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Mandie #32
Mandie and the Seaside Rendezvous
Mandie and Celia travel with Mrs. Taft to visit Senator Morton in his hometown of St. Augustine, Florida, which is the oldest city in the United States. Among the senator's many servants is a man named Juan, who can't hear or speak. Mandie feels there is something sinister about the man, and his mysterious ways give her and Celia plenty of reasons to be concerned.
Why is someone sneaking into the girls' wardrobe and rearranging their clothes? Did Mandie and Celia really see the strange woman, Miss Lucretia Wham, from the top of the lighthouse on Anastasia Island? And why do even grown-ups in St. Augustine believe in ghosts?
Who's really behind all the mysteries taking place in St. Augustine?
Why is someone sneaking into the girls' wardrobe and rearranging their clothes? Did Mandie and Celia really see the strange woman, Miss Lucretia Wham, from the top of the lighthouse on Anastasia Island? And why do even grown-ups in St. Augustine believe in ghosts?
Who's really behind all the mysteries taking place in St. Augustine?
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
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 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 24, 2017
About this book:
“Mandie and Celia travel with Mrs. Taft to visit Senator Morton in his hometown of St. Augustine, Florida, which is the oldest city in the United States. Among the senator's many servants is a man named Juan, who can't hear or speak. Mandie feels there is something sinister about the man, and his mysterious ways give her and Celia plenty of reasons to be concerned.
Why is someone sneaking into the girls' wardrobe and rearranging their clothes? Did Mandie and Celia really see the strange woman, Miss Lucretia Wham, from the top of the lighthouse on Anastasia Island? And why do even grown-ups in St. Augustine believe in ghosts?
Who's really behind all the mysteries taking place in St. Augustine?”
Series: Book #32 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! And #31!) {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 mentioned & quoted; A couple Prayers; few mentions of God; A few mentions of a church & a preacher;
*Note: Many mentions of & talks about ghosts, haunted houses, those who believe in ghosts, & those who don’t.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and five ‘shuck’s; A bit of eye rolling; Mandie has a bit of an attitude of wanting to show someone up/that they’re wrong; Mentions of a fire; A few mentions of smoking & cigars; A couple mentions of an accident & deaths; A couple mentions of stealing; A couple mentions of rumors.
Sexual Content- Mentions of being in love with someone; Mentions of Mandie & Joe marrying when they’re older & Celia’s future husband; Mentions of cute boys & liking someone; A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of blushes; A few mentions of a girl in the arms of a certain boy.
-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13-14
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1902
124 pages (also available in a collection with two other Mandie books.)
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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
This was a quick little read of Mandie & Celia’s adventure in Florida! While Mandie did get on my nerves a bit with her attitude in some parts, it was still an enjoyable read. I have to say, though, the sixth to the last sentence on the last page is my favorite. ;)
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 and Celia travel with Mrs. Taft to visit Senator Morton in his hometown of St. Augustine, Florida, which is the oldest city in the United States. Among the senator's many servants is a man named Juan, who can't hear or speak. Mandie feels there is something sinister about the man, and his mysterious ways give her and Celia plenty of reasons to be concerned.
Why is someone sneaking into the girls' wardrobe and rearranging their clothes? Did Mandie and Celia really see the strange woman, Miss Lucretia Wham, from the top of the lighthouse on Anastasia Island? And why do even grown-ups in St. Augustine believe in ghosts?
Who's really behind all the mysteries taking place in St. Augustine?”
Series: Book #32 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! And #31!) {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 mentioned & quoted; A couple Prayers; few mentions of God; A few mentions of a church & a preacher;
*Note: Many mentions of & talks about ghosts, haunted houses, those who believe in ghosts, & those who don’t.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and five ‘shuck’s; A bit of eye rolling; Mandie has a bit of an attitude of wanting to show someone up/that they’re wrong; Mentions of a fire; A few mentions of smoking & cigars; A couple mentions of an accident & deaths; A couple mentions of stealing; A couple mentions of rumors.
