A series that I think is often overlooked by many series collectors is the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard. I’ve been reading these books for 16 or 17 years now. I have to let my fellow collectors know that the things we love most about Trixie, Cherry, Beverly, Nancy and Judy are, in fact, not dead, but being introduced to new generations.

Mandie hit store shelves in 1983, and is published by Bethany House. The series has an ever growing audience, with many of the first fans of the series still re-reading the books, myself included. The first volume is titled Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, and is set in April of 1900 in North Carolina. Mandie is 11 years old in this first volume, and she slowly ages. Currently she is about 15.

The character of Mandie is based on the life and adventures of the author’s mother, who was an orphan in North Carolina in the early 1900’s. Most of the mysteries in the books were inspired by actual events, or the author’s research into her family history. In this regard, Mandie very much reminds me of Judy Bolton. “Mandie is one-quarter Cherokee and all curiosity!” to quote the publisher. Her father’s mother was full-blooded Cherokee, and Ms. Leppard does a fantastic job of weaving in the Cherokee traditions and Mandie’s Cherokee relatives.

There is a host of recurring characters including Celia Hamilton, Joe Woodard, Polly Cornwallis, the Heathwood sisters who are the schoolmistresses of the boarding school Mandie attends, and of course Mandie’s nemesis April Snow! April is one of the finest girls series nemesis characters I have ever come across. She is forever making trouble in the true nemesis fashion; from getting Mandie locked out of the school building after hours, to letting Mandie’s cat loose.

Ah yes, the cat. Snowball is Mandie’s white kitten. He has been responsible for solving more than a few mysteries in the series, and has also been responsible for creating quite a bit of havoc. Snowball accompanies Mandie everywhere, and because of my love for the series I insisted on having a white cat of my own to name Snowball. My Snowball lived to be 14.

Mandie and Celia are roommates at the Misses Heathwood’s School for Girls in Asheville, North Carolina. They end up sharing a room quite by accident in the 4th volume, Mandie and the Forbidden Attic, and soon become the best of friends. They discover that Mandie’s mother and Celia’s mother were also roommates and best friends when they attended the school. If you want to find out the details on why the two girls didn’t know this, you’ll need to read the first book in the series.

In volume 14, Mandie and Celia embark on a European vacation with Mandie's grandmother, Mrs. Taft. Mrs. Taft is old Asheville money and has been estranged from Mandie most of Mandie's life. She's a very interesting character!

Now the Mandie series is targeted at the Christian audience, and Christian values are woven very strongly through the stories. Mandie constantly struggles with fear and anger, and even jealousy, and is constantly trying to get past it. She gets in trouble with her mother, has a one track mind, and hurts feelings without realizing it. However, it’s not the “in your face” type of Christian book that so many out there tend to be. The values and morals of the stories are more subtly written, and the reader is learning the lessons along with Mandie.

Mandie very much reminds me of Judy Bolton in the realness of her character and her world, and very much of Nancy Drew in her single-mindedness when she’s on the trail of a mystery. Since I love both series, Mandie is the perfect combination of the qualities I love in each. It could be said that Mandie led me to Nancy and to Judy, because Mandie and the Midnight Journey was the very first “mystery” I ever read. My Mandie books will be passed down to my own daughters someday, along with my Nancy’s and Judy’s. They are very treasured books from my childhood and teen years.

There is also a Young Mandie series, a Mandie Datebook, a Mandie Diary and a Mandie Cookbook. I only have the cookbook, but it’s a very nice one, especially for a young girl who’s just learning how to cook. There’s an entire section in it about foods the Cherokee ate, and how they prepared them. Also includes a very handy ingredient conversion chart that even my mother refers to! There was a spin-off series titled The Lily Adventures, which starred a young lady that Mandie met in #14. Unfortunately, the publisher canceled the series after only 2 volumes. There are also 2 “filler” stories that were published in hardback. Mandie and Molly & The Angel's Visit is out of print and can be hard to find, but Mandie and Joe's Christmas Surprise is still in print and readily available.

In September, 2004, Mrs. Leppard set a new record. The Mandie series is now the longest running series- volume wise, written by a single author. Topping out at 40, 42 if you count the 2 filler stories, she has surpassed Judy Bolton. Judy still holds the record for years running, but I think Mandie is very deserving of her new title.

And now Mandie has started college. Like Judy, Mandie ages. Only much slower! February 2006 started the new Mandie series, Mandie: Her College Days. The first book is titled “New Horizons”. It is targeted at a slightly older audience, specifically those of us who have been reading Mandie's adventures since the series began, those of us who have longed to see Mandie grow up and those of us who are dying to know if she'll ever marry Joe!

Please do give the series a try. You might be surprised and find you like it!

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