Maniac Magee by Jerry SpinelliGenre: Juvenile Fiction
Published in 1990
Recommended Age Group: 10 and Up
Summary: Maniac Magee is a Newberry Medal winning book about a legend of the same name. Also known as Jeffery Lionel Magee, Maniac is the hero and unifier of Two Mills, Pennsylvania. When Maniac ran into town there was a great divide between the people. There were the black people who lived on the East End of Hector Street and the white people who lived on the West End of Hector. As a twelve-year-old boy Jeffery didn’t understand the difference between black people and white. He didn’t understand that the white people just did not cross over to the East End. So on his first day of town he walked right over to the East End and made friends with Amanda Beale. He borrowed a book from her and then proceeded to do other unheard of things like sit on Finsterwald’s front steps and intercept a ball one handed that was meant for James “Hands” Down these things, among others, earned him the nickname Maniac.
Jeffery was a wanderer without family or home, he was orphaned at age three, he lived with some relatives but he was so unhappy there he ran away and landed, after a year of wandering, in Two Mills. He proceeded to enact social change bit by bit one miracle at a time. In the end he was a legend with a home, which is what he longed for most of all.
Personal Notes: An insightful book on the power of one fantastic person. Jeffery was able to do more for that town than anyone ever dreamed because he was able to set aside perceptions and actually get to know the people. This book teaches great lessons about the basics of humanity in the process of telling fun and interesting stories. A great story, something that I think everyone would enjoy but especially boys.
i love this book so much
ReplyDeletewho were the pallbearers waiting for in part 2???????
ReplyDeleteI don't remember if it actually says but I think they are waiting for a priest to dedicate the grave of Maniac's friend. Since they were cold they decided to give up and just bury him.
ReplyDeleteI love this book i read it once and since then the only book i really liked was this one. I highly recomend it!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great book. I read it in school and loved it!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think if you have kids around the ages of 10-15 or 16 .They might like this book.
ReplyDeleteWe had to read this for school and its so good! Even though Jerry Spinelli's books are sad....
ReplyDeletethey are SUPER GOOD!
i like this book
ReplyDelete