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The Mandie Collection #1
The Mandie Collection, Volume 1
This five-in-one volume brings MANDIE fans--new and old alike--back to where it all began. Readers will discover anew the charms of the impulsive Mandie Shaw as she faces the ups and downs of first losing her father and then finding her long-lost family in Mandie and the Secret Tunnel . Many more mysteries follow for Mandie and her friends in Mandie and the Cherokee Legend , Mandie and the Ghost Bandits , Mandie and the Forbidden Attic , and Mandie and the Trunk's Secret .
544 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
171 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Lois Gladys Leppard
119 books288 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 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 22, 2021
This...
My mother didn't know any good english books so she took up her conservative christian friend's advice and bought this entire stack from America for me to read,,,, In actuality it was not bad, though it did read like Enid Blyton with its somewhat pretentious dialogue and style of writing. I just remember it being very very white. There were always cameos of Cherokees as well that looking back, may have contained racially inappropriate commentary. It wasn't too bad of a book, I actually used to read it quite a lot either out of genuine interest or because I've run out of approved books to read, but the series became dry after the 5th volume. :(
Can't believe I read all 42 books (11 volumes) like it was absolutely nothing. Goodbye braincells and focus can't believe you peaked at 12 reading melodramatic, dated white books :(
My mother didn't know any good english books so she took up her conservative christian friend's advice and bought this entire stack from America for me to read,,,, In actuality it was not bad, though it did read like Enid Blyton with its somewhat pretentious dialogue and style of writing. I just remember it being very very white. There were always cameos of Cherokees as well that looking back, may have contained racially inappropriate commentary. It wasn't too bad of a book, I actually used to read it quite a lot either out of genuine interest or because I've run out of approved books to read, but the series became dry after the 5th volume. :(
Can't believe I read all 42 books (11 volumes) like it was absolutely nothing. Goodbye braincells and focus can't believe you peaked at 12 reading melodramatic, dated white books :(
June 15, 2010
I read the Mandie Books while in 5th and 6th grade. Mandie is a strong, independent girl with a series of friends and family who solves mysteries. I would liken her to Nancy Drew but with more heart. The stories also seek to have a moral or value to be learned.
Her inquistive cat Snowball, best friends Celia and Jonathan make the stories that much ore interesting...
Having said how much I enjoyed these stories as a child, I must say that trying to reread them as an adult was a mistake. The dialogue and situations are clearly meant only for the enjoyment of younger readers and I was mildy offended by Uncle Cal's character of the "Negro man"...very reminiscent of Uncle Remus and the racism that exists within that world.
Her inquistive cat Snowball, best friends Celia and Jonathan make the stories that much ore interesting...
Having said how much I enjoyed these stories as a child, I must say that trying to reread them as an adult was a mistake. The dialogue and situations are clearly meant only for the enjoyment of younger readers and I was mildy offended by Uncle Cal's character of the "Negro man"...very reminiscent of Uncle Remus and the racism that exists within that world.
October 12, 2014
I loved the Mandie series when I was a little girl. I found this collection of the first few books when I was at the library, so I picked it up for nostalgia. I was a little sad that I did, though, because it wasn't nearly as good as I remembered it being! There was so much cliche and it was over the top silly and impractical in some places. I can't enjoy it anymore. But, I suppose it's not meant for readers over 12 or 13, is it? Still, since I loved the stories so much once upon a time, I'll give it an "I liked it" vote!
September 30, 2014
While I enjoyed them as a child I found these books to be dated in their terminology for instance referring to a deaf and mute girl found in an attic as "retarded." I also found them to be unnecessarily melodramatic.
December 8, 2008
I have the first 25 volumes of this series and highly recommend it to any young christian girl who thirsts for adventure. As a warning...I did get bored because Mandie wasn't growing up as fast as I was (they were new when I was a kid). Mainly for tween readers.
June 21, 2015
Every girl should read this series. Especially, every Christian girl. When I was younger, I adored this series. It's right up there with Laura Ingles Wilder's classic series: Little House on the Prairie.
May 9, 2025
I've read this before, but I wanted to reread it. I love the Mandie books so much! Lois Gladys Leppard is a great author!
November 12, 2025
While I’m on the kick of re-reading many of the books I read as a child, I decided to read the Mandie series. The series is an about a young girl who is living during the turn of the century (1900s) and has a number of adventures. The first five books (Volume 1), introduces her and her family and friends and set the groundwork for all her experiences and adventures.
These books are written for young ladies between the ages of 8 and 12, I believe. So, pretty simplistic narratives. However, the stories are clean and God-centered which means they are generally safe for young girls to read. They surprisingly do deal with some heavy topics like racism, prejudice, jealousy and greed. Though they are handled relatively lightly. They are nostalgic reads for me and the first five books have both adventure and excitement in them. I recommend them for the right age group.
These books are written for young ladies between the ages of 8 and 12, I believe. So, pretty simplistic narratives. However, the stories are clean and God-centered which means they are generally safe for young girls to read. They surprisingly do deal with some heavy topics like racism, prejudice, jealousy and greed. Though they are handled relatively lightly. They are nostalgic reads for me and the first five books have both adventure and excitement in them. I recommend them for the right age group.
August 25, 2018
I read this book because a young friend offered to lend it to me, and she liked it. I wanted to be able to talk about it with her.
