Maniac Magee

Spinelli, J. (1990). Maniac Magee. New York, New York. Little, Brown and Company.

WON THE AWARD IN 1991

Maniac Magee is a combination of realistic fiction, humor, folklore, and even a little legend passed down. 
I have heard of this book before but never read it. My Librarian suggested it to me.  I believe it is a great story for kids in 4-6 grades to help teach children about how black and white people can get a long and how far we have come. I believe it also teaches students to never give up when things are hard if you have a passion for something. A common issue I see in the school I teach in. When life hands you lemons make lemonade, most kids just quit. I plan to use this book in my classroom this year for all these reasons as well.

The major character in the story is obviously Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee. He is the story’s protagonist. 

"Nobody knows who said it first, but somebody must have: 'Kid's gotta be a maniac."' Chapter 8, pg. 28 and that’s about all the insight you get as to how little Jeffrey got his nickname.

Maniac is an extremely young child who tragically loses his parents and finds himself in the setting of Two Mills, Bridgeport, and Holidaysburg. All towns in Pennsylvania, where he becomes a local legend while trying to find a home because things just didn’t work out with his crazy aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. He has shocking athletic abilities, runs everywhere he goes, can untie any knot, is allergic to pizza, crosses the barrier between East End and West End as if blind to racial distinction and becomes close friends with a older gentleman, Grayson, that teaches him so much.

Some other characters that you will read about in the story are Amanda Beale, she give Jeffery his first book to read and allows him to stay at her house and Mars Bars, yes like the candy bar. He is the "baddest" kid in the East End and antagonist to Maniac. He resents Maniac's presence in the East End, which is worsened when Maniac beats him in a race. He also offers Maniac a place to stay for a while too.

Between home hoping and living in the zoo Maniac has many adventures in the town of Two Mills.  One morning, Magee wakes up thinking a buffalo has him by the ear. It turns out to be Amanda Beale, who is angry after Mars Bar, who is hiding in some bushes, told her about Magee turning down his offer to live at his house. She orders Magee to come with her back to the Beale home. Magee attempts to refuse, which only makes her angrier, and see tells him that her house is his home and he is to no longer sleep with the animals. Magee follows her, as he finally realizes that he has a real home. Which is something Jeffrey Magee he has always wanted, a real address! 

BIG question:

Why is a home so important to Maniac? 

How do you think Maniac Magee’s future will turn out?