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Mandie #38
Mandie and the Hidden Past
Book 38 of the Mandie Books®. After a vacation with Senator Morton in Florida, Mandie and her friends return to her home in Franklin, North Carolina, to learn that a large crack has developed in the secret tunnel beneath her house. The house could be in danger of collapsing! As the crack widens, Mandie finds a mysterious cavern behind it. What secret to the hidden past does the cavern hold? What she finally discovers is so scary it gives Mandie nightmares! And then she remembers her favorite Scripture…More than six million Mandie Books® have been sold.
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
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 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 25, 2018
About this book:
“When Mandie learns of a crack on the wall of the secret tunnel beneath her house, she’s convinced it holds a mystery. The further she investigates, the more everyone keeps her away, making Mandie more determined than ever. But what she finally discovers be better left buried!”
Series: Book #38 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! #28! #29! #30! #31! #32! #33! #34! #35! #36! And #37!) {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, & mentioned; A prayer.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and six ‘shucks’; Eavesdropping on a private conversation; Doing something a parent figure wouldn’t like (going into a certain place); Mentions of a war, prejudice killing, a grave, & shooting a man in self-defense of someone else; Mentions of disobeying a parent figure; Mentions of a nightmare.
Sexual Content- A few mentions of Mandie & Joe (possibly) marrying when they’re older.
-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 15
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1903
157 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
It’s so hard to believe that we’re almost at the ending of this series! More of a laid-back mystery, Mandie does push some boundaries in it, but it does all work out. A fun read, but I was a bit disappointed by the lack of Spiritual Content.
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.
“When Mandie learns of a crack on the wall of the secret tunnel beneath her house, she’s convinced it holds a mystery. The further she investigates, the more everyone keeps her away, making Mandie more determined than ever. But what she finally discovers be better left buried!”
Series: Book #38 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! #28! #29! #30! #31! #32! #33! #34! #35! #36! And #37!) {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, & mentioned; A prayer.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and six ‘shucks’; Eavesdropping on a private conversation; Doing something a parent figure wouldn’t like (going into a certain place); Mentions of a war, prejudice killing, a grave, & shooting a man in self-defense of someone else; Mentions of disobeying a parent figure; Mentions of a nightmare.
Sexual Content- A few mentions of Mandie & Joe (possibly) marrying when they’re older.
-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 15
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1903
157 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
It’s so hard to believe that we’re almost at the ending of this series! More of a laid-back mystery, Mandie does push some boundaries in it, but it does all work out. A fun read, but I was a bit disappointed by the lack of Spiritual Content.
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.
June 16, 2017
This Mandie book seemed to have a bit more substance and mystery. Plus Mandie accidentally ends up learning more about her family history. It turns out pretty interesting. And the cliffhanger plot has me excited for book #39.
July 4, 2024
Usual disclaimers regarding offensive and often unfavorable depictions of people of color in this series.
First, some issues I had with this book in particular.
Mandie is way too old to be stamping her feet at people, throwing literal tantrums with tears when she doesn't get her way, and refusing to understand why it's dangerous to venture around a space that is not structurally sound.
Every time she comes up, Leppard mentions that Hilda is mentally disabled but fails to mention that she speaks Cherokee (discovered a few books back). I suspect that Hilda is being kept around to show Mrs. Taft is gracious and kind despite how often she strong arms the family into her plans. The kind and appropriate thing to do for Hilda is let her be adopted out by one of the nearby Cherokee families.
The backstory and explanations are so clunky. We don't need Mandie's heritage repeated every book, especially not in dialogue. The audience doesn't need to be reminded every book that Jenny and Abraham are married and live on the Shaw property. It you're reading book 38 and do not know these things, you are lost and need to start somewhere else.
I do not understand the chicken side quest. My actual reading note from that chapter was, "what is this fuck ass chicken side quest". I can only assume this was filler, which was unnecessary once again because Leppard always rushes the ending and resolution.
Alright, now to highlight a couple of things I did like.
The Polly and reporter tidbit was exciting and interesting. Seeing Polly's blabbering have truly negative consequences, seeing Mandie's distaste for Polly being justified was nice, and I thought Leppard was really trying something new and interesting. Alas, it did not last. I'm glad the dropped pincushion was explained when and how it was, but I do wish the resolution as to what happened with the reporter was better. I suppose we can only hope for more in book 39.
It was refreshingly open minded of Joe to say that people shouldn't be bossy in a relationship and that they are equal partners. Nice coming from a 1900's country boy, even nicer coming from a 2000s evangelical white woman.
Mrs. Taft's romance side plot was interesting. I felt like I was actually entertained in a few different chapters by the side plots. I would think Mandie would have been more interested in Mrs. Taft's romantic life than watching a locked door, though. It was weird that Mandie says she felt bad eavesdropping on a conversation about private romantic feelings but immediately goes and tries to eavesdrop on her Uncle getting a sensitive message.
Oh well. I suppose we are too late in the series to expect too much better. 2 books left in this series.
First, some issues I had with this book in particular.
Mandie is way too old to be stamping her feet at people, throwing literal tantrums with tears when she doesn't get her way, and refusing to understand why it's dangerous to venture around a space that is not structurally sound.
Every time she comes up, Leppard mentions that Hilda is mentally disabled but fails to mention that she speaks Cherokee (discovered a few books back). I suspect that Hilda is being kept around to show Mrs. Taft is gracious and kind despite how often she strong arms the family into her plans. The kind and appropriate thing to do for Hilda is let her be adopted out by one of the nearby Cherokee families.
The backstory and explanations are so clunky. We don't need Mandie's heritage repeated every book, especially not in dialogue. The audience doesn't need to be reminded every book that Jenny and Abraham are married and live on the Shaw property. It you're reading book 38 and do not know these things, you are lost and need to start somewhere else.
I do not understand the chicken side quest. My actual reading note from that chapter was, "what is this fuck ass chicken side quest". I can only assume this was filler, which was unnecessary once again because Leppard always rushes the ending and resolution.
Alright, now to highlight a couple of things I did like.
The Polly and reporter tidbit was exciting and interesting. Seeing Polly's blabbering have truly negative consequences, seeing Mandie's distaste for Polly being justified was nice, and I thought Leppard was really trying something new and interesting. Alas, it did not last. I'm glad the dropped pincushion was explained when and how it was, but I do wish the resolution as to what happened with the reporter was better. I suppose we can only hope for more in book 39.
It was refreshingly open minded of Joe to say that people shouldn't be bossy in a relationship and that they are equal partners. Nice coming from a 1900's country boy, even nicer coming from a 2000s evangelical white woman.
Mrs. Taft's romance side plot was interesting. I felt like I was actually entertained in a few different chapters by the side plots. I would think Mandie would have been more interested in Mrs. Taft's romantic life than watching a locked door, though. It was weird that Mandie says she felt bad eavesdropping on a conversation about private romantic feelings but immediately goes and tries to eavesdrop on her Uncle getting a sensitive message.
Oh well. I suppose we are too late in the series to expect too much better. 2 books left in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2017
In this book there is a mysterious crack in the tunnel wall and Mandie's Uncle John has to figure out what to do about it while Mandie impatiently waits to find out what will happen. There are also nosy neighbors lurking around trying to find out what is happening. I did not find that that very much of anything happens in this book, aside from the ever confusing drama of what to do and where to go for the summer.
June 7, 2025
was more into Trixie Belden fir this age group but I forgot how much I loved mandie
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.
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September 24, 2007Leppard, Lois G. PB
December 15, 2012
Slow-paced. Didn't have enough cliffhangers or mysterious parts. But overall, 6 out of 10 (:
February 24, 2024
Couple loose ends never get tied up but I still thoroughly enjoyed this one
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews