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Mandie #25
Mandie and Her Missing Kin
Mandie is thrilled at the chance to visit Swain County, North Carolina, where her friend Joe Woodard lives. It's also her father's home territory, so with Snowball leading the way, Mandie and Joe decide to explore the old log cabin where Mandie had lived with her father before his death.
The locked cabin appears deserted weeds everywhere, no livestock around, and not a soul in sight. But Joe and Mandie notice smoke rising from the chimney. Someone must be inside! Then Mandie and Joe catch a glimpse of a face peeking out from behind a curtain. Who's hiding out in the old log cabin?
It's another exciting mystery for Mandie to solve!
The locked cabin appears deserted weeds everywhere, no livestock around, and not a soul in sight. But Joe and Mandie notice smoke rising from the chimney. Someone must be inside! Then Mandie and Joe catch a glimpse of a face peeking out from behind a curtain. Who's hiding out in the old log cabin?
It's another exciting mystery for Mandie to solve!
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
About the author
Lois Gladys Leppard
120 books290 followersLois Gladys Leppard was the author of the Mandie series of children's novels. Leppard wrote her first Mandie story when she was only eleven and a half years old, but did not become a professional author until she was an adult. Leppard has also worked as a professional singer, actress, and playwright. At one time, she and her two sisters, Sybil and Louise, formed a singing group called the Larke Sisters.
There are forty Mandie books in the main series, an eight-book junior series and several other titles. Leppard said that she could write a Mandie book in two weeks, barring any interruptions.
The eponymous heroine lives in North Carolina in the early 1900s, encountering adventure and solving mysteries with help from her friends, family, and pet cat, Snowball. These young reader novels are meant to teach morals as well as be fun and captivating stories to read. Leppard stated that her books contain "nothing occult or vulgar", and Mandie is depicted as a faithful Christian. The Mandie books often deal with issues of discrimination and prejudice relating to race (particularly with regard to the local Cherokee), class, and disability.
Lois Gladys Leppard based some of the incidents in her Mandie books on her mother's experiences growing up in North Carolina. The dedication in the first book is: "For My Mother, Bessie A. Wilson Leppard, and In Memory of Her Sister, Lillie Margaret Ann Wilson Frady, Orphans of North Carolina Who Outgrew the Sufferings of Childhood".
There are forty Mandie books in the main series, an eight-book junior series and several other titles. Leppard said that she could write a Mandie book in two weeks, barring any interruptions.
The eponymous heroine lives in North Carolina in the early 1900s, encountering adventure and solving mysteries with help from her friends, family, and pet cat, Snowball. These young reader novels are meant to teach morals as well as be fun and captivating stories to read. Leppard stated that her books contain "nothing occult or vulgar", and Mandie is depicted as a faithful Christian. The Mandie books often deal with issues of discrimination and prejudice relating to race (particularly with regard to the local Cherokee), class, and disability.
Lois Gladys Leppard based some of the incidents in her Mandie books on her mother's experiences growing up in North Carolina. The dedication in the first book is: "For My Mother, Bessie A. Wilson Leppard, and In Memory of Her Sister, Lillie Margaret Ann Wilson Frady, Orphans of North Carolina Who Outgrew the Sufferings of Childhood".
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 28, 2017
About this book:
“Mandie is thrilled at the chance to visit Swain County, North Carolina, where her friend Joe Woodard lives. It's also her father's home territory, so with Snowball leading the way, Mandie and Joe decide to explore the old log cabin where Mandie had lived with her father before his death.
The locked cabin appears deserted weeds everywhere, no livestock around, and not a soul in sight. But Joe and Mandie notice smoke rising from the chimney. Someone must be inside! Then Mandie and Joe catch a glimpse of a face peeking out from behind a curtain. Who's hiding out in the old log cabin? It's another exciting mystery for Mandie to solve!”
