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Maniac Magee (Newbery Medal Winner)Paperback – November 1, 1999

by Jerry Spinelli (Author)

4.7 5,204 ratings

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Vermont Golden Dome Book AwardWinner, 1992
Newbery MedalWinner, 1991

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A Newbery Medal winning modern classic about a racially divided small town and a boy who runs.

Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee might have lived a normal life if a freak accident hadn't made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides to run--and not just run away, but run. This is where the myth of Maniac Magee begins, as he changes the lives of a racially divided small town with his amazing and legendary feats.

Reading age
9 - 11 years, from customers
Print length
180 pages
Language
English
Lexile measure
820L
Dimensions
5.2 x 0.95 x 7.6 inches
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
November 1, 1999
ISBN-10
0316809063
ISBN-13
978-0316809061
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From the Publisher


	Maniac Magee	Eggs	Space Station Seventh Grade	Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?	I Can Be Anything!	Mama Seeton's Whistle

Customer Reviews	5,204	376	65	113	65	29
Price	$6.78	$8.99	$14.99	$8.99	$7.99	$10.00
More from award-winning and beloved author Jerry Spinelli	The beloved, award-winning modern classic about a racially divided small town and a boy who runs.	A moving novel about two complicated children who forge a friendship, helping each other deal with what is missing in their lives.	Each grade is tricky in its own way, but Jason realizes just how hard it is to be a seventh-grader when ninth-graders rule the school.	Hilarious yet heartwarming, this tale of sibling rivalry shows that despite their differences, there's a special bond between siblings.	The perfect gift for new parents, graduates, and more, it's an exuberant exploration of all the possibilities life has to offer!	A sweet lyrical text with charming illustrations shows the timeless love between a mother and her children.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jerry Spinelliis the author of many immensely popular books for young readers, includingEggs,Stargirl,Space Station Seventh Grade,Newbery Honor BookWringer,Newbery Award winnerManiac Magee,and the picture booksMama Seeton's WhistleandI Can Be Anything!He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and fellow author, Eileen.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; second edition (November 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316809063
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316809061
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 820L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.95 x 7.6 inches

Best Sellers Rank:#5,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,859 inChildren's Books (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 5,204 ratings

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Jerry Spinelli

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Growing up, Jerry Spinelli was really serious about baseball. He played for the Green Sox Little League team in his hometown of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and dreamed of one day playing for the major leagues, preferably as shortstop for the New York Yankees.

One night during high school, Spinelli watched the football team win an exciting game against one of the best teams in the country. While everyone else rode about town tooting horns in celebration, Spinelli went home and wrote "Goal to Go," a poem about the game's defining moment, a goal-line stand. His father submitted the poem to the Norristown Times-Herald and it was featured in the middle of the sports page a few days later. He then traded in his baseball bat for a pencil, because he knew that he wanted to become a writer.

After graduating from Gettysburg College with an English degree, Spinelli worked full time as a magazine editor. Every day on his lunch hour, he would close his office door and craft novels on yellow magazine copy paper. He wrote four adult novels in 12 years of lunchtime writing, but none of these were accepted for publication. When he submitted a fifth novel about a 13-year-old boy, adult publishers once again rejected his work, but children's publishers embraced it. Spinelli feels that he accidentally became an author of children's books.

Spinelli's hilarious books entertain both children and young adults. Readers see his life in his autobiography Knots in My Yo-Yo String, as well as in his fiction. Crash came out of his desire to include the beloved Penn Relays of his home state of Pennsylvania in a book, while Maniac Magee is set in a fictional town based on his own hometown.

When asked if he does research for his writing, Spinelli says: "The answer is yes and no. No, in the sense that I seldom plow through books at the library to gather material. Yes, in the sense that the first 15 years of my life turned out to be one big research project. I thought I was simply growing up in Norristown, Pennsylvania; looking back now I can see that I was also gathering material that would one day find its way into my books."

On inspiration, the author says: "Ideas come from ordinary, everyday life. And from imagination. And from feelings. And from memories. Memories of dust in my sneakers and humming whitewalls down a hill called Monkey."

Spinelli lives with his wife and fellow writer, Eileen, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. While they write in separate rooms of the house, the couple edits and celebrates one another's work. Their six children have given Jerry Spinelli a plethora of clever material for his writing.

Customer reviews

5,204 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the story enjoyable and interesting. They describe the writing quality as well-written, simple, and direct. Readers say the book is awesome for kids and keeps them thinking. They also mention it's heartwarming, thought-provoking, and covers many emotions. Customers praise the pacing as fast and timely. They describe the style as creative, neat, and cool.

