Maniac Magee

By Jerry Spinelli

  1. What is discrimination? (No POQ)
  1. What is a tall tale? (No POQ)

“Before the Story”

  1. What do you think the author means by “… the history of a kid is one part fact, two parts legend, and three parts snowball?” (No POQ)
  1. Give two examplesfrom the novel of exaggeration. (No POQ)

“Part I” Chapter 1:

  1. Why is Maniac Magee alone?
  1. What is Maniac Magee’s birth name?
  1. Describe life at the aunt & uncle’s house.
  1. Explain the passage: “it was the birth scream of a legend.” (No POQ)

Chapter 2:

  1. What is “The Lost Year?”

Chapter 3:

  1. What was Amanda Beale carrying & why?
  2. Contrast East End & West End. (No POQ)
  1. Why was Amanda Beale late for school?

Chapter 4:

  1. What amazing feats did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ.)
  1. Why were most of these feats completed one handed?

Chapter 5:

  1. Explain what the author meant when he wrote that the Finsterwald address was infamous.
  1. What usually happened when high schoolers were at theFinsterwald’s?
  1. What amazing feat did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)

Chapter 6:

  1. Why could Maniac Magee eat with the Pickwells and not be noticed?
  1. What amazing feat did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)

Chapter 7:

  1. What amazing feat did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
  1. Explain the phrase “first frog ball for a four-bagger.” ( No POQ)

Chapter 8:

  1. How was Jeffrey’s nicknamecreated?
  1. Where is Jeffrey’s home in this chapter?

Chapter 9:

  1. Who was Jeffrey running from in this chapter?
  1. What made them stop chasing Maniac?
  1. What did Jeffrey mean when he said, “…how lucky to be a face staring out from a window”?
  1. Is the following quote a simile or a metaphor? “….scraggly runt would get out of the East End in about as good shape as a bare big toe in a convention of snapping turtles.” (No POQ)

Chapter 10:

  1. What unthinkable feat did Maniacdo in this chapter? (No POQ)
  1. Why didn’t Maniac simply run to the West End after his clash with Mars Bar?
  1. What is meant when the author uses the exaggeration, “Flies stopped buzzing,”?
  1. After the East End “lady in her prime” helped Jeffrey, what was the “something” that he felt like doing?

Chapter 11:

  1. Who saved Maniac from Mars in their second clash?
  1. Why were Amanda and Maniac going to the Beale’s house?
  1. Explain why Maniac Magee was called a fishbelly.

Chapter 12:

  1. List three activities did Hester and Lester keep Maniac Magee busy? (No POQ)
  1. How did Mr. And Mrs. Beale discover that Maniac Magee was homeless?
  1. Why did Maniac Magee look at the house number?

Chapter 13:

  1. List three of the chores that Maniac Magee completes. (No POQ)
  1. Explain why the following ‘strange events’ were occurring: (No POQ)
  1. Bucket and sponge not in use:
  1. Amanda’s suitcase at home:
  1. Everybody’s fingertips healing:
  1. Hester & Lester like taking a bath:
  1. What strange allergy does Maniac Magee discover he has?

Chapter 14:

  1. Explain the author’s meaning of “And this time nobody looked funny at the crazy kid yelling by himself.” (pg. 45 No POQ)
  1. Explain the author’s meaning of “Maniac loved the colors of the East End, the people colors.”
    (pg. 45 No POQ)
  1. Explain the author’s meaning of “Because he was afraid of losing his name.” (pg. 46 No POQ)
  1. Give an example from this chapter for each of the following sensory details: (No POQ)
  1. sound:
  2. sight:
  3. taste

Chapter 15:

  1. Why did Mrs. Beale discipline Maniac Magee?
  1. Explain the author’s meaning of “And sometimes Maniac just sat at the front window, being on the inside.” (pg. 56 No POQ)

Chapter 16:

  1. Explain Maniac Magee’s “blindness” in this chapter.

Chapter 17:

  1. Define a HYPERBOLE. (No POQ)
  1. What stopped the fun at the water hydrant?
  1. Although harsh and unfair, what is true about what the “Old Rag Picker” yells?
  1. Why did Hester, Lester, and Amanda try to stall Maniac Magee from reaching home? (NoPOQ)
  1. Predict: What do you think Maniac will do?

Chapter 18:

  1. Explain the author’s meaning of “most of the hurt he felt was not for himself but for her (Amanda) and the rest of her family.” (pg. 57 No POQ)
  1. While arguing, what hurtful comment does Amanda make?

Chapter 19:

  1. What is Cobble’s Knot?

Chapter 20:

  1. Why did Cobble’s Knot have the power to join East Side and West Side people together?
  1. What food item did Maniac Magee hope to clear from his mind with his nap?
  1. Identify a simile. What two items are being compared? (No POQ)

Chapter 21:

  1. How did Maniac Magee hurt the Beale family by untying the knot?
  1. Why did Maniac Magee walk down the middle of the street?
  1. How did the Beales help resolve Maniac Magee’s conflict of homelessness?
  1. What are Maniac Magee’s fears?
  1. Spinelli uses this novel to raise awareness to different issues in our society. Which character and/or situation makes us most aware of the following issues:
  1. Homelessness
  2. Racism
  3. Bullying
  4. Value of education

“Part II” Chapter 22:

  1. Where did Graysonfind Maniac?
  1. What does Maniac request from Grayson?

Chapter 23:

  1. Explain Maniac Magee’s comment “uses the same toaster” as part of his definition of a home.
    (No POQ)
  1. What is the “brushing little worm of a notion” that Grayson feels?
    (pg. 78 No POQ)

Chapter 24:

  1. What did Maniac teach Grayson?
  1. Why did Maniac not accept Grayson’s invitation to stay at his house?

Chapter 25:

  1. Why did the park superintendent allow Jeffrey to remain on the job with Grayson?
  1. What was Grayson’s happiest baseball story?
  1. What was Grayson’s saddest baseball story?

