Abilene Tucker is sent alone by train to Manifest, Kansas, by her father. He is on his way to Iowa, to take a summer job with the railroad. Abilene can’t understand why she can’t go with her father, she always has before. Now he has this notion that traveling the rails from job to job and town to town is not a good way to raise a young lady.
She is sent to Manifest to stay with Shady Howard, and in honor of her arrival, the Sacred Heart of the Holy Redeemer Elementary School is having one last day of class, so that she may meet the other town children.
Abby is vexed that that her first day of summer in a new town is celebrated by having a day of school. The other kids receive their final grades for the year, but because Abby is new, with no records transferred, Sister Redempta gives a summer assignment. Write a story, due September 1st, about the town of Manifest. She will be graded accordingly in grammar, spelling, vocabulary etc.
Now she has an assignment over summer vacation? What is wrong with these people? Abilene doesn’t see the point. Her father has promised to pick her up after his summer job ends, but will he really be coming back?
From a cigar box of mementos, old issues of the Manifest Herald, and tales from Miss Sadie the town fortune teller, Abilene pieces together the story of Manifest, and what a story!
Reviewed by Sara, First Regional Library
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