The Tillerman siblings must navigate the complexities of abandonment and the search for belonging after their mother leaves them alone in a shopping mall parking lot. Following the sudden departure of their mother, thirteen-year-old Dicey Tillerman assumes the role of protector, leading her younger siblings on a trek across the Eastern Shore of Maryland to find a home with a distant relative. The narrative framework shifts across the volumes, moving from the immediate physical struggle of survival in the first installment to the internal emotional maturation of the children and their extended family members in the subsequent books. The siblings face the logical constraints of poverty, social isolation, and the unpredictable nature of adult guardianship as they attempt to forge a stable identity.

This series is widely regarded for its unflinching look at the realities of family instability and the resilience required to overcome childhood trauma. Readers often highlight the depth of the character development, particularly the evolution of Dicey from a desperate protector into a young woman finding her own voice. The prose is noted for its grounded, unvarnished style that avoids sentimentality while addressing difficult themes of neglect and reconciliation. The collection remains a staple in discussions regarding the maturation of young adult literature, praised for its ability to treat its young protagonists with intellectual and emotional seriousness.