Series: Book #25 in “Mandie” series. (To read the reviews of the previous books in this series, click the number to be taken to that review: #1! #2! #3! #4! #5! #6! #7! #8! #9! #10! #11! #12! #13! #14! #15! #16! #17! #18! #19! #20! #21! #22! #23! #24!) {There also is the “Young Mandie Mystery” series, (Book #1 review Here and Book #2 review Here!) but they do not connect together well}
Spiritual Content- Matthew 3:44 at the beginning; Prayers & Thanking God; A Scripture is prayed & quoted twice; Talks about God & forgiving; A couple mentions of thanking God; A mention of a Bible.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’ and two ‘shuck’s; Mentions of being shot at; Mentions of a fire & smoke (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a wild man (that could be dangerous); A few mentions of deaths (no details); A few mentions of something terrible that was writing (never said); A couple mentions of past kidnappings; A couple mentions of imagining a dog hurt (she’s not though, barely-above-not-detailed).
Sexual Content- Embraces & Hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of liking someone & their romance; Mentions of Joe & Mandie marrying when they’re older; A few mentions of a boy who was sweet on a girl; A few mentions of married couples kissing; A few mentions of blushes; A mention of being aware of a boy’s presence.
-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1901
160 pages (also available in a collection with two other Mandie books.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This book! My main two emotions reading this Mandie mystery was “Ahh!” and “Argh!” All the Mandie & Joe feels are in this one! Doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read those certain lines, I still get so giddy about them.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“Mandie is thrilled at the chance to visit Swain County, North Carolina, where her friend Joe Woodard lives. It's also her father's home territory, so with Snowball leading the way, Mandie and Joe decide to explore the old log cabin where Mandie had lived with her father before his death.
The locked cabin appears deserted weeds everywhere, no livestock around, and not a soul in sight. But Joe and Mandie notice smoke rising from the chimney. Someone must be inside! Then Mandie and Joe catch a glimpse of a face peeking out from behind a curtain. Who's hiding out in the old log cabin? It's another exciting mystery for Mandie to solve!”
Series: Book #25 in “Mandie” series. (To read the reviews of the previous books in this series, click the number to be taken to that review: #1! #2! #3! #4! #5! #6! #7! #8! #9! #10! #11! #12! #13! #14! #15! #16! #17! #18! #19! #20! #21! #22! #23! #24!) {There also is the “Young Mandie Mystery” series, (Book #1 review Here and Book #2 review Here!) but they do not connect together well}
Spiritual Content- Matthew 3:44 at the beginning; Prayers & Thanking God; A Scripture is prayed & quoted twice; Talks about God & forgiving; A couple mentions of thanking God; A mention of a Bible.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’ and two ‘shuck’s; Mentions of being shot at; Mentions of a fire & smoke (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a wild man (that could be dangerous); A few mentions of deaths (no details); A few mentions of something terrible that was writing (never said); A couple mentions of past kidnappings; A couple mentions of imagining a dog hurt (she’s not though, barely-above-not-detailed).
Sexual Content- Embraces & Hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of liking someone & their romance; Mentions of Joe & Mandie marrying when they’re older; A few mentions of a boy who was sweet on a girl; A few mentions of married couples kissing; A few mentions of blushes; A mention of being aware of a boy’s presence.
-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1901
160 pages (also available in a collection with two other Mandie books.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This book! My main two emotions reading this Mandie mystery was “Ahh!” and “Argh!” All the Mandie & Joe feels are in this one! Doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read those certain lines, I still get so giddy about them.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
March 18, 2013
(Spoiler allert if you are planing on reading this book than dont reads this.)
Mandie arrived at Joes house and his dog samantha came to greet her master and snowball did not like samantha. Mandie and JOe go to look at her fathers house because they think that it is abandoned but they see someone looking out of the window. Mandie wonders who it is. Than she and Joe hear someone shooting at the roof. After they left there they went back to Joes house and Joe went to go see if samantha was back and she was not and so Joe and Mandie went to look for her.
Joe took his rifle with him to protect Mandie. They did not find samantha but they still heard that person shooting at the house. Mandie and joe were relly worried about what was going on. So they tought that maybe they should go back to the house. when they got to the house there was alot of smoke in the house because the house was on fire. Joe broke a window so that they could get to were the flames were and then Nimrod came in and helped. They found out that the person who was in the ose was Irine. So Mandie and Joe went to see if Irine was okay and thaat is when thety found.... Joes dog Samantha. They took samanthat home and when they got there they feed her and than she was okay. When Joes father came back they went to go see if Irine was okay and she had the measels. The Presedent Makinly died that morning and Uncle Ned came to take her home.
Mandie arrived at Joes house and his dog samantha came to greet her master and snowball did not like samantha. Mandie and JOe go to look at her fathers house because they think that it is abandoned but they see someone looking out of the window. Mandie wonders who it is. Than she and Joe hear someone shooting at the roof. After they left there they went back to Joes house and Joe went to go see if samantha was back and she was not and so Joe and Mandie went to look for her.
Joe took his rifle with him to protect Mandie. They did not find samantha but they still heard that person shooting at the house. Mandie and joe were relly worried about what was going on. So they tought that maybe they should go back to the house. when they got to the house there was alot of smoke in the house because the house was on fire. Joe broke a window so that they could get to were the flames were and then Nimrod came in and helped. They found out that the person who was in the ose was Irine. So Mandie and Joe went to see if Irine was okay and thaat is when thety found.... Joes dog Samantha. They took samanthat home and when they got there they feed her and than she was okay. When Joes father came back they went to go see if Irine was okay and she had the measels. The Presedent Makinly died that morning and Uncle Ned came to take her home.
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December 10, 2016RL: 4.9
Lexile: 785
Fountas & Pinnell: S
Mandie and her friend Joe are on another adventure. This one leads them to the cabin that her father once lived in. Mandie is great at looking for clues and getting into trouble. Her grandmother, Dr. Woodward (Joe's father), and Uncle Ned all try to look after her and give her advice about growing up. Mandie has good intentions, but also makes poor decisions. In the end Mandie captures the hearts of readers with her straight forward ideas and lovable character. The setting of the book is North Carolina in the early 1900's.
Classroom Use:
Solving Mysteries: Mandie and Joe have to figure out which clues lead to something and which don't.
Determination: Mandie never gives up until she finds the answer.
Mento Writing Traits:
Ideas: This book is part of a series. Even though characters go from book to book, they are always introduced in some way to remind readers or to introduce them to new readers.
Sentence Fluency: Some spoken phrases are written in the poor grammar that mountain people used in that time frame.
Voice: As Mandie goes through the book you can follow her emotions easily by the words used in the story.
Lexile: 785
Fountas & Pinnell: S
Mandie and her friend Joe are on another adventure. This one leads them to the cabin that her father once lived in. Mandie is great at looking for clues and getting into trouble. Her grandmother, Dr. Woodward (Joe's father), and Uncle Ned all try to look after her and give her advice about growing up. Mandie has good intentions, but also makes poor decisions. In the end Mandie captures the hearts of readers with her straight forward ideas and lovable character. The setting of the book is North Carolina in the early 1900's.
Classroom Use:
Solving Mysteries: Mandie and Joe have to figure out which clues lead to something and which don't.
Determination: Mandie never gives up until she finds the answer.
Mento Writing Traits:
Ideas: This book is part of a series. Even though characters go from book to book, they are always introduced in some way to remind readers or to introduce them to new readers.
Sentence Fluency: Some spoken phrases are written in the poor grammar that mountain people used in that time frame.
Voice: As Mandie goes through the book you can follow her emotions easily by the words used in the story.
January 21, 2013
This was an excellent book in the Mandie series. I liked it VERY MUCH. Some parts of the plot seemed to be going slow, but in the end, it was worth it.
Mandie Shaw has returned to her hometown where she had lived with her father before he died. She is curious to know if anyone is living in her father's old house. Her friend, Joe, has already told her that he thinks no one lives there. Many surprising, mysterious events are going on, and as usual, Mandie wants to investigate, but Joe isn't as excited to check out every little detail.
There's a very special plot twist in this book! It affects both Mandie & Joe's future, as well as their families.
I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!
Mandie Shaw has returned to her hometown where she had lived with her father before he died. She is curious to know if anyone is living in her father's old house. Her friend, Joe, has already told her that he thinks no one lives there. Many surprising, mysterious events are going on, and as usual, Mandie wants to investigate, but Joe isn't as excited to check out every little detail.
