Moon Over Manifest

A young girl's search for her father's past unfolds through dual timelines in this Newbery-winning historical novel that masterfully weaves together mystery and memory. When Abilene Tucker arrives in Manifest, Kansas, she discovers more than just a dusty Depression-era town—she uncovers a community haunted by secrets from 1918, where immigrant stories and a spy called the Rattler hold clues to her own family history. The narrative gracefully shifts between Abilene's present investigation and the town's rich past, creating a layered exploration of how places hold memories and how stories connect generations.

What sets this novel apart is its authentic voice and the way ordinary objects—a cork doll, a spy's code, a diviner's stick—become portals to understanding larger truths about belonging and identity. Readers who appreciate intricate plotting and character-driven historical fiction will find themselves completely immersed in Manifest's world, where every resident has a story worth uncovering. The emotional payoff resonates deeply as Abilene pieces together not just her father's childhood but her own place in the continuum of community and family.