Moon Over Manifest Theme of Memory and the Past

Oh, boy. You do not want to mention anything about the past in Manifest. Abilene asks a simple question about a town fair, and the place goes silent. What's up with that? Well, the town's memories are so painful that no one wants to relive them. But sometimes, that's the only way to heal. Miss Sadie seems to be the only one in Moon Over Manifest who's willing to remember—and to share her memories with Abilene. And it's only once she does this, that she and the entire town town can really start living again.

Questions About Memory and the Past

  1. How do memories of 1918 affect Shady? How do they affect the rest of the town?
  2. Why does Jinx only share superficial memories of Manifest with Abilene when she's growing up? Why not give her the deets?
  3. Is the past repeating itself with Abilene's arrival?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

The events of 1918 were more important to Manifest than those of 1936.

The events of 1936 are more important to Manifest than those of 1918.