Winner of the Newbery Medal, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli is a timeless middle-grade classic about race, family, and the power of community. - This 25th Anniversary Edition includes a Q&Q with Jerry Spinelli and into form Katherine Applegate the author of "The one and only Ivan".
Jeffrey Lionel Magee—better known as Maniac Magee—is a legend in his small Pennsylvania town. He can run faster than anyone, untie impossible knots, and hit any baseball pitch. But beyond his athletic feats, Maniac is on a deeper journey: to find a real home and to bridge the racial divide that splits his town in two.
With humor, heart, and unforgettable characters, Spinelli’s novel tackles important themes of racism, homelessness, and belonging, making it a staple in classrooms and a beloved book for generations of readers.
⭐ Why You’ll Love It
Winner of the Newbery Medal, one of the highest honors in children’s literature.
Explores race relations, homelessness, and family with honesty and compassion.
Maniac is an unforgettable character whose story resonates across generations.
A beloved choice for classrooms, book clubs, and independent reading.
🎯 Perfect For
Middle-grade readers ages 9–12.
Classrooms teaching themes of diversity, tolerance, and empathy.
Fans of thought-provoking, realistic middle-grade fiction.
Readers of classics like Bridge to Terabithia and Because of Winn-Dixie.
📚 Fans Also Liked
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Crash by Jerry Spinelli
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli - 25th Anniversary Edition
- Title: Like New - Some wear to outside
- Author: Jerry Spinelli
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
- Publication Year: 1990 (Newbery Medal Winner, 1991)
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN-13: 9780316809061
- Genre: Middle Grade | Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
- Recommended Reading Age: 9–12 | Grades 4–7

