Maniac Magee

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Where might authors draw inspiration for writing novels? What are some of the challenges authors may face when writing a novel?

Teaching Suggestion: Jerry Spinelli, the author of Maniac Magee, drew inspiration from his own experiences growing up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, which he used as inspiration for the fictional town of Two Mills. Spinelli recalls clear racial divisions in his community of Norristown. Jeffrey Lionel “Maniac” Magee, the novel’s protagonist, is an orphan who navigates the racial divisions in Two Mills while inspiring the city with his legendary qualities. It might be helpful to provide students with a brief overview of the novel prior to reading Jerry Spinelli’s reflection on it. Students might prepare a simple T-chart in their notes to compare Spinelli’s personal experiences in childhood with Maniac’s experiences as they read the novel.

• This article describes Jerry Spinelli’s connection to Maniac Magee and explains why the book is still relevant today.
• This brief article provides descriptions and historical facts about Norristown, Pennsylvania, the author’s inspiration for Two Mills, the setting of the novel.

Short Activity

Explore common tall tales to identify their characteristics and answer the questions.

• What are elements or characteristics of tall tales?
• What qualities of Davy Crockett and Paul Bunyan are exaggerated?
• What is the reason for exaggeration in telling tall tales?
• What aspects of Davy Crockett’s and Paul Bunyan’s stories are based on fact?
• How do the attributes of Paul Bunyan and Davy Crocket both exemplify the characteristics of tall tales?

Teaching Suggestion: Maniac Magee gains legendary status in the Two Mills community because of his seemingly superhuman abilities. Readers might use these or similar resources to help in analyzing the characteristics of tall tales; for example, students might work in small groups to analyze either Davy Crockett or Paul Bunyan and create a chart comparing the two figures. It may be beneficial to add an additional column to the chart for Maniac Magee; students could address his feats and accomplishments as they read the novel.

• The summary at the top of this UNC Chapel Hill library guide describes the characteristics of tall tales.
• This 8-minute video explains the legendary tales of Paul Bunyan.
• This article from Wisconsin Public Radio discusses the origins of the tall tales about Paul Bunyan and acknowledges the complicated issues sometimes associated with his stories and image, such as deforestation and relocation of Indigenous people.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require an additional challenge can explore the historical background that inspired figures such as Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, Johnny Appleseed, and others. Consider asking these students to create an infographic describing the background and character attributes of one of these figures.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Consider a time when you felt like an outsider in a new place or community. What emotions might be associated with a lack of belonging? What challenges do individuals face when they feel as though they don’t belong? What strategies might be used to include others who may feel as though they are an outsider within a community?

Teaching Suggestion: Jeffrey runs away from his aunt and uncle because of tensions that arise in the home. He travels to the fictional town of Two Mills in Pennsylvania where the city is racially divided into the East and West Ends. It may be a good time to let readers know that Jeffrey has difficulty fitting in with others in the community for a variety of reasons, including racial tensions in the town and being without a home. Due to the sensitive nature of the prompt, students might benefit from completing a private journal entry response.