Moon Over Manifest: (Newbery Medal Winner) Paperback – December 27, 2011

It's often difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that distinguishes a good book from a great one. It might be a spark of originality even if the book covers the same basic themes that have been covered countless times before. It might be a depth of character that makes fictional people seem like our own very real quirky, aggravating, but basically likable friends, family and neighbors. It might be a firm sense of place that feels real, a place where people actual might put down roots, a place that almost becomes a character itself. Or it might be - as in Clare Vanderpool's MOON OVER MANIFEST - a combination of all of the above plus much more.The story starts with young Abilene Tucker, a motherless girl sent by her father Gideon to stay in the Town of Manifest, Kansas while he pursues employment in Des Moines, Iowa. In her father's absence, Abilene realizes how little she really knows about Gideon. She hopes to fill that hole (and the matching hole in her heart) by "finding" him in Manifest, because she knows the town holds special connection for Gideon, although what that connection is seems to be awfully elusive.The first hopeful hint comes in the form of a box Abilene discovers beneath the floorboards in the room she occupies in Pastor Shady Howard's place - a place that is part saloon, part church. The box contains several trinkets and a package of letters from Private Ned Gillen to "Jinx". Abilene is a bit disappointed, as she thought the box might have been Gideon's. Nevertheless, along with newfound friends Lettie and Ruthann, she begins tracking down the various mysteries presented in the letters - starting with the identity of "The Rattler - and piecing together stories of Manifest's past through local residents and through reporter Hattie Mae's "News Auxiliary" articles from the year 1918. But the townspeople are a little - or a lot - closed-lipped. Even Shady is a bit slippery, and there's only so much to be learned from the brief news articles. It's not until Abilene finds herself on the "Path to Perdition" to Miss Sadie's Divining Parlor that she really begins to put the pieces together.Much to Abilene's dismay, Miss Sadie tells her the story of Jinx, not the story of Gideon. Despite herself, however, Abilene (and her friends) soon becomes hooked on the story of the mysterious, affable yet hapless youth who made his appearance in Manifest in 1918. The book alternates between Abilene narrating events of the present, Miss Sadie narrating events of 1918, clips from Hattie Mae's "News Auxiliary" and letters from Ned to Jinx, each new piece giving us tantalizing new pieces of the puzzle of the relationship between the two boys, the connection to the Town of Manifest, and the relevancy to her own life.Ms. Vanderpool has created a masterpiece of a narrative. The book is engaging from page one. Manifest is an enticing mystery - one that we want to peel back layer by layer and savor like a butter-soaked artichoke. Before the book opens, there is a list of characters - those from 1918 and those from 1936. From this list we learn that in 1918 Shady Howard was a saloon owner and bootlegger, and by 1936 he is Pastor Shady Howard, "still a little shady". From the beginning he is one of the most intriguing characters and perhaps the key to this town that is more than it appears to be on the outside.The story itself is a heartwarming tale full of hope, as the town comes together to loosen the stranglehold of greedy mine owner Arthur Devlin. It is also the story of the tragedy that corrupts that newfound solidarity. It is a tale of suspicion of outsiders and provincialism. It's a tale of love and loss. And it's a tale of the rekindling of hope that just one young girl can spark.While there are plenty of suspicions and accusations, there aren't any real villains to this story (with the possible exception of Arthur Devlin, but even he's just a businessman doing business), and there are no heroes. All the characters have their faults and warts, but deep down, they're just people, mostly decent people, just trying to make it in the world. It's only when they rise above their suspicions and fears that they become more than the sum of their parts. Their faults turn to assets and their decency rises to the fore.The realism of this book is also helped by the way Ms. Vanderpool weaves in actual historical events, including the "Great War" and the 1918 flu epidemic. All the elements, historical and fictional, weave together to create a truly satisfying tale complete with adventure, schemes, love, loss, tragedy, redemption and people you can love. You might just find yourself wanting to move to Manifest. Highly recommended for kids age 8 to 108.

I modeled my book review on the newspaper article in the book. My New's Auxiliary is a review in the style of the News Auxiliary in the book. I hope it captures some of the flavor of the story. This a great book that contains a variety of writing from letters, newspaper articles and stories from the past mixed with the present, it is a delightful read.Laura's News AuxiliaryApril 27, 2012I hope all of you are enjoying a glorious day today and are celebrating the joys of Spring. The News Auxiliary of the Manifest Herald is taking a break from talking about the news around town to tell you all about Moon Over Manifest, the most recent Newberry Prize winner. I am just tickled pink and knew you would be interested in reading all about it.Abilene is as sweet as pie and she just arrived here in Manifest, Kansas in 1936. Her daddy decided to send her for the summer and so she is staying over at Shady's place. I heard she found a hidden box in her room containing all sorts of mementos and letters and she is looking for someone called the Rattler. Abilene's favorite thing is a compass that her father gave her, but one night, while out spying with her friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, she lost it. Doesn't that just stink.Well I want to tell you first off that Abilene found her compass hanging off a porch on the Path to Perdition. She was so scared but she knew she had to get her compass back and so Abilene approached Miss Sadie's Divining Parlor. Well divining is hard work, as you well know, so Abilene was committed to helping out around the house. Lucky for her, Miss Sadie was a great story teller and told Abilene about Manifest during World War I. He stories mainly focused around the two boys Jinx and Ned and their adventures about town in 1917. Ned, like many of the boys in town, signed up and went off to fight in the trenches of the War leaving Jinx brokenhearted and without a friend. Well adventure always finds someone and Jinx got caught up in plenty of fun for the times.I really enjoyed reading the letters Ned sent home and the News Auxiliary from 1917. I loved the characters and there semi-southern feel. So much has changed since then and it is like stepping into a time capsule and trying to solve the mystery of who is the Rattler and who Abilene's father. Why reading this book is almost like taking a step back through time.Well there you have it folks. I hope you visit (I mean read) Moon over Manifest real soon.

I loved "Navigating Early" also from Vanderpool (bought thru Amazon). "Moon Over Manifest" is completely different from "Navigating" (which is a really powerful book) but this book, too, has great character development and I was interested most of the time. I purchased this for my 10 and 12 year old grandsons but I always want to read their books first. I will have no problem handing this book over to my grandkids. There are so many garbage books out there -- this isn't one of them.This is a compelling storyline in 1936 about Abilene, a 12 year old girl who was sent away by her Daddy to Manifest (a town where he apparently had grown up). There are ongoing questions from Abilene: why did her Daddy send her away? would he come and get her at the end of the summer? and all the mysteries of each townsperson -- they all had secrets. While the book was unravelling, the reader is sucked into a different time (1918) while in 1936, Abilene continues to search for a history of her father (Gideon) in that town; but can't find one. There is the war (WWI), the spy called the "rattler", Miss Sadie (fortune teller/diviner), Shady (the pastor/bar keeper), the newspaper stories, the questionable box of mementos and letters found under the floor and stories of Jinx (a troubled youth who had come and gone from Manifest). I was sucked in.While this book can clearly receive 5 stars, I gave it 4 because I really think this book would have been better listened to than read). While Vanderpool uses great descriptors (Abilene has a great imagination), those words could have more impact if heard.