Module 4: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Bibliographic Citation: Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1990. 

Plot Summary:

Jeffrey, Maniac, is an orphan who doesn't have a home.  Maniac runs away from his aunt and uncle's house because they fought too much.  Maniac decides to just run, run until he finds a place he can call home.  He ends up in a town called Two Mills, where he meets Amanda Beale.  She befriends him and lets him borrow one of her precious books.  Maniac is soon known by many people, but because of the odd things he does, like run everywhere, throws a football farther than any football player, and he's able to undo knots.   

Maniac makes the East Side his home, he lives with the Beale's, but he doesn't quite feel like it is home.  So, he moves to the West Side, where he meets Grayson.  Grayson doesn't have any family either and together they make a little family.  Things seem to be looking good, and Manic finally feels like he has a home, and then Grayson dies.  Then Maniac moves in with the McNab's, they take him in, even though it is an ugly, dirty, and chaotic house.  Eventually Maniac leave this home as well.  In the end, Maniac ends up back in the Beale's home, and this is where he feels comfortable and finally can call a place home.  

My Impressions of the Book:

Where did this kid come from!  That's exactly what I kept thinking as I read this book.  Jeffrey's life is a sad one, he is a homeless orphan that doesnt seem to really fit in at first.  This was definitely a sad story because all he wants is to have a place to call home.  Racism was definitely an issue addressed in this novel and I think it made me feel uncomfortable, there seemed to be a clear division between African Americans and Caucasians, and I just found it upsetting to see society divided.  I enjoyed this book but can't say that I loved it.  I was very upset when Grayson died because he was the closest thing to a family that Maniac had and even that was taken away from him.   

Review(s) About the Book:

Barnes & Nobles Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Half tall tale, half novel, Jerry Spinelli's Newbery award winner (Little, 1990) is beautifully narrated by film and television actress S. Epatha Merkerson. The story, which explores such complex concepts as home and race relations, is consistently fresh and surprising. Maniac's search for an address to call his own is poignant, while his feats such as untying Cobble's knot and hitting an "inside-the-park home-run but" with a "frogball" are pure tall tale. Merkerson's word-for-word narration is excellent. She gives subtle distinction to the accents and speech of such varied characters as McNab, Mars Bar, Amanda Beale, and Grayson. Her voice could serve as a definition of the word mellifluous, which makes listening to the story even more pleasurable. No music or other sound effects interrupt the text. Technical quality is excellent throughout. This would be an excellent choice for group listening in classrooms, and is equally good for individual listening. Definitely a first purchase choice for all audiobook collections serving elementary grade students.-Louise Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Maniac-Magee/Jerry-Spinelli/e/9780316809061/?itm=1&USRI=maniac+magee

Amazon Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Maniac Magee is a folk story about a boy, a very excitable boy. One that can outrun dogs, hit a home run off the best pitcher in the neighborhood, tie a knot no one can undo. "Kid's gotta be a maniac," is what the folks in Two Mills say. It's also the story of how this boy, Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee, confronts racism in a small town, tries to find a home where there is none and attempts to soothe tensions between rival factions on the tough side of town. Presented as a folk tale, it's the stuff of storytelling. "The history of a kid," says Jerry Spinelli, "is one part fact, two parts legend, and three parts snowball." And for this kid, four parts of fun. Maniac Magee won the 1991 Newbery Medal. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0316809063/sr=1-1/qid=1292192333/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1292192333&sr=1-1

Use in Library Setting:

I would use this book in a book talk to promote reading with upper elementary students and/or 6th graders.  This book can also be recommnded to teachers to read in their classrooms because the book touches on many important elements, such as racism, being homeless, etc.