Sexual Content- Mentions of being in love with someone; Mentions of Mandie & Joe marrying when they’re older & Celia’s future husband; Mentions of cute boys & liking someone; A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of blushes; A few mentions of a girl in the arms of a certain boy.
-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13-14
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1902
124 pages (also available in a collection with two other Mandie books.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
This was a quick little read of Mandie & Celia’s adventure in Florida! While Mandie did get on my nerves a bit with her attitude in some parts, it was still an enjoyable read. I have to say, though, the sixth to the last sentence on the last page is my favorite. ;)
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 3, 2017
This was a strange book with a lot of random occurrences that happen that does not really add up. Mandie and her friend Celia are on vacation from school and went with Mandie's grandmother to visit her friend senator Mortan at his home by the sea. It was an okay read, but I felt the author did not put a lot of imagination into writing it.
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.
November 12, 2014
My favorite part was when the mystery was solved. Everyone was really actually good people. The worst part was when the fire was started. My favorite character was Mandie because she tried to solve the mystery. The people who started the fire were the worst characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 24, 2007Leppard, Lois G. PB
April 11, 2024
Ugh, I wish these books were better! There are so many fun characters and material to work with given the time period, but these are just poorly written and not thought out well.
Racism present again but with a helping of ableism this time! We are constantly reminded that Mandie assumes the spanish speaking staff are uneducated, the descriptions of their bodies is gross, and Mandie is apparently scared of Juan from the jump because she's told he is deaf and mute. She immediately protests that he must be lying about his disabilities BASED ON ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I hate that Europe is referenced several times in this book but Mandie has somehow forgotten that she watched Senator Morton use sign language during their travels. Mandie straight up mean girls Juan over his disability! I'm glad Celia noted that he could have a hard time making friends if he struggles with communication, but Jesus Christ why is Mandie behaving this way? Celia is so sweet, I almost wish she made better friends because Mandie is becoming more difficult to like with each passing book. Mandie also tries to make it seems that seeijng Juan around the house is suspicious, but he literally works there and his job is to keep the house in order??
It's become very clear in Leppard's writing when someone is set up to be the red herring and in this case, it was Juan. But of course, Leppard also has to make Mandie be right about her baseless accusations. In the end, we get confirmation that Juan is hearing and can speak but we never get an explanation as to why he lied. It's so stupid! And offensive!
Beyond the ableism and racism Mandie displays, her attitude throughout the book is just generally unappealing. She walks around the ball looking to pick a fight with people she overheard. She judges other people's costumes, more or less calling the costumes stupid without greeting anyone. BTW, the turtle costumes sound dope and I want them. Mandie wore a white dress and a mask and has the audacity to say that turtle costumes are stupid because turtles walk on all fours. Mean girl behavior, totally unwarranted.
We're back to really awful teenage dialog. Leppard writes dialog like she hasn't had a regular conversation in 30 years. It's like she has spoken to historic society and ancestry people exclusively for the last quarter century and forgot that people talk about things aside from who they're related to and how. It's bizarre writing, especially for a 13 year old girl.
Leppard also has Mandie walk through her list of made up mysteries every other chapter throughout this book. It's exhausting. This book is 12 chapters, we do not need a refresher.
Last Leppard classic: dragging for 10 chapters, reeeeally dragging the 11th chapter, and then rushing the ending in four paragraphs halfway through chapter 12.
So, how would I fix this mess? I would make it a ghost story. Mandie would be prompted by the staff at Senator Morton's house to believe her room is haunted. This would explain the switched around dresses and Snowball getting out. She would hear voices and footsteps, but too indistinguishable to mean anything to her. On the last night, footsteps and dragging noises wake her and she is so frightened, she says her little verse. Finally, she gets her surprise birthday party! The dragging was Joe's trunk because he got in on the train very late at night. The voices and footsteps were from servants preparing rooms for the guests. The wardrobe had a compartment with decorations in it that the servants kept fetching. Huzzah, no ghosts but still a good time. It makes more sense for Mandie to be left in the dark and led astray this way. It could also give us 1 to 2 entire chapters on Mandie's birthday, catching up with friends, and making plans for the rest of the summer.