There's a very special plot twist in this book! It affects both Mandie & Joe's future, as well as their families.
I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!
January 17, 2016
Mandie returns to her childhood home to find out what has happened to her father's house. Mandie is growing up, but she still doesn't seem to have learned the lesson to think before she speaks (despite her Uncle Ned telling her this time and again.) I was also disturbed that although Dr. Woodard knows Mandie might have been exposed to measles, he seems willing to let her travel with Uncle Ned back to Asheville, NC (at least a day's journey) instead of quarantining her.
June 11, 2020
The Mandie books are fun Christian mysteries for children, but I still love reading them. Even though she doesn't age very quickly and seems to get far too many breaks from school during the year, she's a lot of fun.
September 7, 2009
Okay I did skip a book or two, but I'll make up for it
January 9, 2011
This was a fun book to read.
February 12, 2016
I learned that you need to be careful with what you are doing, like where you are trying to find a mystery
November 16, 2020
*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*
Mandie is back at it with more fun. This time, it is "Mandie and Her Missing Kin", and it sure was an exciting one! My expectations were that this would be an average and run of the mill Mandie mystery, but they were wrong! Mandie is on her trillionth break from school, this time she was excused just to go see her old house... yeah... not a very realistic reason, but ya know. As soon as she arrives mystery erupts when her old house, which is quite dilapidated, still appears to have someone in it, as smoke is coming from the chimney. Soon, Joe's dog, Samantha, goes missing. Then, they are shot at and chased through the woods by a screaming man! Very crazy, but quite enjoyable. We also get a lot of love drama, which I always enjoy.
This book was a fun one! The story progressed really well, and threw multiple mysteries at the reader. First the mystery of Mandie's home, then Samantha missing, then being shot at, then the Schoolhouse board writing mystery, and then the crazy man in the woods. Yes, this was a packed one. Mandie and Joe's love scenes are very enjoyable. It is very nice to have Mandie in a setting where she isn't jealous. This is incredibly rare, may I add. All the mysteries led to a really great build up.
And now we get to the part that I really don't like, the ending. The build up was great, but it all came crashing down. Nimrod, Irene's husband... is the crazy man shooting at the house because of an argument?! Ok, I'll be honest, that's not too bad. The other mysteries are the bad endings. First off, we never really learn why Samantha was kidnapped by Nimrod. The ending that made me the most frustrated was the school house mystery board writer. It turns out to be none other than Miss Abigail, who wants to make the headmaster marry her. I'm not sure if I'm missing something, but how will writing "Mr. Tallant loves Miss Abigail" win the woman an engagement? It just feels like a very last minute and quick decision.
I need to add a whole segment on Mandie's love drama. Let me just say this, I've never been so mad at this girl. She purposefully is mean to Joe and is practically dancing when she finds out that "she doesn't have to marry Joe". Is she not right in the head? He is literally right their and she exclaims it multiple times until he flips. I don't blame him! She can pretend all she wants that she didn't mean it, but she was purposefully mistreating him to be mean. So sad! I am very glad that they reunited afterwards, but I'm still frustrated at Mandie. It really shows her true colors, and that she only liked Joe so that she could her house back.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this book. The ending could have been much worse, and the mysteries themselves were amazing! The book was hard to put down and a breeze to read. I'd recommend this one highly! 3.7/5 stars is my final rating. I would like to add one funny observation I made. In the last chapter, Mandie finds out that President McKinley has died. She's depressed for a good few minutes, but then hops up to apologize to Joe for treating him terribly, and then hops in the buggy to head back to school. Am I missing something? Back when she found out the President was shot, she was practically ready to jump off a bridge or lock herself in her room for eternity! Oh, Mandie.
Favorite Quote: "'And just think,' she added with a smile, 'I don't have to marry you [Joe] now!' 'Mandie!' Joe yelled as he threw his napkin down and stood up".
