Moon Over Manifest (2011)

Powerful in its simplicity and rich in historical detail, Clare Vanderpool's debut is a gripping story of loss and redemption.

Set in 1936, this memorable coming-of-age story follows 12-year-old Abilene Tucker's unusual summer in her father's hometown of Manifest, Kansas while he's away on a railroad job. Having had an itinerant upbringing, Abilene is eager to connect to her father's childhood, a goal that proves difficult. She discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as The Rattler. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. As Manifest's secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

Winner of the 2011 Newbery Medal