Maniac Magee Author:Jerry Spinelli Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee might have lived a normal life if a trolley accident hadn't made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides to run -- and not just run away, but run. And this is where the myth of Manian Magee begins, as he changes the lives of a racially divided... more » small town with his amazing and legendary feats. « less
I read this book in grade school and it was one of the books that made me start reading on my own and not just feel like I had to. I would recommend this to any younger child to get them to start to love reading as well as to teach them about a variety of different issues.
A very interesting book for adolescents about issues such as race, competetion, and having no where to go. Maniac Magee teaches a whole town a lesson about understanding and looking withIN rather than only at the outside of a person.
MANIAC MAGEE is one of those unassuming, yet quietly powerful novels, despite its Newbery Award win and near canonization in modern children's literature. It's a seriously ageless novel, in that readers can always get something new out of it, no matter what age you are. When I read this book for the first time in elementary school, I enjoyed the realistic banter between the children, between the blacks and the whites. Now, as I reread it for my children's literature class, I am in awe of the way that Spinelli effortlessly weaves a moral tale into something entertaining and unique. His language is brilliance, stars and moon itself, and his characters are memorable and relatable. Even though I'm still not a fan of Maniac, with his improbable feats and passivity, this book is a must-read if you're looking for the best of the best in children's lit.
There are few writers of Spinelli's caliber for middle grades. He captures the essence of being a young boy struggling to be a young man. Every adolescent boy (and girls who want to better understand boys) should read this book.
MANIAC MAGEE is one of those unassuming, yet quietly powerful novels, despite its Newbery Award win and near canonization in modern children's literature. It's a seriously ageless novel, in that readers can always get something new out of it, no matter what age you are. When I read this book for the first time in elementary school, I enjoyed the realistic banter between the children, between the blacks and the whites. Now, as I reread it for my children's literature class, I am in awe of the way that Spinelli effortlessly weaves a moral tale into something entertaining and unique. His language is brilliance, stars and moon itself, and his characters are memorable and relatable. Even though I'm still not a fan of Maniac, with his improbable feats and passivity, this book is a must-read if you're looking for the best of the best in children's lit.
MANIAC MAGEE is one of those unassuming, yet quietly powerful novels, despite its Newbery Award win and near canonization in modern children's literature. It's a seriously ageless novel, in that readers can always get something new out of it, no matter what age you are. When I read this book for the first time in elementary school, I enjoyed the realistic banter between the children, between the blacks and the whites. Now, as I reread it for my children's literature class, I am in awe of the way that Spinelli effortlessly weaves a moral tale into something entertaining and unique. His language is brilliance, stars and moon itself, and his characters are memorable and relatable. Even though I'm still not a fan of Maniac, with his improbable feats and passivity, this book is a must-read if you're looking for the best of the best in children's lit.
MANIAC MAGEE is one of those unassuming, yet quietly powerful novels, despite its Newbery Award win and near canonization in modern children's literature. It's a seriously ageless novel, in that readers can always get something new out of it, no matter what age you are. When I read this book for the first time in elementary school, I enjoyed the realistic banter between the children, between the blacks and the whites. Now, as I reread it for my children's literature class, I am in awe of the way that Spinelli effortlessly weaves a moral tale into something entertaining and unique. His language is brilliance, stars and moon itself, and his characters are memorable and relatable. Even though I'm still not a fan of Maniac, with his improbable feats and passivity, this book is a must-read if you're looking for the best of the best in children's lit.
This book was wonderful. I just read it for the first time as an adult but I wish everyone could read it. Such a great reminder that we are not different from each other.
A GREAT read for older elementary students...Fifth and sixth graders will identify and connect to Maniac, and will be impressed with his ability to survive on his own for much of the time. It is a great book to use as a springboard to discuss race relations or race divisions. Maniac serves as the unlikely vehicle for affecting a change of heart and attitude in a Philadelphia area neighborhood.
MANIAC MAGEE is one of those unassuming, yet quietly powerful novels, despite its Newbery Award win and near canonization in modern children's literature. It's a seriously ageless novel, in that readers can always get something new out of it, no matter what age you are. When I read this book for the first time in elementary school, I enjoyed the realistic banter between the children, between the blacks and the whites. Now, as I reread it for my children's literature class, I am in awe of the way that Spinelli effortlessly weaves a moral tale into something entertaining and unique. His language is brilliance, stars and moon itself, and his characters are memorable and relatable. Even though I'm still not a fan of Maniac, with his improbable feats and passivity, this book is a must-read if you're looking for the best of the best in children's lit.
