Name Maniac Magee By: Jerry Spinelli

1 Name Maniac Magee By: Jerry SpinelliVocabulary and Comprehension QuestionsVocabulary:Before the Story and Chapters1- 8bellowedpuzzlementlegendtheorieslungedt restleblunderemanationlurchpandemoniumCh apters 9 - 24befuddledfinickycringedsolemnblotchesp ulpitquiversolitudecontortionsgawkedChap ters 25 - 36flauntingimmortalityrepertoiregnawedpo mmelpreposterouspungentmeanderingdesolat ionnonchalantChapters 37 - 46compostexuberanceforlornludicrousperil ousignorantshenaniganszanyconstellationh oarseComprehension and Discussion Questions:Before the the author s repeated use of the words they say. was Maniac Magee s principal legacy?Chapter the circumstances that forced Jeffrey Magee to live with his aunt and was Jeffrey so unhappy living with his aunt and caused the birth scream of a legend ? Evaluate this phrase. Do you think it accuratelydescribes the situation? Why or why not?Chapter The Lost Year.

2 Did Jeffrey say that made people wonder about him? What does this tell us about thetown?Chapter seemed somewhat suspicious of Jeffrey at first. Explain the why Amanda carried all her books in a suitcase. Judge whether or not this was apractical solution. Give your why Amanda decided to loan Jeffrey a book. What would you have done if you wereAmanda?Chapter was unusual about Jeffrey s performance on the high school field?Chapter author wrote, Kids stayed away from Finsterwald s the way old people stay away fromSaturday afternoon matinees at a two-dollar movie. Evaluate the comparison. Does it add tothe telling of the story? was Arnold Jones? How did he get into trouble? how Jeffrey stupefied the weren t the Pickwells aware of Jeffrey s presence at their dinner table?Chapter John McNab. What conclusions can be drawn about the way he was regardedby others? did Jeffrey make John McNab look bad? What mean trick did McNab decide to play onJeffrey?

3 What was the result? were the other little leaguers cheering?Chapter did Jeffrey become Maniac ? the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter. Why does it make you want to read on?Chapter were McNab and his friends looking for Maniac ? caused the Cobras to cease their pursuit of Maniac ? Why were they laughing?Chapter the following author s description into your own words: Stone was softer than the kid sglare. Evaluate this descriptive Mars Bar. Would you like to have him for a friend? Give your why Mars Bar offered Maniac a bite of his candy the end of Chapter 10, there was something Maniac felt like doing; however, the author didnot describe it. Make an assumption as to what it might did Amanda react when she saw her torn book? Why, do you think, did she believeManiac and not Mars Bar?Chapter did Mr. Beale guess that Maniac did not have a real home? was the meaning of digits in the following: at the digits nailed to the doorframe?

4 What did they symbolize to Maniac ?Chapter did the author state, The way Maniac fit in, you would have thought he was born there ? changes took place in the Beale household as a result of Maniac s stay? was strange about Maniac s allergic reaction to pizza?Chapter did Hands Down choose Maniac to be on his team? did Maniac prefer to be called Jeffrey? the following statement: Inside this house, a kid gets one name, but on the otherside of the door, it s whatever the rest of the world wants to call him. Do you agree? Giveexamples from your own what was meant by trash talk. evidence that Mrs. Beale treated Maniac like one of her was the cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 15? Why is this statement ominous?Chapter problem was Maniac unable to foresee? would you have felt if you had been Maniac Magee at this time?Chapter did Maniac seem to discount the old man s words at first? did Amanda ask Maniac to go to the store with her?

5 Do you think Maniac felt upon seeing the words Fishbelly Go Home ?Chapter said something to Maniac which she regretted and for which he had no answer. did Amanda say to comfort Maniac at the end of the chapter? you were Amanda, what would you have said to Maniac to convince him to stay?Chapter what was meant by Cobble s Knot. did Cobble s Knot figure into Amanda s plan? Predict whether or not the plan will did the author use personification and simile to describe Maniac s handling of theKnot? what reason did Maniac decide to take a short nap?Chapter destructive act caused Maniac to make up his mind to leave the home of the Beales? the manner in which Maniac left Maniac s decision. What would you have done if you had been in his place?Chapter had Maniac been spending his nights? found Maniac ? Characterize him. Predict whether or not he will prove to be a goodfriend for did Grayson give to Maniac that made him think he must have climbed out of thatbuffalo pen right into heaven ?