Chapter 26:

  1. What pitch is the only pitch remaining in Grayson’s repertoire?
  1. Define the word grouse. (No POQ)
  1. Where did Maniac get the books?
  1. What does Grayson request of Maniac?

Chapter 27:

  1. What three stops do the two make and why? (No POQ)

1.

2.

3.

  1. The author uses PERSONIFICATION – giving non-human objects human characteristics. On page 91, Spinelli personifies vowels. What human characteristics does he give them? (No POQ)
  1. What is Grayson’s amazing feat in this chapter?

Chapter 28:

  1. What is Maniac Magee’s reaction to Grayson reading his first book?
  1. What items make Maniac Magee’s room a home? (list at least 3)

Chapter 29:

  1. To whom does Maniac send a message in his Thanksgiving prayer?
  1. Why did Maniac Magee paint 101 above his door?

Chapter 30:

  1. List three details that describe Grayson and Maniac’s Christmas decorations. (No POQ)

Chapter 31:

  1. Identify the type of figurative language used in the following: “… the holiday would come bounding down the stairs and squealing ‘round the tinseled trees of Two Mills.” (No POQ)
  1. What ‘family’ did Maniac and Grayson give gifts to on Christmas morning?
  1. What twospecial gifts did Grayson and Maniac exchange? (No POQ)

Chapter 32:

  1. What does Maniac do when he discovers Grayson?
  1. What is particularly sad about the service Maniac attended? (No POQ)
  1. Why do you think Maniac didn’t turn Grayson over to a doctor or the police right away?
  1. Compare (how are they alike) Maniac’s life with the Beales to his life with Grayson.

“Part III” Chapter 33:

  1. What three items does Maniac Magee take from his ‘home?’ (No POQ)
  1. How do Maniac’s travels compare to Cobble’s Knot?
  1. Why was Maniac Magee giving up and waiting to die?

Chapter 34:

  1. Who specifically are the runaways, Piper and Russell?
  1. Why does Maniac Magee offer them a free pizza (that he won untying Cobble’s Knot)?
  1. Why does Giant John refer to Maniac Magee as ‘frog boy?’

Chapter 35:

  1. Why did Maniac Magee make up a story about Giant John striking him out with a stopball?
  1. Share three examples of the McNab’s lifestyle. (No POQ)
  1. What does Maniac Magee mean when he asks, “Who’s the orphan here, anyway?” (pg.121 No POQ)

Chapter 36:

  1. What two amazing feats did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
  1. Why do Russell and Piper continue to go to school?

Chapter 37:

  1. What amazing feats did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)

Chapter 38:

  1. Why was Maniac Magee on the East Side in this chapter?
  1. How did Maniac Magee disgrace(humiliate) Mars Bar?
  1. At what location did Maniac Magee end up while on the East Side?

Chapter 39:

  1. What are the McNab’s building and why?
  1. What “smells worse than garbage and turds?”

Chapter 40:

  1. How does Maniac Magee compare the Beales and the Pickwells?
  1. How do readers know that Russell and Piper are still planning to run away?
  1. Why doesn’t Maniac “force, command, or shout” at Russell and Piper to get them to do
    right? (pg. 140 -- No POQ)
  1. What event occurred that caused Maniac to lose his temper with the boys?
  1. Why did Russell and Piper tell Maniac to leave their house?
  1. Why was Maniac invited back to their home?

Chapter 41:

  1. Who did Maniac bring to Piper’s birthday party?
  1. How did he get Mars Bar to come to the West Side?
  1. Why did Maniac Magee take Mars Bar to the Pickwell’s?
  1. What feat did Mars Bar accomplish in this chapter?

Chapter 42:

  1. How did Mars Bar discover that the pillbox was not a bomb shelter?
  1. Why did Maniac feel pride for the East End warrior?
  1. What proves that Maniac’s plan to bring Mars Bar to the West Side was successful?

Chapter 43:

  1. What did Maniac like about the people’s backyards?
  1. What does Maniac like about his town before sunrise?

Chapter 44:

  1. Who became Maniac’s morning running partner?
  1. Why did Piper need Maniac?
  1. What is Maniac’s shocking response to the situation?

Chapter 45:

  1. Where did Mars Bar take Russell after rescuing him and why?
  1. Why didn’t Maniac accept Mars Bar’s invitation to his home?

Chapter 46:

  1. What did Mars Bar do after Maniac refused his invitation?
  1. What did Amanda do when Maniac refused her invitation?

Reread the “Before the Story.” Explain the meaning of Maniac Magee’s legacy?


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Main Characters:

Jeffrey Magee

Amanda Beale

Hands Down

John McNab

Earl Grayson

Mars Bar Thompson

Mrs. Beale

Hester & Lester Beale

Russell & Piper McNab

Places:

Two Mills

Finsterwald’s

Cobble’s Corner

Beale Home

Hector Avenue

Equipment Room

East Side

West Side

Pickwell Home

Zoo

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