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brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally posted here.
Manifest is a town that has seen better days. Although not nearly as bad off as some other midwestern towns during the Depression, the people have lost hope and have little binding them together. Abilene enters this atmosphere longing to find her father's footprints on the town and inquires of the "diviner", Miss Sadie. What she gets is the story of a boy named Jinx and the town of Manifest in 1918. I confess that it was this story that kept me reading the book. Miss Sadie paints a vivid picture of the town and life in small town America in the early 20th century. There were times I couldn't help thinking of The Music Man, particularly as Jinx is quite the conman. The characters of the town in 1918 were real and vivid, if a tad cliche'. It was them I was invested in and made me care about what happened to those who were still around in the 1936 portion of the story. Jinx and Ned both captured my imagination the same way they did Abilene's.
Abilene's story was not quite as enjoyable to me. I never really connected with her character or cared much about what happened to her. She is very much your typical middle grade Depression era novel heroine. Spunky, street smart, missing at least one parent, living in a small town, looking to connect with her dad. This story has been told so many times I am heartily sick of it. I found myself skimming the parts where the story focused on her for mention of the people from the 1918 story and to move on more quickly to the next part of that. It was almost as if her entire function was to be the vehicle for the older story, making her a cypher. Nothing about her was all that memorable.
I enjoyed Vanderpool's descriptive voice and use of language.
Overall I found the book charming and fun. There are not that many books for middle graders that depict the World War I era at all. The fact that this is one separates it from the sea of other MG Depression era novels it might otherwise have been lost in.
Manifest is a town that has seen better days. Although not nearly as bad off as some other midwestern towns during the Depression, the people have lost hope and have little binding them together. Abilene enters this atmosphere longing to find her father's footprints on the town and inquires of the "diviner", Miss Sadie. What she gets is the story of a boy named Jinx and the town of Manifest in 1918. I confess that it was this story that kept me reading the book. Miss Sadie paints a vivid picture of the town and life in small town America in the early 20th century. There were times I couldn't help thinking of The Music Man, particularly as Jinx is quite the conman. The characters of the town in 1918 were real and vivid, if a tad cliche'. It was them I was invested in and made me care about what happened to those who were still around in the 1936 portion of the story. Jinx and Ned both captured my imagination the same way they did Abilene's.
Abilene's story was not quite as enjoyable to me. I never really connected with her character or cared much about what happened to her. She is very much your typical middle grade Depression era novel heroine. Spunky, street smart, missing at least one parent, living in a small town, looking to connect with her dad. This story has been told so many times I am heartily sick of it. I found myself skimming the parts where the story focused on her for mention of the people from the 1918 story and to move on more quickly to the next part of that. It was almost as if her entire function was to be the vehicle for the older story, making her a cypher. Nothing about her was all that memorable.
I enjoyed Vanderpool's descriptive voice and use of language.
Overall I found the book charming and fun. There are not that many books for middle graders that depict the World War I era at all. The fact that this is one separates it from the sea of other MG Depression era novels it might otherwise have been lost in.
reneesmith's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this depression era coming-of-age story of sweet, imaginative Abilene, who has been sent to her father’s hometown for the summer while he looks for work. Her longing for her daddy and fear that he will not return drive her to research the town’s history for some glimpse of her elusive father. Fortunately, she has landed among townsfolk as kind as they are colorful. And through Abilene’s research we enjoy stories from the early 1900’s---how the founding immigrants of the town fight the mining company and the KKK, how the Spanish influenza ravages the country, and how the young men of the town navigate the horrors of WWI. Several times this poignant, charming story brought tears to my eyes---actually, one part had them rolling down my cheeks. I feared the ending, but it was just exactly right. What a hope & light filled book! Must read! The Newbery Medal was well-deserved. (Perfect narrator from Audible.)
emromc's review against another edition
4.0
The Newbery winner for 2011. It was cute. It took me until about halfway to realize why it was a Newbery, because honestly I didn't feel like the writing style merited such a prestigious YA award. But by the end, after all of the loose ends were tied up, I knew and I definitely approve. It's more than just a sweet story, which was what I thought it was at first. It's a pretty quick read, so I recommend it for light reading that you'll really enjoy, and actually feel like you've accomplished something without having to struggle through a classic or something. It left me feeling good, and I like that.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
this story takes place in the fictional town of manifest, kansas circa 1936. abilene tucker is sent by her father, gideon, to live in manifest for the summer while he works. abilene is eager to see the town where her father grew up and more eager to find out more about her family roots.
upon arriving, abilene is sent to the last day of school so she can make friends. abilene believes she will be gone before school starts, so she is not so excited about meeting the kids in the town. what ends up unfolding is a beautiful friendship between lettie, ruthanne and abilene.
abilene stays with "preacher" shady. while at his house, she unearths a trove of treasures in a treehouse. in it she finds clues to a young boy's named jinx's past. and so begins her adventures for the summer.
the story vacillates between manifest in 1918 and manifest in 1936. we learn that the town was founded by immigrants and each one has a rich history that has contributed to the town's splendor. abilene also learns more about herself and her father and she learns how to define home.
