Mandie and Jonathan's Predicament

Mandie #28

by Lois Gladys Leppard

Mandie couldn't have been more excited when her mother said she could travel to New York City with Celia and Jane Hamilton to visit Jonathan Guyer and his father for the Thanksgiving holidays.

Arriving by train with a firm grip on Snowball, Mandie is overwhelmed by the city's monstrous buildings and people racing everywhere. When Mr. Guyer insists that they stay at the Guyer mansion, it's even better because now they'll be close to Jonathan.

But there are strange things going on at Jonathan's house. Who is the strange girl who demands that Jonathan give her the stray dog they found in the Guyer backyard? And who is the foreign-speaking man whom Mandie discovers meeting in secret with the butler? What's really going on behind all the closed doors of the mansion?

The strange man leads them far from home. Is it a trap?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Lois 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".

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“Mandie couldn't have been more excited when her mother said she could travel to New York City with Celia and Jane Hamilton to visit Jonathan Guyer and his father for the Thanksgiving holidays.
Arriving by train with a firm grip on Snowball, Mandie is overwhelmed by the city's monstrous buildings and people racing everywhere. When Mr. Guyer insists that they stay at the Guyer mansion, it's even better because now they'll be close to Jonathan.
But there are strange things going on at Jonathan's house. Who is the strange girl who demands that Jonathan give her the stray dog they found in the Guyer backyard? And who is the foreign-speaking man whom Mandie discovers meeting in secret with the butler? What's really going on behind all the closed doors of the mansion? The strange man leads them far from home. Is it a trap?”


Series: Book #28 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! #25! #26! #27!) {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- A Scripture is quoted & prayed; A few prayers & thanking God; Visiting/Touring a church; Mentions of churches/cathedrals; A few mentions of God; A few mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; A mention of Jews.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’ and two ‘shucks’; Mentions of stolen items, thieves, stealing, crimes/criminals, a robbery, & a man tied-up; Mentions of a collapsed building & injuries; Mentions of a girl pulling another girl’s hair & almost slapping her; Mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of a possible kidnapping; A mention of a president’s assassination; A mention of butcher shop.


Sexual Content- A few mentions of adults flirting & a blown kiss; A couple mentions of hand holding.

-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1901
176 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- Three Stars (and a half)
Not a very favorite, but I do enjoy reading Mandie’s reactions to the city and that ending! ;)


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.

[Savannah Haschak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the plot of this book and how the story ended. It was so well written and the ending was great!

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been 4 years since I've been able to read a Mandie book, but I finally got a hold of the rest of the series, so I can finish reading them. During that span of time, I wondered if I had "outgrown" the Mandie series... but I definitely have not! Lois Gladys Leppard will remain a favorite author of mine forever.

While reading book #28, I found myself falling in love with the Mandie books all over again. Mandie Shaw is still a wonderful Christian girl, with a fun sense of adventure and a good nose for mysteries. Snowball is still a beautiful, frisky cat to keep the story filled with twists.

This particular story takes place in the grand city of New York in 1901, and Mandie, coming from the backwoods, is quite enthralled with many things she sees and experiences. A Thanksgiving holiday is enjoyed, in the company of special people, and it becomes quite unforgettable as more characters join Mandie's ever-growing circle of friends.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lois Gladys Leppard is a pretty good, old-fashioned author.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I love this book I e specially love when mandie asked Jonathan to hold her hand and make sure she doesn't fall. They are so meant to be

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should thank my mom again because she gave me mandie and the secret tunnel to me when I was in the appropriate age group

[Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been very much enjoying a reread of the entire Mandie series. A series that was one of my favorites from my childhood, and a series that I happily gobbled up each and every time I was given a new story from.

Mandie and Jonathan's Predicament is unique in that its set in New York City, and showcases Mandie's first visit to the Big Apple with her friend Celia and her mother, Jane Hamilton. Although both girls have big ideas for how they want to spend their time in the city, first and foremost on Mandie's mind is reuniting with her friend Jonathan who they met on their big Europe adventure.

Anyone who's familiar with Mandie's stories, knows that adventure and mystery tends to follow her wherever she goes, and New York is no exception. Jane, Celia and Mandie are invited to be guests in Jonathan's grand New York estate, and soon it appears everything is not what it seems. A friendly dog shows up out of nowhere, a girl shows up claiming she's the owner of the dog, and the butler seems to be mixed up in unsavory dealings surrounding the little girl and the man who often accompanies her.

While I wouldn't say this is my favorite Mandie title, I really enjoyed getting to see her first visit to the big city, and to see more of Jonathan and his father. While the Mandie series is definitely aimed towards children, they are still fun to read as an adult, and are a great Christian, clean series for kids of all ages to enjoy again and again.

Growing up, Snowball was always one of my favorite characters as I loved reading about all the antics that silly kitty seems to get up to, and as an adult, my feelings on this haven't changed.

Final Rating: 4/5

I can't recommend this lovely series enough, and I wish that Bethany House would republish the single edition titles as I'd love to be able to collect the many that I don't already own.

[AshPotatoes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a better Mandie book than previous ones. It had fewer offensive depictions than most of the books (likely because the setting is the northern United States) and we finally got some adventure and mystery with decent pacing!

I'm glad the money exchange happened early, I liked the chase through New York and the danger of it, and I like the threads of mysteries we have yet to solve. One of the better Mandie books, especially following the Europe books.

[Gwynneth Beaulieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book I’d read it every day

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much privilege in this book but it’s a fun adventure nonetheless

[Partridge Public]

Leppard, Lois G. PB