Maniac+Magee

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

The story //Maniac Magee// by Jerry Spinelli is a wonderful book for young adolescent readers. It is an entertaining and heart-wrenching story of a boy who is just trying to find where belongs. Jeffrey Magee is orphaned at age three and after eight years of living with his aunt and uncle who show no love or sense of family, he leaves. He picks up and leaves his home in the East end of town (primarily white) and heads to the West end of town (primarily black). As he does this, Maniac encounters and endures many adventures, learning experiences and stares from others. Maniac encounters reverse discrimination from the town as he tries to become part of the Beale family. Since his new residence is creating trouble for the Beale family, he moves on again. He develops a relationship with an elderly man, Grayson. It seems that just when Maniac finally feels at home with Grayson, he is yet again “plucked” from comfort and “home”. Next, he takes up residence with the McNab boys. Maniac saves the boys from various dangers and thoughts. As he does this, he is both appalled and saddened by their outlook on others who are different from them. As a result of trying to save one of the McNAb boys, Maniac in essence saves his own life. He realizes where he really does fit in life. He realizes that he does have a family, that he is loved and that no matter what color he is, no one is allowed to take that from him. That is where he belongs. I enjoyed this book because it covers issues of bullying, being different, discrimination, being brave, learning from others/elders, teaching others and “fitting in”. These are all issues that adolescent children face daily. Maniac Magee puts many adventures and twists to these issues. Where he fits in is not where one might place him. As a book for adolescent students, the book has short chapters, many adventures, laughter, sadness and a positive outcome. It has various messages without being overbearing. A great read for this age group!
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Some activities for this book would be: Language Arts
 * Have students create a campaign poster for Maniac Magee
 * Create a Venn Diagram with various characters
 * Have students write a letter to Maniac telling him one or two things that they would do differently.

Social Studies Science Math
 * Have students write a story from Oral History (like one from Grayson)
 * List similarities of cultures between the two sides of town
 * What would it take to build a bunker like the McNab boys?
 * How would one make the bunker water proof with the ability for fresh air?
 * Measure how long a ball of tangled yarn would be. (Has to be untangled first!)
 * Word problems (algebraic or not) for baseball.
 * Use Distance formula to determine how far a baseball can go at a certain rate, etc.