Comparing Characters

Who was your favorite character from either Tuck Everlasting or Maniac Magee? 
Why did you like this character so much?

Readers Choice

-Maniac Magee and Tuck Everlasting are two great books.  Both deal with the idea of changing and with how hard it can be to be a pre-teen.
-Which book did you like more?  Why?

Chapter 46 Part II

Who do you think convinced Jeffrey to leave the zoo and move into a home more Mars Bar (Snickers) or Amanda?  Why?

Chapter 46 Part I

Do you think the ending to the book was predictable?  Did you see the ending coming?

Chapter 43

At the end of this chapter we learn where Maniac ( now I think maybe he does deserve the name) sleeps most nights.

-Where is he sleeping a lot of the time now?  Is that legal?  Is it a good idea?

Chapter 42

What do you think Maniac was hoping would happen when he brought Mars Bar to the McNab's home?

Chapter 40

Jeffrey gets REALLY upset at one point in this chapter at Russell and Piper.  What made him so upset at those two boys?

Chapter 36

After Maniac stands in the Finsterwald's backyard for ten minutes he does something most consider to be insane.  He knocks on their door. 
-The book explains that the door opens and that Maniac is not hurt or intimidated.  He then walks away with a big grin on his face.  What do you think happened when the door opened?

Chapter 35 Question #3

Is John a bully around town because he is insecure about what his house looks like?  Explain.

Chapter 35 Question #2

What is an autopsy and why would they perform one on a bird?  Or was this hyperbole???

Chapter 35 Question #1

Since Jon McNab and Maniac are not exactly friends why would Maniac lie to Russell and Piper about John striking him out with the Stop Ball?

Chapter 35 Questions

I REALLY liked having all of you help me write questions from this chapter.  If you liked it please let me know here and I will try to do this more often.

Here are some of your questions...

Chapter 32 Question

Who do you think everyone is waiting for at the cemetery? Why are they waiting for this person?

Chapter 31

Why does Grayson give Jeffrey and old baseball mitt?                        Don't you think Jeffrey would like a new one that hasn't been all beaten up?

Part One

Maniac Magee is divided into three sections.  I like all three parts and think that part one is very well written.   On a scale of 1-10 (where 10 is perfect) what would you give the book so far?  Please explain your score.

Chapter 19

Most of this chapter takes place at Cobbles Pizza shop (mmmm...i love pizza).  Cobbles is on Hector street which divides the East and West sides of Two Mills. 
-Was this just or coincidence?  Why do you think Jerry Spinelli put this store on Hector street? 

Chapter 18

Why is Amanda being so rude to Jeffrey at the beginning of this chapter?  I thought she wanted him to stay at her house, so why is she being rude and mean to him?

Jane Elliot and Segregation

Thank you again for being very mature and having a great conversation with me today about race and racism.  It was a great class!
-What age do you think we should start talking to people about segregation and racism?  Why?

Chapter 17

What is a fishbelly and why was it written on the Beale's house?

Chapter 15

Why does Mrs. Beale slap Jeffrey?  I thought she really liked having him in the house.

Allergies

In chapter 13 we learned that Jeffrey is allergic to pizza.  PIZZA!  That is one of my favorite foods and I can't imagine being allergic to it.
-What is one food that you hope you are never going to be allergic to?  Why?

Chapter 13

Give an example of something positive that is happening in or around the Beale's house due to Jeffrey being there.

Chapter 11

In chapter 10 an older woman stops Mars Bar from fighting Jeffrey, then in chapter 11 Amanda stops Mars bar again. 
What does this tell you about the women who live on the East Side of town?

The Joy of Running

I didn't really have Jeffrey (Maniac) Magee on my mind when I did this but yesterday I got off a bus and instead of walking home I just decided to run. 
 -I ran on the curb, I ran on the sidewalk, I ran up some stairs....and it felt really good!  I challenge all of you to try what Jeffrey does and run somewhere instead of walking there.  You'll be surprised how good it feels.     If you try this, tell us about it here.

Chapter 9

John McNab and the rest of the Cobras (a silly name if you ask me) are chasing Maniac and almost catch him when they suddenly stop at Hector Street.  Why did they stop there when they were so close to catching him?

Chapter 4

Can you find an example of hyperbole in this chapter?  If so please write it here.

Chapter 3

When Amanda gives Jeffrey a book he asks her for her address so that he can return it to her when he is done with it.  She gives him her address and then tells him,
"but you can't come there, you can't even be here."
-What does she mean by this statement?

Chapter 1

Near the end of chapter one Jeffrey (Maniac) screams out Talk! Talk, will ya. Talk! Talk!

-Why was he so upset with his aunt and uncle?

Listen to what I did during February vacation!!!!

I know that many of you are going to visit family members or go away for a day or two so this is where you can tell us what you did.
  -Remember that if you leave Massachusetts please get a post card from wherever you went so we can chart where we have been.

Welcome to our new Blog

I had such a great time with our last blog that I am creating a new one for our new book.  I hope that everyone will join me in using this blog.

If you read this please take a minute to write below one rule for using this blog. 
Ex: no swearing