Mandie Shaw’s beloved father has passed away. Before the eleven-year-old can barely grieve, her mother, Etta, wrenches her away from the grave site in the Nantahala Mountains of North Carolina and demands she serve the funeral guests while she cozies up with Zach. Feeling alone and unloved, only her father’s friend, Uncle Ned, a Cherokee, offers Mandie comfort. Mandie discovers Ned is truly related, and that Pa, a committed Christian, had brought the Gospel to his Cherokee relations. Ned promises to watch over Mandie but when Etta remarries, they ship Mandie off to live with the Brysons to work as a slave—and without the promised schooling. Mandy determines to run away with the help of her Indian people. But will she escape to her real uncle John, and if so, will her estranged uncle accept her?
The compelling emotion of the opening scenes immediately connects the reader to Mandie, the underdog, bereft of her father, unloved and abandoned by her own mother and forced to flee from virtual slavery. As the plot evolves, the impoverished and yet indomitable Mandie’s path unexpectedly twists and turns, providing the reader with a highly emotive and satisfying ending. The tale also conveys powerful spiritual truths with grace overcoming legalism.
If you like Mandie, rejoice! Lois Gladys Leppard has over 20 books available to keep you in reading for some time to come.
Age Range: 8 and up
Genre: Historical, Action Adventure
Series: First of 40 Mandy Stories!
Bethany House 1983
Available: Amazon, ChristianBooks.com, Also ask for Mandie at your local library
I liked this book and the characters.