worst book ever

I personally found the book offensive for its crude language and disturbing imagery. In addition to the above, I thought the episode describing 11-year old Magee taking baths with the young Beale children (pg. 48), was weird and inappropriate. I also did not appreciate the comparison between "trash talk and church" (pg. 55). Overall, I thought the protagonist Magee was a morally questionable role model. Though he ran away and rejected school, there were never any consequences to these poor choices; if anything, his runaway life is glamorized and Magee is portrayed only as a hero. Conservative parents, beware! I know this book is considered a literary gem, but I didn't think it was appropriate for my child.

I do agree that racial divide, violence, and misbehavior such as drinking and swearing are addressed in this book, but I think the way those things are addressed are done well. The entire book is not filled with it, it is done tastefully and truthfully. For those people who want to protect their children from these issues, I say don't. Address them. This book deals with real life and may help your child cope with issues you may not even realize they have. It is a must read, and you and your child will be missing out on a really great book if you don't pick it up! Maniac is a hero in his own right despite all his setbacks, it is truly inspiring!

I'm reading it in reading class, & I just finished Part II. I'll review again when I finish it. P.S. It's awesome!

Love this book.!!I think Jeffrey is a good role model to younger kids

this book is really elping us see how people live . so because of that you will love it

D--n is used once. Main character acts very retarded ("AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-MEN!"). Commercialism is huge. As an example, a character's name is Mars Bar, and a doctor says, "Oh, he can't be allergic to pizza! Kids love pizza! Kids should eat pizza! Eat pizza!" In my opinion, Jerry Spinelli is and always will be a total hack. I suggest this book to ages 7. But this book is not that good and is filled with product placement. And there is only one slightly likable character. Please do not read this book.

It had questionable moments and stereotyped African-American males, as it seems, to be nothing more than thugs. It was tolerable, just not the apple of my eye.

The only two things that I was concerned about with this movie were language and racism. Racism is a big element to the story. No bad words are used, but lots of prejudice and racism is used. Language: Basically, there were like four parts I found language. There was a part where a character says the "D" word and the same character says the "P" word (as slang for pee) and accompanies it with "hole". (You do the math!) Well, it's fantastic, it's moving, and I hope I can meet Jerry Spinelli one day so I can give him a nice accolade for this book!

I think manic magee was a five star book Manic magee may have a few bad languages but I think many children at age twelve and over should be address to this book it teaches a lesson that I learned That no matter if your poor, rich, or a billionair You can still change the world !

Jerry Spinelli is awesome! If you don't like it get over it!!!But I love it. So there

I thought it was a very good book and appropriate non the less.I got hooked from the first to last page!

it is very interesting because he doesn't really know whee to go or what to do, he didn't understand that some people would treat him different;y because of his color

PARENTS BEWARE! THIS BOOK CONTAINS LESSONS THAT YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN WHILE READING THIS BOOK. YOUR CHILD MAY ALSO EXPERINECE FATIGUE FROM READING TOO MUCH! SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE : STIFF HANDS, WATERY EYES AND LOTS OF FUN!

He wasn't always called Maniac Magee. He was born with the name of Jeffrey Lionel Magee, but when his parents died in a tragic accident, his life changed, so did his name. This was the story of a boy who lived with relatives who hated each other. Two Mills, a town down divided by race into the West End and East End. Maniac Magee found himself caught between two sides in a situation of racial prejudice. Through his experiences with the people he met from both sides of Two Mills, he somehow was able to bring everyone together. Maniac Magee became a legend. I am in Grade 8 and I think that this book is far from innaproprite. It teaches children what predjudice is. It also deals with conflict resolution and multiculturalism.

this is a very good book.nice 5th grade book to start with.it doesnt matter about violence,language(just so its not too bad), or how much humor is in it....it matters if your child thinks its intersting and will really read it.

There is much to talk about after reading this book, the story of how one kid turns a town of segregation upside down. Jerry Spinelli has a way of taking something like this, and turning it into something that his readers understand. This is a great book for summer reading, class projects, et cetera.

Surprise, surprise. The Newberry people got it right for once. This is one of the few times where this committee actually chose a book that is good for both kids and parents, not just a book that parents think kids should like. It takes place in a small, racially divided town, and tells the story of an orphan white boy trying to understand it. Like many of Spinelli's books, it has no main conflict, or a clear sense of beginning or ending. He manages to give the correct impression of what a book really should be: a mere window into someone's lives. We visit in this "window", the extremes of racism and equality, carelessness and homeliness, and, like Maniac, we begin to see how crazy the whole thing really is. A must-read for just about everyone 10 and up.

I liked how he mentioned that Maniac did not like the dislike between blacks and whites.