I find that when I get into a good book I get lost in the story. Like I am there witnessing it for myself. That was true for “Moon Over Manifest”. While it is considered a children’s novel, I fell right into it. It was printed in 2010 and won 2011 Newbery Medal for excellence in children’s literature, the Spur Award for best Western juvenile fiction, and was named a Kansas Notable Book.
Set in a fictional town of Manifest Kansas, it tells the tale of a young girl who is sent to live with her father’s people in 1936. Soon Abilene is knee deep in a mission of discovery that takes her from the dusty depression back to 1918, small town America.
I found myself reading this book at the same time I was discovering my 2 times Great uncle Clarence, who like one of the main characters in the book, find themselves going from small time Kansas to taking up arms in Europe during World War I. While this is a fiction book much of the history is real and seemed to parallel Clarence’s story.
The author Clare Vanderpool had a way of taking us from 1936 to 1918 with an easy transition. While I am limited on how much I can find out about Clarence Hinkley, “Moon Over Manifest” gave some insight into what he might have been doing and experiencing leading up to him leaving for Europe.
My son loves history as much as I do and I think this is a book he will not want to put down. I have added it to his fall reading list.