Racism present again but with a helping of ableism this time! We are constantly reminded that Mandie assumes the spanish speaking staff are uneducated, the descriptions of their bodies is gross, and Mandie is apparently scared of Juan from the jump because she's told he is deaf and mute. She immediately protests that he must be lying about his disabilities BASED ON ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I hate that Europe is referenced several times in this book but Mandie has somehow forgotten that she watched Senator Morton use sign language during their travels. Mandie straight up mean girls Juan over his disability! I'm glad Celia noted that he could have a hard time making friends if he struggles with communication, but Jesus Christ why is Mandie behaving this way? Celia is so sweet, I almost wish she made better friends because Mandie is becoming more difficult to like with each passing book. Mandie also tries to make it seems that seeijng Juan around the house is suspicious, but he literally works there and his job is to keep the house in order??
It's become very clear in Leppard's writing when someone is set up to be the red herring and in this case, it was Juan. But of course, Leppard also has to make Mandie be right about her baseless accusations. In the end, we get confirmation that Juan is hearing and can speak but we never get an explanation as to why he lied. It's so stupid! And offensive!
Beyond the ableism and racism Mandie displays, her attitude throughout the book is just generally unappealing. She walks around the ball looking to pick a fight with people she overheard. She judges other people's costumes, more or less calling the costumes stupid without greeting anyone. BTW, the turtle costumes sound dope and I want them. Mandie wore a white dress and a mask and has the audacity to say that turtle costumes are stupid because turtles walk on all fours. Mean girl behavior, totally unwarranted.
We're back to really awful teenage dialog. Leppard writes dialog like she hasn't had a regular conversation in 30 years. It's like she has spoken to historic society and ancestry people exclusively for the last quarter century and forgot that people talk about things aside from who they're related to and how. It's bizarre writing, especially for a 13 year old girl.
Leppard also has Mandie walk through her list of made up mysteries every other chapter throughout this book. It's exhausting. This book is 12 chapters, we do not need a refresher.
Last Leppard classic: dragging for 10 chapters, reeeeally dragging the 11th chapter, and then rushing the ending in four paragraphs halfway through chapter 12.
So, how would I fix this mess? I would make it a ghost story. Mandie would be prompted by the staff at Senator Morton's house to believe her room is haunted. This would explain the switched around dresses and Snowball getting out. She would hear voices and footsteps, but too indistinguishable to mean anything to her. On the last night, footsteps and dragging noises wake her and she is so frightened, she says her little verse. Finally, she gets her surprise birthday party! The dragging was Joe's trunk because he got in on the train very late at night. The voices and footsteps were from servants preparing rooms for the guests. The wardrobe had a compartment with decorations in it that the servants kept fetching. Huzzah, no ghosts but still a good time. It makes more sense for Mandie to be left in the dark and led astray this way. It could also give us 1 to 2 entire chapters on Mandie's birthday, catching up with friends, and making plans for the rest of the summer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2020
Many years ago, I read this book at my Michigan grandparents' house. I vaguely recall this book having a convoluted plot that I didn't care for, but I will always remember how hard the adults laughed over my terrible pronunciation of "rendezvous."
August 17, 2023
I’m jump to g all over the place in the series. This is my second re-read from when I was a kid. This one is more solid than the first re-read. Not necessarily to the point where I would recommend them to a kid today.
November 6, 2017
Another great Mandie book!
June 7, 2025
no character I hate
August 29, 2016
Checkmark. Another lovely Mandie book.
This time Mandie gets to go to Florida, and, as usual, finds some mysterious events to figure out. She and her best friend Celia get to make new friends (and enemies), have a brand new large house to explore, meet up with Miss Wham again, and even attend a masquerade party.
Loved it.
This time Mandie gets to go to Florida, and, as usual, finds some mysterious events to figure out. She and her best friend Celia get to make new friends (and enemies), have a brand new large house to explore, meet up with Miss Wham again, and even attend a masquerade party.
Loved it.
February 1, 2024
Another fun mystery but in Florida
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews