Maniac Magee facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Jerry Spinelli |
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| Cover artist | Alyssa Morris |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1990 (Little, Brown) |
| Pages | 184pp |
| ISBN | 0-316-80722-2 |
| LC Class | PZ7.S75663 Man 1990 |
Maniac Magee is a popular book written by American author Jerry Spinelli. It was first published in 1990. This story is about an orphan boy named Jeffrey, who is searching for a place to belong. The book explores important ideas like racism and fairness.
The story takes place in a made-up town called Two Mills. This town is strictly divided into two parts: the East End and the West End. People are separated by their race, with Black people living in one area and white people in another. Jeffrey, who becomes known as "Maniac" Magee, doesn't understand these divisions. He becomes famous in the town for his amazing athletic skills and how much he helps others. The book is often read in middle schools. It helps students learn about different cultures and how people react to racial differences. A TV movie based on the book came out in 2003.
Main Characters in Maniac Magee
- Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee is the main character. He is an orphan who arrives in Two Mills looking for a home. Jeffrey is incredibly athletic and runs everywhere he goes. He can untie any knot and is allergic to pizza. He doesn't see the racial lines that divide the town. Maniac performs many heroic acts, like running for a very long time and hitting many home runs. He even unties a huge, complicated knot called Cobble's Knot. He lives in many temporary places, including a buffalo pen at one point.
- Amanda Beale is the first person Jeffrey meets in Two Mills. She carries her books in a suitcase to protect them from her younger siblings. Amanda stands up for Jeffrey when he faces trouble. She eventually offers him a place to live in her home. She is very determined and gets upset when one of her books, Encyclopedia A, is damaged.
- Mars Bar Thompson is known as the toughest kid in the East End. He doesn't like Jeffrey being in his neighborhood, especially after Jeffrey beats him in a race. However, Mars Bar later shows his good side. He saves Russell McNab from a dangerous trolley bridge. He also offers Jeffrey a place to stay for a while. His real first name is never mentioned in the book.
- John McNab gets very angry when he can't strike out Jeffrey in baseball. Even though he acts like a bully, he later welcomes Jeffrey into his home. This happens after Jeffrey brings back John's younger brothers, Piper and Russell, who tried to run away. John still believes that the Black residents of the East End are planning a rebellion.
- Piper and Russell McNab are John McNab's younger brothers. They often skip school and steal things. They also constantly try to run away from home. In their house, they pretend to shoot "rebels" from the East End with toy machine guns. Piper also had a party at the end of the book. They are eight years old. Mars Bar saves Russell when he is playing on the trolley tracks.
- Earl Grayson works as a groundskeeper at the zoo and lives at the YMCA. He used to be a minor league baseball pitcher and once struck out a famous player, Willie Mays. He becomes good friends with Jeffrey. Jeffrey listens to Grayson's stories and teaches him how to read. They end up living together in a house. Grayson is very kind and cares deeply about Jeffrey. Sadly, Grayson passes away shortly after Christmas, leaving Jeffrey alone again.
- Mrs. Beale is Amanda, Hester, and Lester's kind and caring mother. She is very thoughtful and welcoming to Jeffrey.
- Hester and Lester are Amanda Beale's younger siblings. They are Mrs. Beale's son and daughter. They are very energetic and will draw or write on anything they can find.
Where the Story Comes From
The town of Two Mills in the book is based on author Jerry Spinelli's own childhood town. This town is Norristown, Pennsylvania. Spinelli has shared that his experiences growing up there inspired the story. Many places mentioned in the book match real locations. Norristown, like Two Mills, is across the Schuylkill River from Bridgeport. Nearby towns like Conshohocken, Jeffersonville, and Worcester are also mentioned in the novel. The Elmwood Park Zoo is in Norristown. Valley Forge, where Maniac wanders, is also close by. There is even a street named Hector Street in Conshohocken, just like in the book.
Book to Screen: Adaptations
The book Maniac Magee was made into a TV movie in 2003. This movie was recognized for its quality. It was nominated for the Humanitas prize in the children's live-action category. The book was also turned into an audiobook by Listening Library in 2005.