6 Used sarcasm in this chapter. Maniac s argument against attending school. Do you think he had a point? Why orwhy not? what the little worm of a notion was Grayson shocked by Maniac s description of life in the Beale home? was Maniac spending his nights now? seemed touch by Grayson s offer to share his room, yet he preferred to be on his own. Why?Chapter didn t Grayson take the field on his first day in the Minor Leagues? did Grayson explain Maniac to the park superintendent? the fact that Grayson told Maniac all sorts of baseball stories while he protested, Iain t got no stories. Which was Grayson s happiest baseball story? Which was his saddest?Chapter effect did the time spent with Maniac have upon Grayson? had Maniac been doing with his mornings? favor did Grayson ask of Maniac ?Chapter factors led to Grayson s inability to read and to his running away? would you rate Maniac as a teacher? Where do you think he got his teaching plan?

7 Why Grayson felt that you could never trust a vowel. Chapter Maniac s reaction when Grayson finished reading The Little Engine That Could. Why was this accomplishment so important to caused Grayson to say a-men ?Chapter did Maniac and Grayson spend Thanksgiving? Why did Maniac paint 101" on the door?Chapter did Grayson make as a Christmas decoration? the mood in this was so special about the book Maniac gave Grayson as a Christmas present? Whichgift did Maniac treasure the most?Chapter first gave Maniac the feeling that something was wrong? made Maniac smile while at the cemetary? where Maniac will , do you think, did Maniac paint over the 101" on the door and refuse to stay in the bandshell? did Maniac try to avoid looking at the trestle? was Maniac waiting for death ?Chapter did Maniac get the two runaways to return to safety ? heard a familiar voice. Whose was it?Chapter story did Maniac tell to restore John s reputation in the eyes of his brothers?

8 Would you like about the McNab home? What would you dislike about it? did Maniac mean by the following question: Who s the orphan here, anyway? Chapter did Maniac keep Russell and Piper from running away? did Maniac go to Finsterwald s and knock on the front door?Chapter what does the footnote refer? what the author meant when he wrote that Maniac paid the tuition for Piper s andRussell s challenge did the boys consider to be the most perilous?Chapter kindness did Maniac remember doing for worms when he was younger? factors did Maniac consider when deciding how to run the race against Mars Bar? did Maniac do that he regretted instantly. Judge this did Maniac choose to leave the Beale s home? was used in the beginning of this chapter. what event were George and John McNab preparing? what it was that smelled worse than garbage and turds. Chapter the Pickwells and the author used a simile when he compared Russell and Piper to peaches.

9 Explain thesimile. What finally caused Maniac to lose patience with Russell and Piper? whom Maniac will bring to Piper s birthday party?Chapter did Maniac decide to bring Mars Bar to the party? How did Maniac goad Mars Bar intoaccompanying him to the West End?Chapter Maniac s decision to bring Mars to the McNabs . Why was Maniac proud of Mars Bar?Chapter author described the sky s color just before dawn. What words did he choose for thisdescription? the mood of this in mid-June, where did Maniac sleep each night?Chapter were the daybreak boys ? Explain the significance of the did Piper lead Maniac and Mars Bar to the platform of the P&W trolley terminal? didn t Maniac help Russell?Chapter did Maniac s fear at the trolley trestle bring about an understanding between the McNabsand Mars Bar? , do you suppose, didn t Maniac accept the offer to go to Mars Bar s home?Chapter you think that Mars Bar was disappointed that Maniac didn t come home with him?

10 Support your whether or not Mars Bar was a good friend to how Maniac must have felt at the end of the story.