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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
4.5 stars
This is a heartwarming coming-to-age story that I recommend to young and old readers alike.
It’s a sweet story combining Abilene’s present, and stories of the past. At the end of it, Abilene’s has a better understanding of both herself and her father, as well as their past.
I have no idea how to even start on a review, and so I’ll just say this – read the book and see for yourself.
The novel deals with many darker themes. However, instead of feeling dark or mature, the stories just feel sad.
I thought the balance between Jinx’s dark past, Abilene’s present was well done, and appropriate for most young readers.
Content:
Religion: Abilene stays with a pastor. There are religious services, once mentioning Jesus. They also use the church to produce whiskey.
This is a heartwarming coming-to-age story that I recommend to young and old readers alike.
It’s a sweet story combining Abilene’s present, and stories of the past. At the end of it, Abilene’s has a better understanding of both herself and her father, as well as their past.
I have no idea how to even start on a review, and so I’ll just say this – read the book and see for yourself.
The novel deals with many darker themes. However, instead of feeling dark or mature, the stories just feel sad.
I thought the balance between Jinx’s dark past, Abilene’s present was well done, and appropriate for most young readers.
Content:
Spoiler
Conn artists. Shady people. Drugs. Gambling. Death. Murders. Drinking. Deception. Illegally producing alcohol for profit. Abuse. War, death, and loss. Influenza. Scary ghost stories. Jinx’s uncle accusing Jinx of a murder he committed. Burials. Hiding whiskey in a casket with a pig carcass. Once a carcass is described to be oozing with blood and infection the killed a man. Only gross, vague details given.Religion: Abilene stays with a pastor. There are religious services, once mentioning Jesus. They also use the church to produce whiskey.
This is a tough one. I appreciate the "puzzle" aspect of the novel, and felt the author handled it well. However, this made it too easy to put down for long stretches. There wasn't enough momentum until the end, when it was an explosive set of revelations.
However, I'd be lying if I said the ending didn't make me cry. But that could have been more because of triggers regarding Miss Sadie and her story reveal, that again, are triggers due to my own personal issues.
I also felt Abilene disappeared as a character, and was more of a totem for others to pin their own experiences on. That made her resonate less for me, and make my emotional involvement lessen.
But for a young adult, Newberry-winning novel, I can't quibble THAT much. I'd be proud if any kid of mine read this book.
However, I'd be lying if I said the ending didn't make me cry. But that could have been more because of triggers regarding Miss Sadie and her story reveal, that again, are triggers due to my own personal issues.
I also felt Abilene disappeared as a character, and was more of a totem for others to pin their own experiences on. That made her resonate less for me, and make my emotional involvement lessen.
But for a young adult, Newberry-winning novel, I can't quibble THAT much. I'd be proud if any kid of mine read this book.
This book was a perfect blend of history with storytelling. I loved how parts of this took place during the first World War, because I feel like I haven't read enough about that time period to fully appreciate all the activities and hardships of that time in America, including small towns like Manifest. Vanderpool definitely has an art to storytelling - I loved how the story weaves together the past with the present (present being the 1930s). I also loved the Hattie Mae columns! Such a nice added touch to the storytelling. Highly recommend for folks to read.
Moon Over Manifest is a great story with well-drawn characters and a good mix of humor and pathos. I still think historical fiction is unlikely to appeal to many teens and this will not tempt anyone away from Twilight and its ilk. I do like the balance Vanderpool strikes between idealizing small-town America, while acknowledging the many hardships people had to face in the first half of the 20th century.
So many great things about this book! I loved the way the storylines from the WWI era and the 1930s weaved together to create this novel. I connected with all the characters and wanted to learn more about them. I appreciated the historical accuracy in the book (a major plus for the children's book). I enjoyed the mystery-like feel to the plot; even though the book isn't a mystery, the curiosity the book creates in readers will pique their interest. I would definitely recommend this book!
Great book. I love historical fiction, anyway, but I felt this book was very well written. It made you think. It had an element of mystery.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I'd heard enough about this - after it won the Newbery award - to expect slow and lyrical. It had more action than I expected, really. But - again - this doesn't feel like an amazing award-winning book. It was just okay: the pacing was a little off, and the flashback (1918) story was far more compelling and interesting than the frame narrative (1936). And I am always frustrated by plots that are driven by characters not talking to each other, which this kind of is. *shrug*
Overall this book was really good! It went very slow at first, but at the end I wanted to know how it ended soooo bad that I couldn’t put it down! I absolutely fell in love with the town Manifest and wish I could go there and meet everyone in the book!!