Age Range: Grades 5-8
This is a wonderful story that switches back and forth between Manifest, Kansas in 1936 back to the town in 1917. Abilene has grown up with only her dad, Gideon. They move from town to town while he works railroad jobs. After an illness, Gideon sends Abilene away to Manifest without him. She lives with the town's interim minister, Shady. At Shady's house she finds a box under the floorboard in her room that contains various trinkets and letters between two men, Jinx and Ned. Abilene later finds herself having to work off a debt to Miss Sadie, who is known as a diviner. Miss Sadie shares the story of the town back in 1917 and the story of Ned and Jinx. Through the story, Abilene gets to know the town and the people that lived there. Most of them were immigrants from various different countries. Throughout Miss Sadie's story, Abilene tries to find pieces of her father and his past. She also wonders where she belongs and if Gideon will return for her. This book is well-deserving of the Newbery Medal. I loved how in the end, Abilene ends up where she belongs. Great book!
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