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Readability Writing quality Book for kids Message Pacing Style Character development Boredom

193 customers mention "Readability"187 positive6 negative

Customers find the story enjoyable, well worth reading, and interesting. They appreciate Spinelli's masterful storytelling and find it fun and lighthearted. Readers also mention the book is a joy to read aloud and an original story.

"I loved it! It is an awesome book for kids, andextremely interesting.Maniac is such a great main character. I recommend you buy this book! "Read more

"...Jerry Spinelli does afantastic job of creating a storythat can be seen as true in all minds and hearts.... "Read more

"What anamazing book!My 13-year-old son just read it for a school assignment, and I ended up reading it too. Easily one of my favorites!... "Read more

"...It was a great read,I highly recommend it. "Read more

43 customers mention "Writing quality"40 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book very well-written, simple, and direct. They also say it's readable, relatable, and fast-paced. Readers mention the prose feels familiar, the diction is easy to follow, and the content is quirky.

"...Spinelli'sprose hits the page simpleand direct, and the emotions are raw and honest.... "Read more

"...This book has all theappeal of a master raconteur,and is not only a joy to read aloud but a book that makes you think hard--and maybe giggle a... "Read more

"...None of the cuss words he mentions is in the book. There isno bad language,only the story of a decent kid with a tragic life who has become his... "Read more

"...Thewriting is excellent throughout,but initially I wasn't interested in Maniac or the other characters.... "Read more

42 customers mention "Book for kids"42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book awesome, interesting, and enjoyable. They say it keeps their sons thinking, attentive, and excited about the setting. Readers also mention the book is not just for children to read, but perfect for 5th-6th graders and a great book to hook boys. They say it starts good discussions in the classroom and is splendid for readers of any age.

"I loved it! It is anawesome book for kids,and extremely interesting. Maniac is such a great main character. I recommend you buy this book! "Read more

"...Beautifully addresses racism but in a gentle way,easy for a child to understand.You will be cheering for the main character from page 1.... "Read more

"...What I liked:1. I loved the characters: Thechildren were all very interesting,I especially liked Maniac and Mars Bar.... "Read more

"...in the U.S. I have found that this has started somereally good discussions in the classroom."Read more

33 customers mention "Message"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the message in the book heartwarming, wonderful, and thought-provoking. They say it covers many emotions and teaches a lot about friendship and love. Readers also mention the book is a good demonstration about racism in our country's history. Additionally, they say it deals with timeless themes of friendship, discrimination, finding joy, and connection in unlikely places.

"...ups and downs in the story, it is a story that trulyteaches all about friendship and love.... "Read more

"...Easily one of my favorites! Tender,heartbreaking,funny, heartwarming, timeless - all at once! A book about childhood, friendship and hope.... "Read more

"...Spinelli's prose hits the page simple and direct, and theemotions are raw and honest.... "Read more

"Maniac Magee is aheart-warming bookfirst published 25 years ago.... "Read more

16 customers mention "Pacing"14 positive2 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book fast, easy, and timely. They also say the story is tender, heartbreaking, funny, and heartwarming.

"...Easily one of my favorites!Tender,heartbreaking, funny, heartwarming, timeless - all at once! A book about childhood, friendship and hope.... "Read more

"...My kids needed it for class and enjoyed it as well. Afast paced readwith great lessons and writing. "Read more

"Fastand easy "Read more

"Fast shipping!My 10 year old son had to read this book for school over the summer. He loved the storyline. It was an eye-opening read for him. "Read more

10 customers mention "Style"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the style incredibly neat, creative, and cool. They also appreciate the crisp, fast writing that moves along at a satisfying pace.

"...: I loved the places Maniac went and how they were described,very creative.... "Read more

"...Maniac changes the town and it'sincredibly neatto see how this story weaves and connects dots together to make a memorable book. "Read more

"...; by Jerry Spinelli is a YA coming-of-age story that is just aplain cuteand entertaining about a young orphan boy who grows up in a mixed race... "Read more

"Nice,easy, enjoyable read. Great to be entertained and smile at the end. I bought this for my 12 year old daughter but I think I liked it more. "Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed. They say Manic is a great main character with many sides to him.

"...Maniac is such a great main character.I recommend you buy this book! "Read more

"...What I liked:1.I loved the characters:The children were all very interesting, I especially liked Maniac and Mars Bar.... "Read more

"...to follow his footsteps no matter where he goes, isone of the best hardluck heroesyou'll ever read about.... "Read more

"...the Black side of town than on" his own side. "Thecharacters are compelling,realistic, and will challenge whatever tendency you may have... "Read more

9 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive9 negative

Customers find the book boring, not exciting, and not appealing. They say it's not suitable for children with problems at home or personalities.

