This touching story of a young runaway boy has captured the hearts of young adult readers for 20 years. The story begins with a legend. The legend of Maniac Magee. As legend goes,
"They say Maniac Magee was born in a dump. They say his stomach was a cereal box and his heart a sofa spring. They say he kept an eight-inch cockroach on a leash and that rats stood guard over him while he slept. They say if you knew he was coming and you sprinkled salt on the ground and he ran over it, within two or three blocks he would be as slow as everybody else. They say."
Obviously Maniac Magee was not born with the name Maniac. To his mom and dad, he was Jeffrey Lionel Magee. However, after the tragic death of his parents, Jeffrey was sent to live with his aunt and uncle. After eight years, he had had enough of the "separate" lives Uncle Dan and Aunt Dot lived. So, when Jeffrey was eleven he ran out of a school choir concert and didn't stop running until he ran into a young girl named Amanda Beale. Jeffrey was invited to stay with the Beale's, a family on the east side of town...the black side of town. Hector Street was the "line." Blacks did not go on the west side, and whites did not go on the east side. Jeffrey soon became the talk of the town. A white boy living on the east side with a black family? It just couldn't be! He must be a "maniac!"
Jeffrey soon meets Earl Grayson, a maintenance man at the zoo. Jeffrey teaches Grayson to read, and Grayson teaches Jeffrey he is worthy of love. The last person Jeffrey meets is Russell and Piper McNab. The boys, along with their brother John, live in squalor with their alcoholic dad. The McNab’s would never, ever think of crossing Hector, but when Jeffrey brings Amanda’s brothers to Piper’s birthday party, the race lines are crossed – and Two Mills is forever changed.
"They say Maniac Magee was born in a dump. They say his stomach was a cereal box and his heart a sofa spring. They say he kept an eight-inch cockroach on a leash and that rats stood guard over him while he slept. They say if you knew he was coming and you sprinkled salt on the ground and he ran over it, within two or three blocks he would be as slow as everybody else. They say."
Obviously Maniac Magee was not born with the name Maniac. To his mom and dad, he was Jeffrey Lionel Magee. However, after the tragic death of his parents, Jeffrey was sent to live with his aunt and uncle. After eight years, he had had enough of the "separate" lives Uncle Dan and Aunt Dot lived. So, when Jeffrey was eleven he ran out of a school choir concert and didn't stop running until he ran into a young girl named Amanda Beale. Jeffrey was invited to stay with the Beale's, a family on the east side of town...the black side of town. Hector Street was the "line." Blacks did not go on the west side, and whites did not go on the east side. Jeffrey soon became the talk of the town. A white boy living on the east side with a black family? It just couldn't be! He must be a "maniac!"
Jeffrey soon meets Earl Grayson, a maintenance man at the zoo. Jeffrey teaches Grayson to read, and Grayson teaches Jeffrey he is worthy of love. The last person Jeffrey meets is Russell and Piper McNab. The boys, along with their brother John, live in squalor with their alcoholic dad. The McNab’s would never, ever think of crossing Hector, but when Jeffrey brings Amanda’s brothers to Piper’s birthday party, the race lines are crossed – and Two Mills is forever changed.
Maniac Magee is a story of rejecting societal “norms” and doing what is right. It is the story of home, discovering what home means, and learning how family can take shape in various ways. It is also the story of change. Change for the better. Change that even an eleven year old boy can make. It is the story of how one person can better the lives of many. Whether or not they knew Maniac Magee, the town of Two Mills and its residents were forever changed the day he ran into town. Sometimes the truth is blurred, and tale has become truth. But, Maniac Magee really did change Two Mills and a few special people who resided there.
A teacher using this book in their curriculum could plan a few fun activities that would resonate with the students. First, the teacher could make a bulletin board with all the places Maniac Magee visits throughout the book. Each time he goes somewhere, the students could move the Maniac “doll” along the time line. Also, this book could be used to teach figurative language. Students could find examples of similes and metaphors throughout the story and then make up ones of their own. Throughout the lessons there would be discussions on racism, homelessness, family, and adoption. Hopefully, the students feel safe to discuss such emotional topics; but if this book is read after the very beginning of the year, hopefully as a class you will have created a safe environment where these discussions can be had.
Maniac Magee. ISBN 0-316-80906-3. Jerry Spinelli. 1990. Newbery Medal. Age 9-12. Contemporary Fiction. Folklore.
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