2. The book summary
• Abilene is sent to Manifest, Kansas to live after something troubling happens and her father
promises he will come back for her. While she believes that the move will be temporary (just
for a summer), she views her trip as a little time away while Gideon (her father) figures things
out. She attends the very last day of school her first day there and the teacher orders her
write a story that will be due the first day of school - she has no idea that the story she will
uncover will be more than she ever bargained for.
• Soon after arriving at Shady's Baptist Church and Bar as it is affectionately dubbed, she
discovers and old cigar box in the floorboards which holds mementos from a different time in
Manifest. Through the letters and mementos and an eclectic woman whom she works her
summer paying off a debt to, Abilene discovers that Manifest has a rich history, and a few
secrets of its own. While searching for answers that the old cigar box contains, Abilene finds
herself on a journey to figure out who she is and where she comes from. Her story, and the
story of Manifest, are put together through stories, letters, and a newspaper reporter's
columns.
3. Description of the main characters
• Abilene is a character of such depth and maturity. She is put into a situation that most young
people would never be able to handle and she does with grace and respect. She faces an
incredible journey and embraces the history she learns and the people with such admiration.
• Hattie Mae has a column in the local paper that tells all the gossip around town. Abilene
reads this column from the time in which her father lived in Manifest and finds in it things
that support Miss Sadie's stories about Jinx and Ned.
• Miss Sadie, a “diviner” who slowly leads her through the story of Ned and Jinx.
• Lettie is athletic, hangs out with Ruthanne and she looks younger than her age.
• Ruthanne is not that athletic, stays home a lot and likes being outside.
4. Pictures that represent characters
•
• Abilene Tucker : Main character in the book that visits
Manifest Manifest, Kansas sent by her father for the summer.
Miss Sadie house : a diviner to
foretell or discover through
objects. Visited many times by
Abilene.
5. Woods that Abilene, Lettie and Ruthanne
traveled through to hunt for frogs to eat for
dinner.
6. Opinion and explanation of the book
• This book was very interesting to read, it was full of adventure and mystery. I enjoyed the
book thoroughly and I recommend this book to anyone out there that likes mystery with
adventure. Ablene wants to find her fathers past as a child. I feel this way about this book
because I enjoy reading a long book with mystery and good character development.
