Union Township Public Schools This information is also available on:

Summer Reading, Grade 7 www.twpunionschools.org

SUMMER READING

ENGLISH GRADE 7

Directions:

o  Please read Maniac Magee.

o  You may purchase your book from Here’s the Story Book Store, located in Union Center.

o  You may also borrow your book from the Union Public Library.

o  A Summer Reading Essay Assessment will be administered on Tuesday, September 9, 2014.

o  To prepare for the summer reading assessment, complete the attached study guide.

o  The study guide will not be graded; however, you will be able to use it when completing your summer reading assessment in class.

Maniac Magee

by Jerry Spinelli

Jeffery Lionel “Maniac” Magee might have lived a normal life if a trolley 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.

Study Guide Questions

1.  How old was Maniac when he became an orphan?

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2.  How long did he live with his aunt and uncle?

______

3.  Where did the running start?

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4.  Who was the first person to actually speak with Maniac?

______

5.  Why does this person (from question # 4) carry all her books in a

suitcase?

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6.  What are the “Finsterwallies”?

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7.  What is the boundary between the East and West ends?

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8.  In addition to East and West, how else are the neighborhoods divided?

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9.  Who does Maniac encounter when he ran into the East End?

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10. What is Maniac allergic to?

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11. What was written on the side of the Beale’s house?

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12. What is the prize for untangling Cobble’s Knot?

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13. How long did it take Maniac to untie Cobble’s Knot?

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14. Why would Maniac not stay at the YMCA with Grayson?

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15. What did Maniac do with the money Grayson gives him?

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16. What does Grayson want Maniac to do for him?

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17. Why did Maniac paint 101 outside his door?

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18. What was the book that Maniac gave Grayson for Christmas?

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19. Why did Grayson leave Maniac?

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20. What made Russell and Piper feel important?

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21. How did Maniac create more trouble when he raced Mars Bar?

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22. Why did Maniac get mad at Russell and Piper?

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23. When Maniac was running, he felt like someone was following him. Who turned out to be running at the same time?

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24. Why did Maniac not save Russell?

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25. Where is Maniac finally able to call home?

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