I found the book ... OK. The theology is not quite what I would wish, and it is more of a theistic book than a Christian book. There are some things which, were a child to internalize them, they might be a barrier to a more orthodox and complete view of God and his relationship with us for a child.
On the plus side, it is a girl who has adventures. Probably exciting for girls to read.
I found the book ... OK. The theology is not quite what I would wish, and it is more of a theistic book than a Christian book. There are some things which, were a child to internalize them, they might be a barrier to a more orthodox and complete view of God and his relationship with us for a child.
On the plus side, it is a girl who has adventures. Probably exciting for girls to read.
August 10, 2024
I loved this series as a pre-teen, but it's not a series that ages well even if its readers do. The nostalgia is nice, but all the books read like they were written around a specific lesson rather than having that lesson woven in in a more organic manner.
(Also, what's with all the frequent (thankfully mild) love drama? Polly should get to be a character rather than a lesson for Mandie about jealousy, and the same goes for Dimar when it comes to Joe. Joe should also stop being so possessive of Mandie, as well as stop being condescending half the time, but he's also 13 so there's always time for that to change. If I remember correctly he gets better in later books.)
(Also, what's with all the frequent (thankfully mild) love drama? Polly should get to be a character rather than a lesson for Mandie about jealousy, and the same goes for Dimar when it comes to Joe. Joe should also stop being so possessive of Mandie, as well as stop being condescending half the time, but he's also 13 so there's always time for that to change. If I remember correctly he gets better in later books.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2019
Wonderful stories, full of fun and timely lessons!
Reading these stories with my granddaughter each evening has given us so many opportunities to discuss what it means to live a Godly life, and the need to learn from our mistakes. As Mandie learned, so did my Granddaughter and I learn. A fantastic series!
Reading these stories with my granddaughter each evening has given us so many opportunities to discuss what it means to live a Godly life, and the need to learn from our mistakes. As Mandie learned, so did my Granddaughter and I learn. A fantastic series!
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April 17, 2024I loved these books in elementary school, and when I saw this volume in a thrift store, I got it to read to my daughter before bed. Some of the stereotypes and terms used didn’t age well and some of it is outright silly, but it was nostalgic.
September 1, 2017
Lovely!
Give fascinating stories for girls, full of adventure and fun but also about learning to trust God in every situation. I recommend them highly! (I'm 70, and I loved them!)
Give fascinating stories for girls, full of adventure and fun but also about learning to trust God in every situation. I recommend them highly! (I'm 70, and I loved them!)
February 8, 2019
Not exactly sure of the audience this series was written for (my thinking is teenage girls), but it was quite an interesting read anyway, as well as a glimpse into the etiquette of the past.
April 9, 2020
I love it
October 22, 2021
This makes it easier to read several of the Mandie Books in a row - I purchased this for my Kindle so I would have the Mandie books with me all the time.
January 14, 2023
This was my favorite childhood book series
February 19, 2024
A very good, fun and mysterious book.
January 7, 2025
I remembered this series when I was a kid. I liked it then but now it’s horrible.
September 19, 2022
Mandie is really nice and funny character who engages in solving mysteries. Great book for young readers and adults as well.
May 19, 2021
my favorite character is Mandy because she is strong and determined it to do anything.
I was most surprised whenever the it turns out the uncle was not dead and still had a fortune and was just hiding in the Attic!
I would not change the ending I left it was sweet and there's a happy ending of Mandy living with her very rich uncle.
I was most surprised whenever the it turns out the uncle was not dead and still had a fortune and was just hiding in the Attic!
I would not change the ending I left it was sweet and there's a happy ending of Mandy living with her very rich uncle.
December 2, 2021
This five-in-one volume brings Mandie fans-new and old alike-back to where it all began. Readers will discover anew the charms of the impulsive Mandie Shaw as she faces the ups and downs of first losing her father and then finding her long-lost family in Mandie and the Secret Tunnel. Many more mysteries follow for Mandie and her friends in Mandie and the Cherokee Legend, Mandie and the Ghost Bandits, Mandie and the Forbidden Attic, and Mandie and the Trunk's Secret. For ages 8-14.
December 30, 2009
This collection of books were wonderful.
I was so into it, that I completly forgot about my real wolr around me.
The author described the imagery in the book so well, I could see it perfectly in my mind.
I was so into it, that I completly forgot about my real wolr around me.
The author described the imagery in the book so well, I could see it perfectly in my mind.
January 29, 2013
3.5 stars
Good, fun and endearing stories. I read them as a girl, and no doubt my future daughters will read them too.
I was disappointed that the edition I had contained at least four typos, but that is the only downside :)
Good, fun and endearing stories. I read them as a girl, and no doubt my future daughters will read them too.
I was disappointed that the edition I had contained at least four typos, but that is the only downside :)
October 13, 2016
I would rate this book 3.5 if I could. My favourite two books of this collection are: 'Mandie and the Forbidden Attic' and 'Mandie and the Trunk's Secret;' both of them are when she is in the school.
January 6, 2008
I got this for christmas, I really like it.
February 14, 2009
This was one of the best books I have ever read. Even better: there is five in one. I am on volume 4 right now.
March 22, 2009
A great series for kids nine to twelve. It gets kind of boring around the sixth book, but I think it's cool how long the series lasts. Great stories Leppard!
May 13, 2011
I have loved Mandie books since the first one that I read, now that they are coming out in these collections, I am actually reading them in order, and so far I am loving them.
November 11, 2011
My favorite book ever!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews