Maniac Magee (1990) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 5 stars

“Why is Jeffrey Magee called "Maniac Magee?" Well, he's a legend and legends need a cooler name than Jeffrey, don't they? Maniac lives with his feuding aunt and uncle after he is orphaned and runs away when he can take the fights no longer. He lands in Two Mills, a town racially divided--literally. The west side of town is all white, the east side all black. Through tall tale adventures, bad guys and heroes, Maniac helps bridge the divide between the two sides.

I am recommending this book for lower middle school grades in the hopes that the messages about race relations gain full comprehension. Teachers can make curricular connections by reading and discussing other legends/tall tales. Students could choose a legend, map the characteristics, and write an original skit or new chapter that illuminates the legend's traits. Further research into race relations and their roots in our country.”

• Rated 5 stars

“This poor little kid lost its parents by troll accident. Living with his uncle and aunt. One day he left his house because he didn't like his uncle and aunt. He cross's the bridge where whites live. From segregation, he gets mistreated. Will he survive the bullying of whites?”

• Rated 5 stars

“good book with a good story”

• Rated 0 stars

“Maniac Magee is an amazing story about a boy looking for love, care, and acceptance. Amidst the love he finds pain, heartache, disappointment, and hatred. If the world could see things through Maniac's eyes, it would be a better place. Try this book today!”

• Rated 5 stars

“This book follows Jeffrey Magee as he is sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents are killed in a trolley accident. We follow his path as he runs away to the town of Two Mills, which is racially divided into an East End and West End. There, Jeffrey earns the nickname “Maniac” as he encounters threats, prejudice and loneliness before finally getting a permanent home with a young girl Amanda and her family. The themes of racial prejudice, and human acceptance are focused on in this story. This book could open up great discussions about racial prejudice and discrimination. Maniac Magee would be a great book to use during the time that students learned about Martin Luther King Jr. in Social Studies. Reading lessons and activities could be integrated into Social Studies class with students discussing the works and actions of Dr. King and making a timeline of his life.”

• Rated 0 stars

“I thought I had read this when i was younger but as I began reading it again I think I may have had it confused with another book”

• Rated 5 stars

“Maniac Magee is about a kid who loses his parents and goes off to live with his extended family. When things get rough, he runs away where he picks up the name "Maniac Magee." The book tells of his different encounters that he has with people of both white and black decent and his unbiased opinions of both groups. This book is good for kids because it teaches them about the way things were back in that era, and it allows for them to have a better understand of prejudice and racism. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I think people of every age should read this book to get the enjoyment out of it too. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“This book could be really really tacky. When I first read the synopsis I thought, "A white homeless orphan kid gets bullied by black children... are you kidding me?" Somehow Spinelli masterfully turns a story that could be in very poor taste into an authentic, touching experience. Maniac Magee is a young orphan who doesn't understand the social segregation in the town where he lives. Because he doesn't *understand* the issues of race, he is able to go back and forth between both sides into white and black neighborhoods. He finds that all people are the same on both sides and helps impress that perspective on others.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Maniac Magee is a great book for children around the 4th-6th grade level. It's a fairly easy chapter book that focuses on pretty hefty topics such as: racism, identity, and bullying. Throughout the book there is an emotional roller coaster that makes the reader feel a various spread of emotions. It's easy for the reader to develop a connection to the story and the characters. It's definitely one of my favorite children chapter books. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Twas great.”