988
Glass Mountain
by Cynthia Voigt
1991
The Vandemark Mummy
by Cynthia Voigt
1991
David And Jonathan
by Cynthia Voigt
1992
Orfe
by Cynthia Voigt
1992
When She Hollers
by Cynthia Voigt
1994
Teddy & Co.
by Cynthia Voigt
2016
By Any Name
by Cynthia Voigt
2017
Little Bird
by Cynthia Voigt
2020
Author bio
Cynthia Voigt was born in Boston on February 25, 1942, and grew up mostly in Connecticut. She went to Dana Hall School, graduated from Smith College in 1963, and then moved through a run of places and jobs that would later feed her fiction, including New York City, New Mexico, Maryland, and, eventually, Maine.
Before she was known as a novelist, she did the kinds of work that leave a person with sharp eyes and good ears. She has written about babysitting, office work, waitressing, transcribing for the Associated Press, tutoring, and teaching. Teaching lasted the longest. She taught high school English in Maryland and kept teaching through the early part of her writing life.
The turn toward publication came from an ordinary moment. On a grocery trip after school, she noticed children waiting in a parked car and found herself wondering what would happen if no adult ever came back. That question became Homecoming, the book that introduced Dicey Tillerman and her siblings and opened the series most readers still connect to her name.
That was the start.
A few years later, Dicey's Song won the Newbery Medal, and A Solitary Blue received a Newbery Honor. The Callender Papers won an Edgar Award, and in 1995 Voigt received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contribution to books for teens. Those are big honors, but what matters on the page is smaller and harder to fake. Her people feel like people.
Her best-known novels are often about young characters who have to keep going before they feel ready. In Homecoming and Dicey's Song, the Tillerman children try to build a home out of loss, work, stubbornness, and love. Izzy, Willy-Nilly follows a girl rebuilding her life after a car crash changes her body forever. When She Hollers traps the reader inside one terrible day as a teenager tries to escape abuse. Voigt does not make these situations easy, and that is part of why the books stay with readers.
She also moves easily into other kinds of stories. Jackaroo and the other Kingdom books use a rough-edged fantasy world to talk about power, freedom, and courage. The Bad Girls books are funny and sharp about school, friendship, and the social disasters of growing up. Much later, the Mister Max trilogy brought her knack for character and tension to a younger audience, with disguises, missing parents, city mysteries, and a boy who calls himself a solutioneer.
She never writes down to kids.
Across her work, a few things keep returning: capable girls, complicated families, lonely boys, people who notice class and money, and young characters trying to decide what kind of person they want to be. Music shows up often. So does work. So does the fact that adults can fail badly, while children still have to make sense of the world they inherit.
Voigt has lived for long stretches in Connecticut, Maryland, and Maine, and she has said that familiar places tend to anchor her stories. She now lives in Deer Isle, Maine, with her husband Walter Voigt, and family life clearly matters to her. On her own biography page she comes across as practical, dryly funny, and very aware that writing is only one part of a full life. That seems right for her books too. They are serious, but they are never grand about themselves.
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