Hamati,
Marina
Book
Report #2
English,
Period 4
December
14, 2016
Moon Over
Manifest
Clare Vanderpool
Children’s Literature
342 Pages
Newbery
Medal
The
novel,
Moon Over
Manifest, by Clare
Vanderpool is about
a girl named Abilene
Tucker
who is a
twelve year old
was sent by
her dad on
a train to stay
at
an old,
rundown
town which, was
also a town
significantly affected by
the Great Depression called
Manifest. The time
setting would be 1936.
While
she’s still on
the train, Abilene
jumps out!
Just in to
reach Manifest. Her
father, Gideon Tucker,
made arrangements for
her to stay with
a man named
Shady. Abilene was
a little questionable at
first, but quickly
she sensed she
could trust him.
Shady lives in an
odd home that
is a mix between a church
and a bar.
While settling into
the new room
Shady gives her,
Abilene finds a loose floorboard
with a
cigar
box under it
with some letters,
a map of the
town, a fishing
lure, and many
other
little treasures.
Although Abilene’s father
never said when he’s
coming back, she’s
is positive
that
he is coming
back for her at
the
end of the
summer. Sad that
her father is not with
her, she asks
Shady how far
away Manifest is
from Des Moines,
the place where her
dad
is, Shady
replies, ”A fella in
Des Moines can
see the same
moon you are
looking at right
now.” While Abilene
tries to take
her mind of missing
her
dad, she tries to
find out
Gideon’s
past. Knowing she
won’t be staying
for long, Abilene
tries to stay distant
from
new acquaintances. Hattie-Mae
Macke, the lady who
makes
the newspapers gives Abilene
some
old newspapers. While staying there,
she has to
attend the last
day of school.
She
makes some
friends, two to
be exact, Lettie
and Ruthanne who
are red-headed cousins.
All
three of
them go on
adventure to find the past lives
and stories of
this dry, little
place.
When Abilene
discovers she lost
her dad’s compass
on Miss Sadie’s
property and agrees
to
work it off. Along with
working off her debt, Miss
Sadie( a diviner)
tells her story
from
eighteen years ago
about two boys named Ned and Jinx.
Jinx, a thirteen
year old, is
similar
to Abilene
who came to Manifest
by
a train. He meets a
boy named Ned,
a seventeen year
old,
who was fishing. Abilene
didn’t seem amused
with story because she didn’t want
to
here a story
about these two boys
she wanted know
about her dad’s past.
Later on, she
reads the letters
in the cigar
box who were
written by Ned
and sent to
Jinx saying Ned is
joining
the army. Jinx
was devastated and life became hard
for him. Back
to 1936, Abilene
finds
that ‘manifest’ means
a list of
passengers on a
ship. Which relates
to the town
because the citizens
were immigrants who came
to America on
ships. October of
1918,
Jinx’s Uncle
Finn finds Jinx and
forces to come
back to a
life a crime
with him, when Jinx
refused
Finn shot him
in the arm.
Jinx survived, but
his uncle died
later from getting
his
foot stuck
in a raccoon
trap and hitting
his head. Later
on, Jinx gets
mail saying Ned has
been killed in a
war. Abilene finds
that Jinx is
her father, Gideon
Tucker and Ned is
Miss
Sadie’s son. In
August 1936, the
people of Manifest prepare
for a homecoming celebration.
Abilene
telegrams her father
Gideon to come
home and he
does. Both of
them stay in
Manifest, and Abilene is
determined to write for
the local newspaper.
I absolutely
loved this book. All
the adventures and
stories were amazing. The
transitions from 1917
to 1936 and vis versa
were outstanding. The
part where the
book
said, ”All that was left read
MANIFEST:
A TOWN
WITH A PAST” made
me want to
finish the
book immediately. Shady’s
words were wise
where he told Abilene when
she missed her
dad,” A fella in Des
Moines can see
the same moon
you are looking
at right now.” I
can
sort
of relate to
Abilene when she
missed her dad
because my mom
left for about
a month
and obviously
I missed her. I really
felt bad for
Jinx finding out
his best friend
died in a
war.
Miss Sadie , a diviner or
not, makes me
feel bad for
her because everyone
is afraid
of her and
saying she’s a
witch and will
cast a spell on you. I
would
recommend this book
to anyone because
all the adventure ,
stories and friendships
it brings to live. I
am
very glad
Gideon came
back to Abilene.
Also, that Abilene
was happy to
help Hattie-Mae Macke
was
heartwarming. I
love this book
and I think
you would too.
You summarized this book very well. The adventure and the time setting make the book seem like a really great read. I think a book that transitions from two different time settings is very creative and interesting to read. I hope someday I could read this and experience all the adventure in the book.
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