Moon Over Manifest: (Newbery Medal Winner)

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.

She is a writer's writer. That is the first thing that struck me when I began reading Moon Over Manifest, the 2011 Newberry Winner.This is not an amazing "new" story-- the plot itself is not what's extraordinary. Rather, it is the storytelling itself that is delightful. Clare Vanderpool is an impressive wordsmith. While reading, I highlighted my favorite lines just so I could return to revel in them. For example:"There wasn't an ounce of bustling to be had. Just a few tired souls holding up a doorway here and there."And:"A typewriter sat on a cluttered desk, its keys splayed open with some scattered on the desk like it tried to spell explosion and the explosion happened."Moon Over Manifest is historical fiction, and Vanderpool did what I thought was a big no-no in the world of children's lit: she wove together two separate stories in two separate times. This is a tried-and-true adult novel technique, but I always understood that kids couldn't follow the back-and-forth of it all. Well, the Newberry committee begged to differ (and before that, an editor and a publisher).The story follows a young girl named Abilene Tucker. She is wandering Depression era America with her lost soul of a father, hopping trains, stopping at un-named towns filled with god-knows-who, doing god-knows-what. Survival is the name of the game. When Abilene turns 12, her father seems to feel that a life of blowing in the wind isn't for a young lady, so he sends her to the only town he stayed in long enough to call "home": Manifest. And this story is all about that theme: Home. Where do we belong? Who do we call family, and what are the stories they tell? When the people of Manifest gradually reveal their histories, Abilene discovers her own narrative tucked away in the far corners of Manifest's forgotten past.But again, it was Vanderpool's wonderful storytelling that kept me clicking on my Kindle's "next" button. After all, this story is laced with multiple characters telling their own stories, so I guess you better be a good teller of tales yourself. So here's some more of my favorite lines, as a tribute to the Storyteller in all of us (and because I like re-reading them, too):"He tried to gather up some papers and scraps of wood, as if there were traces of his mismatched life that he hadn't wanted me to see.""My heart sunk like a five-gallon bucket of disappointment.""He says that places not that far west of here are so dry people shrivel up like November leaves and blow all the way to California.""As I tiptoed up the rotting stairs, they creaked and groaned, cussing me for stepping on their aching backs.""'Sit down,' she said, her voice thick and savory like goulash." (describing a Hungarian fortune teller)"Memories were like sunshine. They warmed you up and left a pleasant glow, but you couldn't hold them.""There followed a most painful silence that hovered like hot, moist air before a big rain."Clare Vanderpool is the Queen of Simile and Metaphor. I like that. And I definitely like returning to some of her better literary creations just to savor them. Her words and phrases are like a collection of spices that transform a potentially pedestrian meal into a food lover's delight.So, Bon Appetit!

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.

Bought it for myself and then a copy for my 11 year old niece and we both loved it. Fantastic YA mystery story set in the time of WWI and the Spanish influenza and also in the 1930s. Lots of intriguing details set out by the author and she also gives you clues throughout the story to help you solve the mystery but everything comes to light when all is said and done and especially after a second reading. FANTASTIC.

I was wondering if the book is a xerox book because the page quality from cover to text, seems to be of questionable standard. However text setting is fine.

Yay - loved this children's book about a child who doesn't yet know her place in life, but with the help of new friends will surely find it. A sort of updated Anne of Green Gables; not better, but similar in feel Liked it a lot.

Although the author is talking about historical fiction in AUTHOR'S NOTE, I believe she is a person who says something comical, "Sometimes what I find even more interesting is where the fact or fiction came from." Fiction is unique for one who thinks the story is interesting, so I believe if one wants to know where fiction comes from, one must get into authors' heads. I think this means she wants to travel across others' infinite worlds, or their planets. Sometimes they're simple, sometimes they're complicated, and sometimes they're sensitive.This novel is not about humor, but I believe authors of good novels I had read always seemed to exude something like that only for me in their writings, or any genres of novels. And every time I feel it, I believe the authors have breathed life into their novels, or they have been not just conscientious for every single word in their writings, but they have been tripping the light fantastic in their heart while writing.

loved the story