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Jerry Spinelli Collection
This classic collection includes four of Newbery Award-winning author Jerry Spinelli's most popular his very first novel, Space Station Seventh Grade, about the trials and tribulations of junior high (pimples, football, hair, school dances, and GIRLS!); its sequel about love and friendship, Jason and Marceline; the poignant and humorous sibling rivalry novel, Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?; and the Newbery Award winner about runaways and racism, Maniac Magee. All four novels have been redesigned with hip photographic covers, sure to attract a whole new audience, and in the perfect package for holiday gift giving.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Spinelli
113 books4,011 followersWhen Jerry Spinelli was a kid, he wanted to grow up to be either a cowboy or a baseball player. Lucky for us he became a writer instead.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 15, 2012
In this book, Jeffery Magee or "Maniac" is an orphan year old by the time he is three, because of a trolly antecedent. Now forced to live with his aunt and uncle who hate each other but wont get a divorce because they are strict catholic for eight years, he decides now would be a good time to start running, running away that is. Maniac meets some new people on the way, especially on the East End, mostly where all the black people are. Maniac then meets Amanda Beale who is forced to give him a book because he will not leave her alone to get one. Maniac makes several more appearances in the book and meets more people, but if I told you, you wouldn't need to read the book. Somewhere near the end, Maniac meets two boys that will change his point of view of life.
This kind of situation would probably mean death for someone, and your right. Grayson, one of Maniac's friends, died eight days after Christmas. But Maniac continued to make lives better for most people, for instance, the Beale's household was changed after Maniac started living there. Like the twins, Hester and Lester, started taking a bath again. Amanda's mom didn't have to scrub crayon off everything the twins get their hands on. Maniac was on the job when he was living with the Beale household, first he would get up every morning to give the dog a walk, then try to read Amanda's "A" book,lastly always enjoy taking a bath with Hester and Lester. The situation of Maniac was resolved at the very end, but again I can't tell you all of it because of spoilers. He eventually was found by Amanda and Mars Bar, who took him home to an address. This mostly affected Maniac and Amanda and pretty much everyone he met on the way, because every time their life had Maniac, their life would ether be better or worse.
I would recommend this book to people who are looking to find an adventure on every page, if you manage to actually "get" the book, it is a little confusing at first, but if you do it can be a life rewarding experience. I think this because people think Maniac Magee is a wonderful book. I hope people find out soon how good it is.
This kind of situation would probably mean death for someone, and your right. Grayson, one of Maniac's friends, died eight days after Christmas. But Maniac continued to make lives better for most people, for instance, the Beale's household was changed after Maniac started living there. Like the twins, Hester and Lester, started taking a bath again. Amanda's mom didn't have to scrub crayon off everything the twins get their hands on. Maniac was on the job when he was living with the Beale household, first he would get up every morning to give the dog a walk, then try to read Amanda's "A" book,lastly always enjoy taking a bath with Hester and Lester. The situation of Maniac was resolved at the very end, but again I can't tell you all of it because of spoilers. He eventually was found by Amanda and Mars Bar, who took him home to an address. This mostly affected Maniac and Amanda and pretty much everyone he met on the way, because every time their life had Maniac, their life would ether be better or worse.
I would recommend this book to people who are looking to find an adventure on every page, if you manage to actually "get" the book, it is a little confusing at first, but if you do it can be a life rewarding experience. I think this because people think Maniac Magee is a wonderful book. I hope people find out soon how good it is.
February 16, 2016
this is an ok book but theres a few things i dont like but its fine
February 21, 2023
These four books for tweens are actually all over the place. The first two-Space Station Seventh Grade and Jason and Marceline don't hold up well after 30+ years. Though the main character is a middle school boy, he is just too clueless (and misogynistic/racist) for my taste so I would give these books 2 or 3 stars. Who put the hair in my toothbrush is about sibling rivalry felt even more ridiculous to me and didn't hold up at all because I have not experienced/seen that level of sibling rivalry. (Though I did appreciate the girl's relationship with the older woman.) The final book, however, Maniac Magee is a Newberry Award winner and it deserves all the accolades. Its treatment of racism is a bit mystical but maybe we need that. Well done!
March 21, 2008
A kid named "maniac Magee" who Extremely loves running. Gets caught up with his past and decides to run ANYWHERE. He really is a knot master during his running through towns people really noticed that. People also reccomend him as a hero because he saved people and was/got really noticed anywhere he went....
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November 3, 2008
This book is funny.
November 6, 2012
great book to talk about
January 18, 2013
its an adventure and good book. ;)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews