Maniac Magee
By Jerry Spinelli
- What is discrimination? (No POQ)
- What is a tall tale? (No POQ)
“Before the Story”
- 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)
- Give two examplesfrom the novel of exaggeration. (No POQ)
“Part I” Chapter 1:
- Why is Maniac Magee alone?
- What is Maniac Magee’s birth name?
- Describe life at the aunt & uncle’s house.
- Explain the passage: “it was the birth scream of a legend.” (No POQ)
Chapter 2:
- What is “The Lost Year?”
Chapter 3:
- What was Amanda Beale carrying & why?
- Contrast East End & West End. (No POQ)
- Why was Amanda Beale late for school?
Chapter 4:
- What amazing feats did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ.)
- Why were most of these feats completed one handed?
Chapter 5:
- Explain what the author meant when he wrote that the Finsterwald address was infamous.
- What usually happened when high schoolers were at theFinsterwald’s?
- What amazing feat did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
Chapter 6:
- Why could Maniac Magee eat with the Pickwells and not be noticed?
- What amazing feat did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
Chapter 7:
- What amazing feat did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
- Explain the phrase “first frog ball for a four-bagger.” ( No POQ)
Chapter 8:
- How was Jeffrey’s nicknamecreated?
- Where is Jeffrey’s home in this chapter?
Chapter 9:
- Who was Jeffrey running from in this chapter?
- What made them stop chasing Maniac?
- What did Jeffrey mean when he said, “…how lucky to be a face staring out from a window”?
- 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:
- What unthinkable feat did Maniacdo in this chapter? (No POQ)
- Why didn’t Maniac simply run to the West End after his clash with Mars Bar?
- What is meant when the author uses the exaggeration, “Flies stopped buzzing,”?
- After the East End “lady in her prime” helped Jeffrey, what was the “something” that he felt like doing?
Chapter 11:
- Who saved Maniac from Mars in their second clash?
- Why were Amanda and Maniac going to the Beale’s house?
- Explain why Maniac Magee was called a fishbelly.
Chapter 12:
- List three activities did Hester and Lester keep Maniac Magee busy? (No POQ)
- How did Mr. And Mrs. Beale discover that Maniac Magee was homeless?
- Why did Maniac Magee look at the house number?
Chapter 13:
- List three of the chores that Maniac Magee completes. (No POQ)
- Explain why the following ‘strange events’ were occurring: (No POQ)
- Bucket and sponge not in use:
- Amanda’s suitcase at home:
- Everybody’s fingertips healing:
- Hester & Lester like taking a bath:
- What strange allergy does Maniac Magee discover he has?
Chapter 14:
- Explain the author’s meaning of “And this time nobody looked funny at the crazy kid yelling by himself.” (pg. 45 No POQ)
- Explain the author’s meaning of “Maniac loved the colors of the East End, the people colors.”
(pg. 45 No POQ)
- Explain the author’s meaning of “Because he was afraid of losing his name.” (pg. 46 No POQ)
- Give an example from this chapter for each of the following sensory details: (No POQ)
- sound:
- sight:
- taste
Chapter 15:
- Why did Mrs. Beale discipline Maniac Magee?
- 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:
- Explain Maniac Magee’s “blindness” in this chapter.
Chapter 17:
- Define a HYPERBOLE. (No POQ)
- What stopped the fun at the water hydrant?
- Although harsh and unfair, what is true about what the “Old Rag Picker” yells?
- Why did Hester, Lester, and Amanda try to stall Maniac Magee from reaching home? (NoPOQ)
- Predict: What do you think Maniac will do?
Chapter 18:
- 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)
- While arguing, what hurtful comment does Amanda make?
Chapter 19:
- What is Cobble’s Knot?
Chapter 20:
- Why did Cobble’s Knot have the power to join East Side and West Side people together?
- What food item did Maniac Magee hope to clear from his mind with his nap?
- Identify a simile. What two items are being compared? (No POQ)
Chapter 21:
- How did Maniac Magee hurt the Beale family by untying the knot?
- Why did Maniac Magee walk down the middle of the street?
- How did the Beales help resolve Maniac Magee’s conflict of homelessness?
- What are Maniac Magee’s fears?
- 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:
- Homelessness
- Racism
- Bullying
- Value of education
“Part II” Chapter 22:
- Where did Graysonfind Maniac?
- What does Maniac request from Grayson?
