Reviews

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

mary00's review against another edition

4.0

This Newbery Medal winner is a beautiful book set in small-town America during the Great Depression, with flashbacks to the time of World War I. It is a fabulous read, well deserving (in my opinion) of the most prestigious award in children's literature. My only question is if it would appeal as much to children. . . Definitely more for older children and even teens (not because of mature themes, but because of the depth of the story).

_kadi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

megangraff's review against another edition

3.0

It took me longer to finish this book than it should of. I don't think many of my students are going to get much out it.

sparkly44's review against another edition

5.0

What a fabulous storyteller! In truth, I read this as an e-book, although I own a hardcover copy and it's been sitting in my pile for a couple years! And it was an accidental read, because it fell onto the electronic page of library e-books. I was trying to get Gabaldon's Voyager back on hold! If Moon Over Manifest is sitting in your pile, take it out and read it. You won't regret it.

Learning about the town of Manifest through young Abilene Tucker is an historical adventure that you will enjoy, sadness and all.

Thank you for the great read, Miss Vanderpool. Now, I'm going to look for Navigating Early!

debbiebarr's review against another edition

5.0

This was beautiful. Vanderpool did a fantastic job of weaving a complex story with characters that feel more real than you realize. I did not expect to love it, but by the end I felt so close to the people in the story that I couldn't help but love them. A wonderful, insightful read that deserves to be read again.

literaryloquacity's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

clc65's review against another edition

4.0

Such a sweet book! Feel good all the way!

shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition

This is the latest Newbery Award Winner and it's wonderful!! It surely deserved the award. The story merges back and forth between 1918 and 1936 in a small mining town in Kansas populated with mostly immigrant families. It's a beautiful story told with humor, depth and love. In the author's note at the end, Vanderpool does a great job telling her young (and not so young) readers which parts of the story are based on 'fact' and which on imagination.

cindyjac's review against another edition

5.0

This was a richly layered book; it felt a little slow at first. (I put it down and picked it back up after a month.) Once I let myself slip into the story of Jinx, Abeline, and the town of Manifest I was hooked. The story weaves a connection between the years 1917/18 and 1936. Abeline has been sent by her father to live in Manifest and she doesn't understand, feeling abandoned. Gradually she learns the towns story and begins to put together the mystery of her father's life. The characters, setting, and "mystery" are well developed and it begins to feel like a place you have lived with people you care about.

mschrock8's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this little mystery we read for Zeta Reads. I think it is very open to a sequel.