"...The voice of the book in the opening chapters, werenot appealing to me.... "Read more

"...liked more than the other books I read, But then itgot a little boring around the middle,about to go to the end of the story but it got better as... "Read more

"it's just okit tells about sports but there isno action and adventure:-) h buy:/ bhai:/ uhh uhh bhai uhh bhai uhh vying. h bbc.co "Read more

"This is a very predigious book. I liked it alot but itgot very boring real fast...however I still like it "Read more

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Apollonia

Amazing book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024

Verified Purchase

I loved it! It is an awesome book for kids, and extremely interesting. Maniac is such a great main character. I recommend you buy this book!

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2011

Verified Purchase

I read this book for my adolescent literature course the summer between my sophomore and junior years in college. Many people told me it was a good book including my professor, and various other students in the class. I took their word for it and decided to dive into the book to see what was so exciting about Jerry Spinelli's "Maniac Magee."

The book begins with a young boy, Jefferey Lionel Magee, running into a town in which no one recognizes him. Orphaned after his parents deaths, Maniac has no place to live. The town is a racially divided town with the blacks living on the East end and the whites living on the West end. "Maniac" comes into town and begins to make his mark. He can do everything from hit multiple homeruns off the the best little league pitcher in town, to intercept passes to the best receiver on the football team. After Maniac is rescued by from "Mars Bar" Thompson by Amanda Beale, she takes him to her house to live with her. After he hurts Amanda's feelings, he does not want to cause her anymore pain so he runs away to the zoo where he meets a former minor league baseball pitcher, Earl Grayson, who takes him in and allows Maniac to teach him to read. Just when it seems like Maniac has found a place to stay, Grayson dies, and Maniac is forced to leave. Maniac starts to run again, but runs into John McNab's (the best little league pitcher in town) two younger brothers, who are running away to Mexico. Maniac takes them home to the West end and begins to live with them; however, when Maniac beats Mars Bar in a race, and crashes a birthday party at the McNab's, he is forced into homelessness again. Maniac's final chance comes when one of the McNab kids is facing death in the same place where Maniac's parents died. Maniac and Mars Bar go to save him, but Maniac is too afraid and he leaves. Amanda Beale tracks Maniac down and finally invites him to come live with her and her family for as long as he wants to, and this is how the story ends.

While there are many ups and downs in the story, it is a story that truly teaches all about friendship and love. Jerry Spinelli does a fantastic job of creating a story that can be seen as true in all minds and hearts. While it may not satisfy everyone's wants and needs for a good book, I can honestly say this is one of the greatest if not the greatest book I have ever read. SEVEN THUMBS UP!!!

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Lightning Trooper

Tender, heartbreaking, funny, heartwarming, timeless - all at once!

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024

Verified Purchase

What an amazing book! My 13-year-old son just read it for a school assignment, and I ended up reading it too. Easily one of my favorites! Tender, heartbreaking, funny, heartwarming, timeless - all at once! A book about childhood, friendship and hope. Beautifully addresses racism but in a gentle way, easy for a child to understand. You will be cheering for the main character from page 1. Absolutely loved it!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

James Sparks

Slow start, but GREAT FINISH

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

I'll admit that I didn't think much of this book when I started reading it. The voice of the book in the opening chapters, were not appealing to me. I think that the vocabulary and the style of the book just didn't resonate with me. For whatever reason I didn't like it, and I almost put the book down.

But I'm glad I didn't, because I found that whatever bothered me in the beginning quickly faded away as the plot of the book began to unfold.

Maniac Magee is set in the north-eastern United States sometime after World War II, the exact date is not specified. It's the story of a boy that struggles through the many losses in his life, all while being educated about the reality of racism in our world. The young man also does this without losing the spark of his personality that really shines in this book.

What I liked:
1. I loved the characters: The children were all very interesting, I especially liked Maniac and Mars Bar. I also found the adult characters very interesting especially the old man Grayson who befriends Maniac. His story is so interesting and heart-breaking you could almost write a whole book about this one character(and I wish Spinelli would).

2. The setting: I loved the places Maniac went and how they were described, very creative.

3. The writing: I didn't like the writing at the first, but I found the imagery created by the writing towards the end were some of the best I've read in any newbery book.

Maniac Magee won the Newbery Medal in 1991, and Jerry Spinelli went on a Newbery Honor medal with his book Wringer a few years later. It was a great read, I highly recommend it.

4 people found this helpful

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