Chapter 23:
- Explain Maniac Magee’s comment “uses the same toaster” as part of his definition of a home.
(No POQ)
- What is the “brushing little worm of a notion” that Grayson feels?
(pg. 78 No POQ)
Chapter 24:
- What did Maniac teach Grayson?
- Why did Maniac not accept Grayson’s invitation to stay at his house?
Chapter 25:
- Why did the park superintendent allow Jeffrey to remain on the job with Grayson?
- What was Grayson’s happiest baseball story?
- What was Grayson’s saddest baseball story?
Chapter 26:
- What pitch is the only pitch remaining in Grayson’s repertoire?
- Define the word grouse. (No POQ)
- Where did Maniac get the books?
- What does Grayson request of Maniac?
Chapter 27:
- What three stops do the two make and why? (No POQ)
1.
2.
3.
- 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)
- What is Grayson’s amazing feat in this chapter?
Chapter 28:
- What is Maniac Magee’s reaction to Grayson reading his first book?
- What items make Maniac Magee’s room a home? (list at least 3)
Chapter 29:
- To whom does Maniac send a message in his Thanksgiving prayer?
- Why did Maniac Magee paint 101 above his door?
Chapter 30:
- List three details that describe Grayson and Maniac’s Christmas decorations. (No POQ)
Chapter 31:
- 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)
- What ‘family’ did Maniac and Grayson give gifts to on Christmas morning?
- What twospecial gifts did Grayson and Maniac exchange? (No POQ)
Chapter 32:
- What does Maniac do when he discovers Grayson?
- What is particularly sad about the service Maniac attended? (No POQ)
- Why do you think Maniac didn’t turn Grayson over to a doctor or the police right away?
- Compare (how are they alike) Maniac’s life with the Beales to his life with Grayson.
“Part III” Chapter 33:
- What three items does Maniac Magee take from his ‘home?’ (No POQ)
- How do Maniac’s travels compare to Cobble’s Knot?
- Why was Maniac Magee giving up and waiting to die?
Chapter 34:
- Who specifically are the runaways, Piper and Russell?
- Why does Maniac Magee offer them a free pizza (that he won untying Cobble’s Knot)?
- Why does Giant John refer to Maniac Magee as ‘frog boy?’
Chapter 35:
- Why did Maniac Magee make up a story about Giant John striking him out with a stopball?
- Share three examples of the McNab’s lifestyle. (No POQ)
- What does Maniac Magee mean when he asks, “Who’s the orphan here, anyway?” (pg.121 No POQ)
Chapter 36:
- What two amazing feats did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
- Why do Russell and Piper continue to go to school?
Chapter 37:
- What amazing feats did Maniac Magee accomplish in this chapter? (No POQ)
Chapter 38:
- Why was Maniac Magee on the East Side in this chapter?
- How did Maniac Magee disgrace(humiliate) Mars Bar?
- At what location did Maniac Magee end up while on the East Side?
Chapter 39:
- What are the McNab’s building and why?
- What “smells worse than garbage and turds?”
Chapter 40:
- How does Maniac Magee compare the Beales and the Pickwells?
- How do readers know that Russell and Piper are still planning to run away?
- Why doesn’t Maniac “force, command, or shout” at Russell and Piper to get them to do
right? (pg. 140 -- No POQ)
- What event occurred that caused Maniac to lose his temper with the boys?
- Why did Russell and Piper tell Maniac to leave their house?
- Why was Maniac invited back to their home?
Chapter 41:
- Who did Maniac bring to Piper’s birthday party?
- How did he get Mars Bar to come to the West Side?
- Why did Maniac Magee take Mars Bar to the Pickwell’s?
- What feat did Mars Bar accomplish in this chapter?
Chapter 42:
- How did Mars Bar discover that the pillbox was not a bomb shelter?
- Why did Maniac feel pride for the East End warrior?
- What proves that Maniac’s plan to bring Mars Bar to the West Side was successful?
Chapter 43:
- What did Maniac like about the people’s backyards?
- What does Maniac like about his town before sunrise?
Chapter 44:
- Who became Maniac’s morning running partner?
- Why did Piper need Maniac?
- What is Maniac’s shocking response to the situation?
Chapter 45:
- Where did Mars Bar take Russell after rescuing him and why?
- Why didn’t Maniac accept Mars Bar’s invitation to his home?
Chapter 46:
- What did Mars Bar do after Maniac refused his invitation?
- 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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