Abilene is sent to live in Manifest, Kansas after something troubling happens with her father. While she believes her stay will be temporary, she discovers old letters and mementos that reveal secrets about the town's history. Through working for an eccentric local woman and investigating the clues, Abilene learns about her own family's connection to the town and pieces together the stories of Manifest and its residents in the past. The book follows Abilene as she navigates her new surroundings and unravels the mysteries contained within the town's history over the course of her summer stay.