Stories About Homesickness

This collection of stories explores homesickness and the journeys that teach its value. These stories bring children, animals, and even stars through adventures, allowing them to rediscover the importance of home.

In Little Lasse, a young boy sets sail and dreams of faraway lands, only to wake and find himself safely back on shore, embracing the idea of adventure while cherishing home. The Journey follows Joseph as he and his father journey home, reuniting with family after a visit to his grandmother. Similarly, Peter Pan shows Wendy and her siblings captivated by Neverland’s excitement, but ultimately, homesickness drives them back to London, reuniting with their parents.

The theme of cultural adaptation appears in The Story of Gretchen and the Christmas Surprise, where Gretchen, feeling displaced in America, finds comfort and a sense of belonging when an American girl shares a special gift. In Allerleirauh, a princess escapes her home disguised as “Donkeyskin” to begin a new life, rediscovering her identity at a royal ball. Genevieve of Brabant tells of Count Siegfried’s wife, wrongfully imprisoned and forced to adapt to life in the forest, until her husband finds her, allowing a joyful reunion.

In tales like Fleet Wing and Sweet Voice, young pigeons venture out for a king but find solace in returning home. The Lost Star follows a star that leaves its place in the sky, only to realize it longs to return, aided by the moon. Similarly, The Ogre portrays a boy who runs away, gains and loses magical gifts, but ultimately returns home to provide for his family.

For stories about friendship and empathy, The Child and the Fox centers on a boy’s empathy as he frees a silver fox, learning from the Duke about courage and responsibility. In The Little Traveler, a boy undertakes an adventurous journey with the help of various animals and a ship, ultimately finding his way back to his mother, underscoring the bond between parent and child.

Lastly, How They Ran Away narrates the misadventures of two boys who, after running away to the woods, find that life away from home isn’t as easy as they imagined, teaching them the importance of family and home’s safety. Each story in this collection touches on the yearning for familiarity and the ultimate comfort of returning to one’s roots.