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Monday, April 23, 2012

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Giveaway Day: Moon Over Manifest

To find out more about Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, click here.
Title: Moon Over Manifest
Author: Clare Vanderpool (link)
Genre: Historical
Pub Date: October 2010


Synopsis: Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Abilene jumps off the train in Kansas aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.

Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.” 

First Line: The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby.

I'm so excited to spotlight this book! It's lovely in every way, with haunting mystery, deep characters, and stories that unravel like a spool of thread. Moon Over Manifest is one of those books that stays with you long after you read it.  It has all the makings of a classic, and is perfect for anyone who loved To Kill a Mockingbird. Which is pretty much everyone, right?

Fun Fact: Vanderpool won the Newbery Medal for Moon Over Manifest as a debut author.

Moon Over Manifest Giveaway: Since this is my *100th* blog post, I'm celebrating with my very first giveaway. I have a paperback copy of Moon Over Manifest to pass on to one middle grade aficionado.

To enter, just leave a comment below by Friday with one of the most memorable books you read as a kid. You don't have to be a follower, but I opened up my follower widget last month, and love seeing the numbers grow!

16 comments:

  1. I haven't read this one - it sounds great!
    I don't read many historical MGs, but I usually enjoy them. My favs are the Little House books (or any book about pioneer life).

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  2. I love historical fiction. There are so many great ones that I have discovered and read to my children and grandchildren. Haven't had a chance to read this one, yet. Super review! I loved Little House in the Big Woods after a teacher read it to us. After that I checked it out often because it was a nice fat book that I knew the story to and could open it up anywhere and remember it. Great cover for a reluctant reader. I still have a vivid memory of the part where they butcher the pig and make a balloon our of the stomach. (Yeah, I'm kind of a tomboy!)

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  3. I read this by myself first and then shared it aloud with my kids because it was so special. I love the weaving of the two stories into one. I do have a hardcover already, so you don't need to enter me in the drawing.

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  4. I've wanted to read this for a while. Put my name into the draw please!

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  5. Oops. I forgot to mention the book that I remember from childhood. Probably THE LAST OF THE REALLY GREAT WHANGDOODLES by Julie Edwards. I reviewed it on my blog a few months ago

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  6. I read Lilies of the Field by William E. Barret and it's been my favorite book ever since. I read it every couple of years. laurisawhitereyes at yahoo dot com New follower.

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  7. How Green Was My Valley is one of the most memorable books from my childhood (although I was in high school when I read it). I chose it for a book report and was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful the story was. :)

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  8. This sounds like a good book! I really enjoy reading your posts.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  9. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech was one of my very favorites from my childhood. The Newbery winner's are always great. :] I've been wanting to read Moon Over Manifest for a while. Thanks for the giveaway!

    I follow you as Gabi. :]

    teddycavygal at yahoo dot com

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  10. I have been wanting to read this book for a long time! I am so excited that you chose to spotlight it this week :) It sounds beautiful and memorable. So hard to choose a most memorable novel but I definitely can't leave out: The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, Where the Red Fern Grows (I still remember the tears!!), and Black Beauty.

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  11. What a great first line! Thanks for sharing this with us, Gina. :)

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  12. This book is high up on my to-read list. Hope to get to it soon! A favorite novel from childhood would be Anne of Green Gables or Jane Eyre.

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  13. This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Your review makes me want to read it now. My favorite book as a child? Hmm... Probably The Little Prince, by Antoine de St-Exupery.

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  14. I love discovering MG books and this MMGM is lovely! would love to check this book out!

    aliasgirl at libero dot it

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  15. Great review! I've heard a lot of good stuff about this book, but somehow haven't read it yet! I think my fave book as a kid (or at least, ONE of them) was Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell. Survival story + beach livin' with a wolfdog can't really be beat. :)
    (I also follow you on google reader!)

    jesskeatingbooks at gmail dot com

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  16. I loved this one! I loved it before I realized it won the Newbery and was delighted to learn it had. I already have a copy, so I need not be in the contest.

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