"New Horizons" by Lois Gladys Leppard

About this book:

  “Mandie Shaw and Celia Hamilton have finally arrived at the elite Charleston Ladies’ College, a move they have been looking forward to for many months. The girls were ready for a campus of unfamiliar faces and fresh challenges, but despite Mandie’s best efforts to make new friends, most of her classmates will have nothing to do with her. It’s a mystery Mandie simply can’t fathom.

To makes matters worse, something strange seems to be going on in Charleston. There has been talk about a ghost sighting. Does that have anything to do with the old locksmith who has suddenly disappeared? Mandie is determined to find out.

  With Mandie awaiting the birth of her new brother or sister, not to mention some significant interest shown by George Stewart, a young British fellow, Mandie is in for her most exciting year yet!”


Series: The only book in the “Mandie: Her College Days” series. (To read the reviews of the previous books in main 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! #20! #21! #22! #23! #24! #25! #26! #27! #28! #29! #30! #31! #32! #33! #34! #35! #36! #37! #38! #39! And #40!) {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- A couple Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & prayed; Prayers, Blessings over food, & Thanking God; Going to chapel & sermons; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of churches, a chapel, going to chapel/church, Mass, services, a minister, & sermons; Mentions of hymns;

             *Note: Mentions of places that are rumored to be haunted, ghosts, & believing ghosts are/aren’t real; A couple mentions of devilish boys.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shucks’ and a ‘stupid’; A carriage accident & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a war & deaths; Mentions of a death from an accident (no details at all); Mentions of burglaries; Mentions of lies & rumors; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of a girl who was killed by a runaway horse; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of a death from a horse accident; A mention of jail; A mention of a cat who died (not Snowball); A mention of a hunting trip.

Sexual Content- Mentions of boys, being interested in them, & getting married; Mentions of Mandie & Joe (possibly) marrying when they’re older; A few mentions of blushes & falling in love; A few mentions of love letters; A few mentions of a boy-crazy girl & her wanting to meet good-looking boys; A mention of Celia liking when boys look at her (she says it makes her feel like something worth looking at);

             *Note: A few mentions of a mother having life-threatening problems after giving birth; A few mentions of an infant who passed away.

-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 16
                                P.O.V. of Mandie & a bit of Celia’s

                                    Set in 1904-1905 (?)
                                              222 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Forget every other book I have called ‘bittersweet’. This one takes the cake.

Being the official last Mandie book due to the author’s passing right after this book was published, “New Horizons” was the definition of bittersweet. While I may have read the actual Mandie series again and again, this was my first time reading the only college days book, so I was feeling all kinds of emotions.

There are four main points I’d like to discussion about this book:

1.) Right off the bat it’s very noticeable that the writing style is different compared to the previous Mandie books. While those might seem more elementary as times in the dialogue and actions, this one definitely felt more polished and mature. Possibly because it was the start to a new start for the beloved Mandie stories?

2.) Mandie and her grandmother are more alike than they realize. Both have many admirers, but Mandie and those boys. (I need other teen boys to stay away from my Mandie and Joe ship, pleaseandthankyou. Don’t even look at Mandie. Go away.)

3.) On a continuing note of Mandie and her admirers: Two more are added in this book and, yes, I do realize that it’s a bit crazy how much attention Mandie draws.

4.) The ending. How many times am I allowed to say ‘bittersweet’ in this review? We don’t know who Mandie ended up marrying, if Mrs. Taft got re-married, along with many other spoiler-ish things I won’t mention here, but you can bet your last dollar I’m a forever Mandie+Joe shipper. Even when the series is over. :’)

See y’all on Monday with a new review!

*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.