Parents' Guide to

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Intriguing 1899 family mystery marred by stereotypes.

Movie G 2009 103 minutes
Mandie and the Secret Tunnel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 5+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Polly F.
Polly F. Parent of 7-year-old
July 7, 2017
age 5+

If you love the book you will like the movie.

The book is more detailed but very comparable to the movie.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Purdygood
Purdygood Adult
August 20, 2012
age 8+

Great family movie!

I think Mandie and the Secret Tunnel is a fantastic movie. It is well written and the mystery holds our attention. The time period 1899 is a time of prejudice against Native Americans. This did not change immediately. Many men were uneducated; even caucasion. Poor men learned a trade. They were happy to be employed. Thee only down side here is overacting among some minor characters.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

This movie is based on the book of the same name by Lois Leppard. Mandie (Lexi Johnson) lives in a tiny shack in the hills of North Carolina. The year is 1899, and she is very sad whenever her father goes off hunting without her. One day, as she and her father are exploring a creek in the woods, he slips while saving her from a wolf attack. His death is a tragedy that turns Mandie's world upside down. When she discovers that her mother is going to send her to a neighboring town to work for a family, she runs away with her father's friend Ned. Ned takes her to her Uncle's estate, where Mandie is welcomed with open arms. Her Uncle is thought to be lost at sea, but the man who runs the estate, Jason (Dean Jones), encourages her to find her Uncle's will so that she can claim her true inheritance.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (3):

In the spirit of Little House on the Prairie for its setting, and The Secret Garden for its family mystery, this story is a compelling tale about a brave girl who discovers her past. The secret tunnel and the legend that tells of Mandie's heritage are indeed interesting, but families may be put off by some troublesome stereotypes, both of Native Americans who speak in broken English ("Him sorry, Papoose") and African-American servants who seem a little too pleased with their lot.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Mandie's search for her own family. When she finds out her real heritage, she asks a few questions and drinks her tea. How would you react if you were in her shoes?

  • What were relations like between "Indian" people and white folk back in Mandie's time? How were African-Americans treated? What kind of stereotypes do you find in this movie?

  • Mandie talks about bringing water from the creek to take a bath, and she milks the cow in the morning. What was life really like in 1899? Was there electricity in a home like Mr. Shaw's? What would you do if you had no electricity or running water?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate