Mandie and the Secret Tunnel

When 11-year-old Mandie Shaw's father dies, her life reaches a low point. Unwanted by a mother who has never loved her, the only things she looks forward to are visits from the man she calls "Uncle Ned"—a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. Longing for a home where she will be truly loved, Mandie seeks out family she has never met. After a perilous journey, she finds herself in the middle of luxury she can scarcely believe—and a mystery that will take all her brains and courage to solve. With turn-of-the-century North Carolina as her backdrop, Lois Leppard explores issues of race, religion, and family in this novel of a young girl's search to unravel the mystery of her identity. Kate Forbes' narration brilliantly brings life to the colorful characters and many twists Mandie encounters in this first book of a best-selling inspirational series.