Maniac Magee Maniac Magee was written by

Jerry Spinelli and was published in 1990. Maniac Magee won the Newbery Medal in 1991 for Spinelli.

Two Mills Two Mills is divided into two parts, the East End

and the West End. The East End contained the black people. While the West End contained the white people. However sometimes people crossed the line if they were adults and it was daylight, but if it was nighttime no way you would cross. Kids never crossed day or night unless they had business there, such as a sporting event or school field trip.

Maniac Magee Maniac Magee is a novel about Jeffery Lionel Magee. Who becomes an orphan after his parents died when he was only three years old. After his parents die he goes to live with his aunt and uncle. Whom he calls Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan, however don’t get along. They have two everything! After eight years Maniac finally couldn’t take it anymore. During his school play Maniac started screaming thorough the whole song “Talk to the Animals”. After it was over he kept on screaming and ran out. He ran all the way to Two Mills. In Two Mills he meets Amanda Beale and that’s when the legend begins.

Ma-niac, Ma-niac

He’s so coolMa-niac, Ma-

niacDon’t go to school

Runs all nightRuns all rightMa-niac, Ma-

niacKissed a bull!

Amanda Beale Amanda Beale is an African-American girl in grade school who meets Maniac by mistake. Maniac, after seeing her suitcase, asked her if she was running away too. The reason she was carrying a suitcase was for her “library” is because her siblings Hester and Lester would scribble and tear them up. Her books were her prized possession. Amanda invited Maniac to her house to fix her book and to keep him away from Mars Bars. On the way from Amanda’s house her dad was driving Maniac home. When driving him ‘home’ Mr. Beale stopped when Maniac said, “This is it.”. However Mr. Beale knew that this wasn’t true, because he knew everyone on the block was an African-American. After this Maniac told him that he really didn’t have a home. When he heard this he turned around and went back to Amanda’s house. That’s how Maniac got to live with the Beale’s.

Mars Bars Known as the “baddest” kid in the East End and

Maniac’s enemy or antagonist. He gets his nickname from the Mars Bar which he is constantly eating. Mars Bars is also famous for his glare as well as his “ super-slow dip-stride slumpshuffle”. He dislikes Maniac's presence in the East End, which is pushed even more when Maniac beats him in a foot race. Mars Bar eventually rescues Russell McNab , one of John McNab’s little brothers, from the trolley truss. After he asked him why he couldn’t save him Maniac explains and Mars Bars Maniac a place to stay for a while.

John McNab John McNab is a gigantic bully who meets Maniac at

the baseball park while he’s working on his record of striking out little league players. After he gets furious about not striking Maniac out with his fastball. Even though he acts like a bully, he welcomes Maniac into his home when Maniac brings back John's younger brothers Piper and Russell who attempted to run away to Mexico. However he still remains convinced that the “East Enders” are planning a rebellion. John McNab is also the leader of the cobras

Piper and Russell McNab

Piper and Russell are younger brothers of John McNab who steal from stores, and constantly try to run away from their house. In their house, they have “a pillbox” and toy machine guns to shoot the “rebels” from the East End when ever they played.

Hester and LesterBeale

Hester and Lester are Amanda’s younger siblings who are full of energy. They also love to color and rip Amanda’s books. Before Maniac moved in their mom, Mrs. Beale, was constantly on the move cleaning mess after mess. When Maniac moved in Hester and Lester stopped making as many messes and when they did Maniac cleaned them up! Hester and Lester are also very supportive of Maniac.

Earl Grayson Earl Grayson is the groundskeeper at the zoo and also a

resident of the YMCA, however he was once a minor league baseball pitcher who once struck out Willie Mays. He and Maniac become good friends while Maniac is living with him. Grayson listens to the stories Maniac tells him and while teaching Grayson to read. His favorite book is, “The Little Engine That Could”.

Grayson also buys Maniac butterscotch crumpets and eats them with him even though he doesn’t like them.

I hope you enjoy Maniac Magee!!!!!!

By: Sidney McGoughTo: Mrs. Crane