Book Review

Click here for audio

Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

audio "Responses to Literature"

8. What came as a surprise in the book? Why?


Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

Character Post III

Grayson was first introduced to the story when he saw Maniac lying outside the buffalo pen. Grayson loves baseball, he had been in the Minors and played as pitcher. His job now is taking care of the baseball field. Grayson originally lives at the Y, but moves in with Maniac at the band shell. Maniac loves it when Grayson tells him stories because he had so many stories about baseball. When Grayson tells Maniac he can't read, Maniac teaches Grayson how to read and is so proud of him when he read his first book. Grayson and Maniac have a wonderful Christmas. They have decorations all over the place and cut down two trees. Grayson died five days after Christmas.


Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

Bonus-Maniac Magee: Part 1

Theme Post II

I think that another theme for Maiac Magee is racism. The town is seperated into two parts, the east side and the west side. Maniac lived on the east side with the Beales. He was completely unaware of why people treated blacks and whites differently. To Maniac he wasn't white, he was at least 7 different shades; and Mrs. Beale was more like a chocolate color, not black. Maniac treats both blacks and whites equally. When he met Grayson on the west side, Maniac told him all about the Beales. Grayson seemed amazed that Maniac would actually eat what they ate, sleep in the same house, and drink from the same cup. I think Spinelli is trying to give a clear message that racism is still a huge issue in the world and should not be taken lightly.

Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

Character Post II

Amanda Beale

Amanda Beale was first introduced in the story when she met Maniac. She let him borrow one of her books called The Children's Crusade. When Maniac came to return her book he met Amanda's family, and when he told Mr. Beale his story, he was brought to their home and accepted into their family. Amanda likes to read books. She has two siblings Hester and Lester, and a dog. Amanda lives on twenty-eight sycamore street, on the West side of town. She carries her books around with her in a suitcase because her siblings would draw all over them, and her dog would rip them up with it's teeth. Amanda used to take baths with her brother and sister but decided she was too old for it. She also enjoys sleeping with Hester and Lester. When Maniac lives with the Beales Amanda lets him sleep in her room.

Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

clock

Theme Post 1

I think that one of the themes for Maniac Magee is kindness. Maniac shows kindness because he doesn't treat black people any different from white. Maniac is also nice to everyone he meets and doesn't care about the west side or the east side. I think the theme is also kindness because the Beale's let Maniac become part of their family and are very kind to him,even though he is white.

Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

Character Post 1

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee's parents died when he was a baby. After that he was an orphan and was sent to live with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. When Maniac was eleven he ran away becasue he hated his home with Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. Jeffrey Lionel Magee was Maniac Magee's real name, he got his nickname because people started to call him a maniac. He met a girl named Amanda Beal who let him borrow one of her books called The Children's Crusade. Maniac also did amazing things like hit John McNab's baseballs. John McNab and his friends came to beat up Maniac, but instead Maniac got chased onto the west side of town. This is where he met Mars Bars Thompson who ripped a page from the book Amanda had had given Maniac. Maniac got away from Mars Bars but then met up with him again where Amanda came to rescue him. Another amazing thing he did was catch Hands Down's football with one hand.

Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.

wordle created at http://wordle.net

Author Post

10 Facts about Jerry Spinelli

1. He was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
   
2. He has written 23 books, but only 19 have been published.
   
3. He got the name "Maniac" from a newspaper column.
   
4. He has one younger brother named Bill.
   
5. When he was sixteen he decided to be a writer.
   
6. He served in the United States Army Reserve.
   
7. When he was little he wanted to be a cowboy.
   
8. He currently lives in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
9. Is married to Eileen Spinelli, who is a writer too.
10. The book, Maniac Magee has won over fifteen state children's book awards in addition to the Newberry Medal.

Works Cited

"Jerry Spinelli."The Author's Corner N.p.,n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. http://www.carr.org/authco/spinelli-j.htm

"Jerry Spinelli Biography." Jerry Spinelli Infosite N.p.,n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. http://jerryspinelli.net/

"Jerry Spinelli." Scholastic N.p.,n.d. Web.3 Feb.2010. http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3649

"Jerry Spinelli." KidsReads.com N.p.,n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2010 http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-spinelli-jerry.asp

Wordle 1

wordle created at http://www.wordle.net