Maniac Magee

Rating:
Summary: This is a funny and well charactorized book.
Review: I thought that Maniac Magee was a very good book. I liked it a lot. It was so hard to put down! This was an exciting book.Maniac Magee was a boy with heart and charictor and talent. He could outrun anyone and anything!He could untie knots that no one else could. I would recommend this book to anybody with a reading level of 6th graders.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a good lesson on prejudice and ignorance.
Review: Maniac McGee is an interesting because it teaches about how ignorance of other people can cause violence and prejudice between people. My favorite part of the book is when Maniac met Grayson because Grayson took him in like he was his own son. He treated him like he lived there for years. This is an inportant part in the story because Maniac felt loved and safe with Grayson, and he had a warm home to live in. When Maniac lost Grayson, he lost a home and a friend. What will happen to Maniac? Will he find a home? Read this book to find out.

Rating:
Summary: I'm 15 and I still like it!
Review: This insightful look at race relations through the eyes of a child, one child in particular, is reminicent of To Kill a Mockingbird. The style, however makes it interesting for both children and adults. It does not deal with this sensitive topic in a traditional way and struck me for its unique take and willingness to approach up uncomfortable situations, doing so with an innocent, un-spoiled attitude form this boy who has been in an essential societal seclusion. This is an interesting comment on politics and society, that i see now, but at 12 when i first read it, it was an entertaining book with a good moral. The best of both worlds.

Rating:
Summary: My two children (9 and 11) loved this book
Review: My son and daughter both enjoyed this book. It gave us quite a bit to talk about and to puzzle about together. This is not great fiction, but it seems to appeal to children. (I blushed quite a few times at the language, but to the children it was all old hat or amusing.)

Rating:
Summary: This is a great book!
Review: This is a very good book it really deserves its Newberry Medal.I definately recammend this book to everyone who likes a books that are a good adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Not just a kid's book
Review: For those who claim this to be a children's book: well, it is. Albeit it is written for the age group and has very modern style, Spinelli's book is fit for the old as well. It is insightful commentary on not just the 'racism' topic, but ostracism, self-will, and urbanite heroes. Touching.

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding book: fascinating story, beautifully crafted
Review: I teach a fourth grade gifted and talented class. We read Maniac Magee this past year, and the kids COULDN'T WAIT to read, write and discuss each day! It deals with REAL issues in kids' lives in a unique way: homelessness, the need for love and belonging, racial issues, intergenerational relationships, literacy, friendship. Too many people don't give kids credit for being able to tackle hard issues -- until they give them books like this, with real "meat" in them! (Even adults will like it!)

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Ever Read
Review: This book was a masterpiece on a homeless kid. I really like the the way it tells us there is still racisim in places.

Rating:
Summary: A great book for all ages
Review: Jerry Spinelli had always written great books, but his best by far is Maniac Magee! This is a terrific stroy and I loved it! I think everyone would enjoy it because it has a little bit of everything!

Rating:
Summary: Good but too much enphasis on cultural differences.
Review: My students seem to enjoy this book more than I did, which is okay since it's kids Spinelli was trying to reach. I thought the book tried too hard to show how unfairly people of 'color' are treated. It became preachy to the point I was hoping the book would soon be over. The idea was fresh, but the presentation didn't quite make it interesting.