Jerry Spinelli
Maniac Magee
Maniac Magee is an exciting, high interest novel that anyone at any age
level should read. The book is very intriguing and hard to put down.
The issues discussed in the book are prejudice, homelessness, friendship,
family and friendship. The story tells an amazing tale of a boy named
Maniac Magee. He runs away from home after his parents did in a tragic trolley
accident. He earns his name Maniac when he ends up in Two Mills, Pennsylvania.
There he performs a series of amazing feats, which include, untangling
a ball of string that people have tried to untangle for years, hitting the
world's first ever frogball off of the toughest, meanest pitcher in Little
League and he went into Finsterwald's no trespassing yard where no kid dared
to go. Jeffrey soon discovers that the town he is in is prejudice and is
divided into two parts, black and white. Maniac Magee searches for a place
to belong, he makes true friends as well as enemies. I can't tell you
anymore, read the book for yourself to find out what happens!!!!
Jerry Spinelli won a Newbery Medal
in 1991 for this amazing novel. He has written many other books including
a story called "Crash" which is a poignant story of cocky seventh grade super
jock Crash Coogan. In "The Bathwater Gang", Bertie's all-girl gang becomes
involved in a harmless but heartfelt war with an all-boy gang, until Bertie's
grandmother steps in with a perfect solution. In "Space Station Seventh Grade",
Seventh-grader Jason narrates the events of his year, from school, hair, and
pimples, to mothers, little brothers, and a girl. Plus many more, if
these book are anything like Maniac Magee these should have received Newberry
Medals too.
Jerry Spinelli, began writing when
he wasn't much older than Jeffrey Lionel Magee, A.K.A. Maniac Magee. Jerry
Spinelli has a wealth of real life characters and situations to draw upon.
Having had a house full of children, six to be exact, . He is also gifted
with the ability to recall his own childhood and turn those memories and
experiences into extraordinary books for young readers. Jerry Spinelli reflects
on the power of childhood memories and really takes you the place he is writing
about.
For more information about the Author and the Book
visit these sites!
A Biography of
Jerry Spinnelli, The Author Corner
Houghton
Mifflin Reading, Meet the Author
Embracing
the Child, Jerry Spinelli
Family
Education Network
Reading
and Language Art Teacher Resources
Maniac
Magee Quiz
Websites on Racial Discrimination
Ethnic
Studies at USC
Human Rights Watch
Reviews
Carol Hurst's
Children's Literature Site
Planet Book
Club
This page was created
1 May 2003 and last updated May 2003.
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