upon arriving, abilene is sent to the last day of school so she can make friends. abilene believes she will be gone before school starts, so she is not so excited about meeting the kids in the town. what ends up unfolding is a beautiful friendship between lettie, ruthanne and abilene.
abilene stays with "preacher" shady. while at his house, she unearths a trove of treasures in a treehouse. in it she finds clues to a young boy's named jinx's past. and so begins her adventures for the summer.
the story vacillates between manifest in 1918 and manifest in 1936. we learn that the town was founded by immigrants and each one has a rich history that has contributed to the town's splendor. abilene also learns more about herself and her father and she learns how to define home.
rbreade's review against another edition
Works in two different time periods, 1918 and 1936. The main story, in 1936, is narrated in the first person by 12-year-old Abilene Tucker, who has been sent by her father, Gideon, to stay in his hometown of Manifest, Kansas for the summer, after he's laid off from his railroad job. In trying to figure out why she's been sent away, and then why there seems to be no trace of Gideon left in town, Abilene discovers a secret cache of letters and mementos that put her on the trail of a mystery from 1918.
When she meets the mysterious Miss Sadie, diviner, the events of 1918 are gradually revealed in Miss Sadie's third- person account of the town, the mine, the immigrants who made up the citizenry, and the con artist drifter who comes to town and says, the boy known as Jinx.
All this is woven together as Abilene learns that her father was the boy, Jinx, that he saved the town with a con that allowed the town to keep a valuable vein of ore out of the rich mine owner's hands, that he left because he felt responsible for his best friend Ned Gillen's, enrollment in the Army and death in World War I, and that Ned was the son of Miss Sadie, who had to give him up on coming to America and by the time she was able to return, four years later, he had been happily adopted by the Gillens, so she stayed in town just to be near her son.
When she meets the mysterious Miss Sadie, diviner, the events of 1918 are gradually revealed in Miss Sadie's third- person account of the town, the mine, the immigrants who made up the citizenry, and the con artist drifter who comes to town and says, the boy known as Jinx.
All this is woven together as Abilene learns that her father was the boy, Jinx, that he saved the town with a con that allowed the town to keep a valuable vein of ore out of the rich mine owner's hands, that he left because he felt responsible for his best friend Ned Gillen's, enrollment in the Army and death in World War I, and that Ned was the son of Miss Sadie, who had to give him up on coming to America and by the time she was able to return, four years later, he had been happily adopted by the Gillens, so she stayed in town just to be near her son.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
5.0
Abilene and her father Gideon are drifters during World War 1 and the Great Depression. After Abilene suffers a bad injury her father is shook up and sends her to live in Manifest, Kansas with his "preacher" friend Shady. Gideon starts telling her stories about Manifest, but once there, Abilene can't find any hint that Gideon had ever lived there. She feels abandoned. Abilene finds a mysterious cigar box under her bedroom floorboard full of letters from a soldier named Ned to a boy named Jinx and some miscellaneous trinkets. One letter makes reference to a spy called the Rattler. Abilene and her friends try to solve the mystery of the Rattler. Meanwhile, Abilene starts doing odd jobs for the local, mysterious diviner and fortune teller, Miss Sadie who tells Abilene the story of Ned and Jinx.
I loved this Newbery Award winner and hope others pick it up to enjoy it. I enjoyed the flashback stories, the mystery, and young Abilene's journey to figure out her roots in a town where very few residents have roots.
Grades 5-7.
I loved this Newbery Award winner and hope others pick it up to enjoy it. I enjoyed the flashback stories, the mystery, and young Abilene's journey to figure out her roots in a town where very few residents have roots.
Grades 5-7.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
3.0
I was surprised by this book. I love historical fiction, especially for children, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It had a small town but I felt like the small-town flavor was missing. You know, like how on Gilmore Girls Kirk and Gypsy could steal the show? The characters just weren’t flavorful. Also, I didn’t feel connected to the main character or her motivations. The first 3/4 of the book was slow going, but I was excited to see how the story ended. It was enjoyable, just not a 5-star book.
I wonder how many stars a child would give it because it didn’t really keep my attention. I’m not sure many kids would finish it. Another thing that I’m curious about is the fact that this won a Newbery. How? There were probably more enticing stories out there. This book was well-structured and well-written... I understand that. It just wasn’t compelling. I might have to do some research.
I wonder how many stars a child would give it because it didn’t really keep my attention. I’m not sure many kids would finish it. Another thing that I’m curious about is the fact that this won a Newbery. How? There were probably more enticing stories out there. This book was well-structured and well-written... I understand that. It just wasn’t compelling. I might have to do some research.
ccornejo's review against another edition
2.75
Read because its a Newberry Award for 2011. Young girl sent to Manifest, Kansas. She finds old trinkets and gets caught up in the past. Finds out her father helped the town out from under the mine workers.
mthorley23's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautifully written book! It is the best book for this age group that I have read in a very long time! I love how it shows instead of tells. I love the history and especially the characters. I will definitely make sure my kids read it.
amishriot's review against another edition
5.0
It has a been a long, long time since I have read a book that made me laugh out loud one minute, and then crying the next.