Mandie is back at it with more fun. This time, it is "Mandie and Her Missing Kin", and it sure was an exciting one! My expectations were that this would be an average and run of the mill Mandie mystery, but they were wrong! Mandie is on her trillionth break from school, this time she was excused just to go see her old house... yeah... not a very realistic reason, but ya know. As soon as she arrives mystery erupts when her old house, which is quite dilapidated, still appears to have someone in it, as smoke is coming from the chimney. Soon, Joe's dog, Samantha, goes missing. Then, they are shot at and chased through the woods by a screaming man! Very crazy, but quite enjoyable. We also get a lot of love drama, which I always enjoy.
This book was a fun one! The story progressed really well, and threw multiple mysteries at the reader. First the mystery of Mandie's home, then Samantha missing, then being shot at, then the Schoolhouse board writing mystery, and then the crazy man in the woods. Yes, this was a packed one. Mandie and Joe's love scenes are very enjoyable. It is very nice to have Mandie in a setting where she isn't jealous. This is incredibly rare, may I add. All the mysteries led to a really great build up.
And now we get to the part that I really don't like, the ending. The build up was great, but it all came crashing down. Nimrod, Irene's husband... is the crazy man shooting at the house because of an argument?! Ok, I'll be honest, that's not too bad. The other mysteries are the bad endings. First off, we never really learn why Samantha was kidnapped by Nimrod. The ending that made me the most frustrated was the school house mystery board writer. It turns out to be none other than Miss Abigail, who wants to make the headmaster marry her. I'm not sure if I'm missing something, but how will writing "Mr. Tallant loves Miss Abigail" win the woman an engagement? It just feels like a very last minute and quick decision.
I need to add a whole segment on Mandie's love drama. Let me just say this, I've never been so mad at this girl. She purposefully is mean to Joe and is practically dancing when she finds out that "she doesn't have to marry Joe". Is she not right in the head? He is literally right their and she exclaims it multiple times until he flips. I don't blame him! She can pretend all she wants that she didn't mean it, but she was purposefully mistreating him to be mean. So sad! I am very glad that they reunited afterwards, but I'm still frustrated at Mandie. It really shows her true colors, and that she only liked Joe so that she could her house back.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this book. The ending could have been much worse, and the mysteries themselves were amazing! The book was hard to put down and a breeze to read. I'd recommend this one highly! 3.7/5 stars is my final rating. I would like to add one funny observation I made. In the last chapter, Mandie finds out that President McKinley has died. She's depressed for a good few minutes, but then hops up to apologize to Joe for treating him terribly, and then hops in the buggy to head back to school. Am I missing something? Back when she found out the President was shot, she was practically ready to jump off a bridge or lock herself in her room for eternity! Oh, Mandie.
Favorite Quote: "'And just think,' she added with a smile, 'I don't have to marry you [Joe] now!' 'Mandie!' Joe yelled as he threw his napkin down and stood up".
November 15, 2023
Mandie is thrilled at the chance to visit Swain County, North Carolina, where her friend Joe Woodard lives. It's also her father's home territory, so with Snowball leading the way, Mandie and Joe decide to explore the old log cabin where Mandie had lived with her father before his death. This is a book from a children's book series that I don't remember ever reading as a kid. It was set way back in the late 1800s or early 1900s. I have to admit that I really dislike books set in that time period because I hate seeing the gender roles women had to follow back then. However, for a children's book this one had a pretty good plot. I was entertained throughout the whole story. Obviously, this is part of a series so the ending left a lot unfinished which I didn't love. Overall, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I thought there was going to be a lot more religion then there actually was, which was good.
January 16, 2024
This was certainly one of the better Mandie books I've read recently. The stakes were a felt a lot more, and the repetition of each passing day felt more like a historical log than draining bad writing. I enjoy Mandie and Joe spending time together and the mystery resolved nicely. It was a satisfying end that felt like a slow wind down and debrief unlike the last book.
Three stars because I might read this one again if I feel a nostalgia craving.
Three stars because I might read this one again if I feel a nostalgia craving.
June 7, 2025
marvelous mystery series
January 23, 2026
I really enjoyed the plot of this book and how the story ended. It was so well written and the ending was great!
October 24, 2017
I don't know how I gave this a 4 last time, because it's definitely 5 stars. One of my favorites from the series.
January 28, 2024
Good closure on several long running themes
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September 21, 2007Leppard, Lois G. PB
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