Maniac Magee - Module 4

Maniac Magee
by Jerry Spinelli


Newbery Medal 1991

Published by Little, Brown Books (1990)
ISBN 9780316807227
Grades: 6-10

Tale

Born as Jeffrey Lionel Magee, it is due to his amazing skills, his fearlessness nature, and impetus in straighten things up that he becomes simply Maniac Magee. Orphan at age of three, he is brought to live with his uncle and aunt, which are not example of a happy family. At 12, he runs away and finds out a reality of two worlds divided by one street and by racism: blacks in one side and whites on the other side of this small town. Although a white little boy, he becomes a legend on both worlds. The book portrays Magee adventures, and misadventures, around these two words.

Thoughts

While the other characters of the book sees Magee as an impetuous boy, which can run as fast as a lightening, and to be not afraid of anybody or anything, the reader meet a boy with a big heart, who does not support rivalry, who does not understand racism, who wants to have an address more than a house. He loses too many loved ones but he does win a big battle!

This is a great story which I would recommend for readers older than the ones primarily aimed (ages 9-12). Although lightened up by Spinelli’s skilled count, with funny characteristics on some of the personages, the book is a serious portrait of a heavy reality. To learn more about Maniac Magee and to listen to an excerpt read by Spinelli, click here.

About the author  

Born on February 1, 1941 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Spinelli’s first published work as a writer was a poem about his school football team, published on the local newspaper. His first four adult novels didn’t have the same faith; they were all rejected by publishers. When the fifth one became rejected as an adult novel, based on the 13 years old protagonist, the story was published as a children’s book. Spinelli became, then, a noted children’s author with 25 published books.

To visit Jerry Spinelli official website, click here.

Review

SLJ Reviews 1990 June
Website: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

"Gr 6-10-- Warning: this interesting book is a mythical story about racism. It should not be read as reality. Legend springs up about Jeffrey ``Maniac'' Magee, a white boy who runs faster and hits balls farther than anyone, who lives on his own with amazing grace, and is innocent as to racial affairs. After running away from a loveless home, he encounters several families, in and around Two Mills, a town sharply divided into the black East End and the white West End. Black, feisty Amanda Beale and her family lovingly open their home to Maniac, and tough, smart-talking ``Mars Bar'' Thompson and other characters are all, to varying degrees, full of prejudices and unaware of their own racism. Racial epithets are sprinkled throught the book; Mars Bar calls Maniac ``fishbelly,'' and blacks are described by a white character as being ``today's Indians.'' In the final, disjointed section of the book, Maniac confronts the hatred that perpetuates ignorance by bringing Mars Bar to meet the Pickwells--``the best the West End had to offer.'' In the feel-good ending, Mars and Maniac resolve their differences; Maniac gets a home and there is hope for at least improved racial relations. Unreal? Yes. It's a cop-out for Spinelli to have framed this story as a legend--it frees him from having to make it real, or even possible. Nevertheless, the book will stimulate thinking about racism, and it might help educate those readers who, like so many students, have no first-hand knowledge of people of other races. Pathos and compassion inform a short, relatively easy-to-read story with broad appeal, which suggests that to solve problems of racism, people must first know each other as individuals. --Joel Shoemaker, Tilford Middle School, Vinton, IA Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information."

Activity

At Nancy Polette’s website I found three interesting activities to be promoted with Maniac Magee reading. I liked these activities because they approach distinct subjects that are important and still current. The first activity is a text comprehension exercise; the second activity relates to homeless people; and the third activity is about conflict resolution. To see the activities, click here.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven - Module 4

The CAT who went to HEAVEN
By Elizabeth Coatsworth
Illustrations by Lynd Ward


Published by Macmillan, NY (1930)
Ages: 8 UP

Tale

In Japan, a young, lonely, and poor artist shared his days with his housekeeper. Almost without any money, the housekeeper heads to the market, but instead of food, she comes back with a three-colored cat in her basket. The housekeeper named the cat Good Fortune. The artist is then hired by the temple’s head priest to paint the death of Buddha. Besides the honor, the invitation also meant the end of starvation for him, the housekeeper, and Good Fortune. The following chapters illustrate the artist meditating on Buddha’s life. After three days of meditation, the artist knew exactly how to do the portrait. Animals were added to the paint, one by one, but not a cat (according to legend, cats don’t go to heaven because they “…refused homage to Buddha”). With each animal, an important passage of Buddha’s life is narrated. Good Fortune, now part of the family, “pleas” to be added to the paint, causing a dilemma; the artist suffers with Good Fortune’s sadness, but including her in the paint could send all three of them back to starvation.

Thoughts

This is a beautiful story and I encourage you to read it. Besides the end, I greatly appreciated the passage in which the young artist summarizes what he have learned about Buddha during his meditation: “…now at least he understood that the Buddha he painted must have the look of one who has been gently brought up and unquestioningly  obeyed (that he learned from the first day); and he must have the look of one who has suffered greatly and sacrificed himself (that he learned from the second day); and he must have the look of one who has found peace and given it to others (that he learned on the last day)”.

About the author  

Elizabeth Coatsworth (1893-1986)
Born in Buffalo, New York, Elizabeth Coatsworth had a passion for travel, history, geography, among others.  She wrote more than 90 books for children, based on facts and myths she has learned in places she lived and visited.

Review

The Celebrity Cafe

3/23/2003

Lynda Dale MacLean

Of all the magical beasts, one little cat brought the most magical of blessings.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven was awarded the John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children. Elizabeth Coatsworth's brilliant, immensely touching, and spiritually celebrated story was given new luster and care by illustrator Lynd Ward with great warmth, talent, and insight.


This is the story of a Japanese painter who comes into hardship and struggles each day with it. His housekeeper's support will keep the painter living each day with honesty, truth, and the outlook that things will get better all in good time.


One day, the housekeeper brings an unexpected offering into the house to her master to help him with his troubles. This tiny little creature is a cat--an animal who has been marked as a Devil in Disguise, and a most unlikely creature to hold such great admiration in the animal world.


The painter agrees to keep the cat and calls her Good Fortune. As time goes on, Good Fortune's presence is unlike that of any other cat; she has a special, remarkable quality about her that the painter notices.


Soon the painter gets a calling from the temple's priest requesting him to paint the passing of their Lord Buddha, which is to hang in the village temple. Once the painter knew how the Buddha should be portrayed, Good Fortune was there after every image was painted, and in her own way was showing her admiration, and respect towards the painter's vision, until it seemed that her own voice, her own wish was not being acknowledged.


After the painting is presented to the priest, the painter is not granted the right to have it hung in the temple for he has painted an image that has not been blessed by the Buddha.


With sorrow heavy in his mind, the painter knows his future is far from bright, but his heart is heavy with compassion, joy, and the love that was transcending with gratitude and happiness through his last painting. With such joy and love being shown, perhaps there is more to the story of the painter and his Good Fortune.


After every chapter, there is one beautiful and bitter sweet poem that is written by the housekeeper. An uplifting message of the power, kindness, and the beauty of the spirit that is all around life.


I was gently pulled with the emotional chimes in this story--breathtaking with an unforgettable ending sure to touch your heart, and leave you wiping your eyes. I loved it!

Activity

Play a educational DVD about Japan and their culture.