Moon Over Manifest is a tale of community, understanding, and family, with a little bit of mystery mixed in. Strange people and events become less strange as this well-crafted puzzle comes together by the end of the novel. At the beginning of the book, Abilene's dad sends her away for the summer to live with an old friend in Manifest, a town he lived in for some of his childhood. Abilene does not have high hopes for the summer. She is unsure of why her father sent her and feels all alone. When Abilene discovers a hidden box of old letters and mementos, Abilene finds new purpose. She attempts to solve a small town mystery with a couple of new friends. As she begins to uncover pieces of the puzzle, she finds herself digging deeper and deeper into the history of the town of Manifest. Questions arise about about her own family history, and curiosity about her father leads Abilene to continue her search for truth and understanding. This is a great book for middle-grade readers. I enjoyed the complex characters and the idea that people, places, and stories are not always as they seem.
Moon Over Manifest
By Clare Vanderpool
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 3 - 6 | U | 5.3 | 81369 |
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.
Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.”
Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.
Powerful in its simplicity and rich in historical detail, Clare Vanderpool’s debut is a gripping story of loss and redemption.
Book Reviews (23)
This book was wonderful! I loved how it went back and forth in time every time that she found out something!
![Mrs. Sheehan](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I loved this book! I usually don't really like stuff that is historical but know I do. I like it because it's mysterious. I also read her other book, Navigating Early and this author makes things come to life!
After reading this book I started to see the word 'manifest' everywhere, great word! READ IT!!!! It takes place in Manifest, Kansas. This book is about Abilene and Miss Sadie's, a diviner, stories of the past, the more Abilene hears the more she wants to make the town of Manifest know her story!!!!!
After reading this book I started to see the word 'manifest' everywhere, great word! READ IT!!!
If you like mysteries than this is the book for you. Join Abilene Tucker and her two friends as they find themselves wound up in a action packed spy hunt that could lead them to the darkest of secrets.
I tried reading it, but never really got into it. I don't know why I didn't like it, but I'm not a fan.
I thought it was okay- gave up halfway through
soooooo good. you must read it!!!!!!!!!!
just finished reading this book and it is so good!! (can't believe jinx is her dad!)