Moon Over Manifest

Gr 5—8—Clare Vanderpool's captivating novel (Delacorte, 2010) begins with a melody of railroad travelers evoking the spirit of the 1930's Depression era. Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker, the daughter of restless railroad worker Gideon Tucker, has been sent to Manifest, Kansas, for the summer. Manifest was her father's home for a time during his boyhood. With the help of Shady, the "interim pastor," and Miss Sadie, the diviner, Abilene makes friends and discovers the town's secrets as well as those her father has left behind. She finds a box of treasures, and their stories fill in the details about Manifest's citizens and answer Abilene's questions about her father. Jenna Lamia, the main narrator, provides an engaging presentation of the story that jumps back and forth between 1918 and 1936. She adroitly voices Abilene. Narrators Kirby Heyborne and Cassandra Campbell capably read the letters written by Ned Gillen, a young soldier from Manifest serving in France during World War I, and the clippings from Manifest Herald. The narration's pace and emotion are spot-on. Action scenes move along quickly, while Abilene's inner monologues over Miss Sadie's stories and the information she has gained are measured and thoughtful. A rewarding listen.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston