Maniac Magee    *****
by  Jerry Spinelle

Overview: This is a tall tale of a young boy, without a family, who is seeking a place to belong.
Themes: friendship, prejudice, family, home
Positive elements: This book shows how one person can make a difference in a community. We see what it means to truly be a friend and what is means to belong to a family...no matter the color of your skin.
Negative elements: Maniac Magee suffers through some hard things including the death of a dear friend.
Conclusion: My girls were talking about how this was one of their favorite books we've read lately. I also found it truly moving. I highly recommend it!