Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee
by Jerry Spinelli


Maniac Magee wasn't always called Maniac. His parents named him Jeffrey, but his parents died in a tragic accident when Jeffrey was only three years old. Jeffrey became known as Maniac because of his bravery and how fast he could run. All the kids wanted to be like Maniac, but no one knew the real truth: he was lonely, frightened, and living out on the streets.

This is a fast read about a character who uses his negative circumstances to transform the lives around him for the better. Maniac crosses boundaries of class, race, and location to prove that people are people and home is a precious thing.

-Ms. McConnel