interesting characters, historical fiction. But it was a slow read. Book is on the 2013 Sequoyah List.

okay

Detective story with lots of agenda. Homey style (charming mix of pre-teen characters sorting through clues, etc.) recalls joys of children’s lit from decades past—for this aged reader. It setting is a big plus: fun to imagine life in SE Kansas during first part of last century. Vanderpool nIcely (entirely indirectly) likens America's early 20th wariness of foreigners (European, esp. German) with Americans' current phobia to new residents (especially from south) and Moslems.

While this book is very predictable, Vanderpool deviates from the typical Childrens' book modus operandi, creating a refreshing and endearing novel. It is great to follow the lead character, a very average female, along her journey. However, at times the jumping from Abilenes' present day and the memories of the citizens of Manifest does not always flow. That aside, this book is great for children under 13 years old.

It was a good book!!!

While this book has many appealing factors (a fortune teller, a mystery, scams, breaking the law, etc.), I found that it took a lot of patience to get through its slow set-up.

This book is a sweet love letter to a small town in Kansas where WWI and the Influenza Epidemic and then the Depression and Dust Bowl hit hard. Beautiful. From a Newbery perspective, I was a bit underwhelmed. The main character's purpose is to yearn for her father, whose history has more color and depth -- you can tell the writer loved him (and maybe all the adult characters) best. The author uses a lot of novelistic stagecraft that other reviewers felt wove the two stories (father & daughter) together "seamlessly," but I felt it was creaky and obvious. Also, we could see the the secrets coming from a long way off, but were kept waiting and waiting for them which irritated me. However, the waiting for obvious secrets kept from the narrator too long has vaulted Rick Riordan to stardom, so maybe I am just cranky. Personally, I think Turtle In Paradise which was a Newbery Honor Book does what this book does better and more succinctly. Read it and see what you think. Some reviewers said it gains depth and strength from a second read.

Historical fiction-but with a mystery twist-great storytelling & fun. While looking for clues about her father's past, 12-year-old Abilene Tucker finds a mysterious box of old letters sent from the battlefields of WWI along with some mementos-a fishing lure, a doll, a skeleton key-that lead her on a journey of discovery about her father, herself, and the fascinating characters she learns to know in Manifest, KS.