Mandie and the Windmills Message

Mandie #20

by Lois Gladys Leppard

Mandie, Celia and Jonathan should have known that when Uncle Ned said there was a big mystery waiting for them in Holland that he meant a BIG mystery. Adventures had followed them at every stop on their summer travel through Europe with Mrs. Taft, Senator Morton and Uncle Ned, and Holland promised to be no exception. But what mystery could the quiet, peaceful land of the windmills possibly bring?

They won't be there long before they find out. Who's behind the mysterious resetting of the windmill's blades and what message are they sending? Is it a harmless prank or is someone really up to something bad? Are lives in danger?

Is someone out to destroy the royal family's reputation?

Genres: Mystery, Christian, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade

190 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

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

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mandie and the Windmills Message is a mystery book following Mandie and her two friends, Celia and Jonathan as they go on a vacation full of mysteries.

I liked it for the most part, it was entertaining, I had fun with the location the book is set at and all the characters hashed really well together. Since it a mostly childrens book though, I didn't absolutely love it obviously but it was a good read.

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

About this book:

“Mandie, Celia and Jonathan should have known that when Uncle Ned said there was a big mystery waiting for them in Holland that he meant a BIG mystery. Adventures had followed them at every stop on their summer travel through Europe with Mrs. Taft, Senator Morton and Uncle Ned, and Holland promised to be no exception. But what mystery could the quiet, peaceful land of the windmills possibly bring?
They won't be there long before they find out. Who's behind the mysterious resetting of the windmill's blades and what message are they sending? Is it a harmless prank or is someone really up to something bad? Are lives in danger?
Is someone out to destroy the royal family's reputation?”


Series: Book #20 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!) {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- Mark 11:26 at the beginning; Prayers & Blessings over food; A Scripture is quoted & prayed; Mentions of God & forgiving.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a “I don’t give a flip.” and four ‘shuck’s; A bit of sarcasm; Mentions of guns, arrows shot & pain (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of a man who was tied up; A few mentions of lies; A couple mentions of hangings; A couple mentions of jail; A couple mentions of family skeletons (maybe even a murder); A mention of tobacco & a pipe.


Sexual Content- A few hints of crushes; Mentions of young men who are smitten with Mandie & her blushes; A couple mentions of Joe wanting to marry Mandie when they’re older; A couple mentions of family skeletons (maybe even an illegitimate child); A mention of kissing to make up after asking for forgiveness (he leans in, almost touching her cheek).

-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13
P.O.V. of Mandie
Set in 1901
190 pages (also available in a collection with four other Mandie books.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
Sometimes I think every young man who comes across Mandie is smitten with her; there’s a couple that aren’t, but most are. It’s the blue eyes and blond hair. ;)


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.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Mandie and the Windmill's Message
Author: Lois Gladys Leppard
Series: Mandie, 20
Format: ebook, bind-up
Length: N/A
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: Mandie, Celia and Jonathan should have known that when Uncle Ned said there was a big mystery waiting for them in Holland that he meant a BIG mystery. Adventures had followed them at every stop on their summer travel through Europe with Mrs. Taft, Senator Morton and Uncle Ned, and Holland promised to be no exception. But what mystery could the quiet, peaceful land of the windmills possibly bring?
They won't be there long before they find out. Who's behind the mysterious resetting of the windmill's blades and what message are they sending? Is it a harmless prank or is someone really up to something bad? Are lives in danger?
Is someone out to destroy the royal family's reputation?

Favourite character: Albert & Jonathan
Least favourite character: Mandie

Mini-review: Okay, so, didn't like Mandie's grudges against Jonathan for something he obviously had nothing to do with. That is a big lesson in judgment right there and I'm honestly kind of shocked that her grandmother didn't send her back on the first ship home because she's a real piece of work (Mandie not Mrs. Taft). Not sure if the ending was supposed to be racist or not. Can't wait to get into the books I haven't read yet.

Fan Cast:
Amanda "Mandie" Shaw - Emma Rayne Lyle
Celia Hamilton - Sadie Sink
Jonathan Lindall Guyer III - Louis Hynes
Grandmother Taft - Meryl Streep
Senator Morton - Donald Sutherland
Albert Van Dongen - Levi Miller
Uncle Ned Sweetwater - Zahn McClarnon
Mr. Van Dongen - Mads Mikkelsen
Velda Van Dongen - Thomasin McKenzie
Maurice - Nicholas Hamilton

[Sydni · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Mandie, Celia, and Jonathan are on vacation in Holland, their adventure turns mysterious. The house in which they are staying is located near a windmill. It does not take long for them to discover the blades are being set in strange positions and moving at odd times.

While visiting a neighboring town, they tour a pottery factory and discover someone mixed the paint colors causing damage to the famous Dutch pottery. Soon, they learn the authorities are hunting for the culprits.

Is it possible for the strange events at the mill and the factory to be related? Mandie and her friends are determined to solve the mystery!

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was when Mandie found out what was going on with the windmill blades and the paint in the factory. My least favorite part was when Snowball disappeared, and also when Mandie and her friends were breaking the rules by going at night to see the windmill closer. My favorite character was Mandie because she likes mystries. My least favorite character was whoever the one was that originally came up with the idea of destroying the factory. September, 2017

[Kara Kuehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book more than some of the other ones. However, the main thing in each of these books is the fact of Mandie and her companions leaving after dark without permission in a foreign country. I just don’t think that is an example that kids need to follow.
Other than that, this was an enjoyable read.

[Staci Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most irritating Mandie book so far. I couldn’t imagine a more boring “mystery” that mandie could have invented. Just another book of her sneaking around, being nosy, and Snowball ruining everything as usual. This book has the fun side plot of Mandie being a total butt hole to Jonathan because she HAS A HUNCH that he did something devious, with no proof.

[Abby (Hersh.) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good Mandie book...but not any better than any other one I've read. There's enough elements in the plot to make it interesting.

[Superreader200 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Mandie book! 5 stars!

[Telisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book about hidden messages and old world traditions.

[Naomi Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book. Loved it ! Can't wait to read the rest.

[AshPotatoes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is older, so some of the depictions and language is outdated and offensive. I still enjoy the cozy, low stakes mystery part of the books.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend thus to anyone

[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!

[wanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit it: I am reviewing these books years after reading them. However, do not even suggest that I'm no longer qualified, that too many years have passed to remember. My battered and faded copies of these books testify to how many times I read them growing up and plots and entire passages are seared in my memory forever.

Snowball always ran away, Mandie always got in trouble, Uncle Ned always rescued her, and Joe and Tommy bristled at each other. I myself preferred Joe, but Tommy's cosmopolitan airs nearly tipped the balance a time or two. I recall- fondly and as though it were yesterday- my glee when Mandie went off to Europe, my disgust at the new baby, my delight in Mandie's wardrobe of sky blue frocks, my puzzlement at all her near escapes and handy school vacations, my terror during the daring midnight adventures. Ah me, to be young and silly again...

If I had written goodreads reviews at the age of eleven, all Mandie books would've received automatic five-star ratings and gushing descriptions. As an adult, I will honestly give them all three stars, except for my special pets. And if I ever have a little girl, I will buy her the entire set. Oh, and did you know there are more than forty books in the series by now? And I'm guessing Mandie never grows up, either.

[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.

[Partridge Public]

Leppard, Lois G. PB

[Cws]

JMAR5-Lep

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent European mystery

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the series, one of the best!