Maniac Magee

After his parents are killed in an accident, Jeffrey Lionel Magee is forced to live with his aunt and uncle--a situation he eventually finds so unbearable that he runs away. Initially, Jeffrey leads an itinerant life, finding food and shelter where he can, but his circumstances change forever when he makes his way to Two Mills--a small, racially divided Pennsylvania town. Jeffrey's amazing abilities in all sorts of sports, his bravery, his intelligence, and his kindness win him a reputation (and the nickname "Maniac"), but his achievements also make him a threat to some of the other kids in Two Mills. Through his experiences in the East End (where the black people live) and the West End (where the white people live), Maniac becomes aware of not only the racism and ignorance that permeate both ends of town, but also the kindness and love found in both sets of residents. As he searches for a place to call home, Manic learns that the residents of the East and West ends have more in common than they ever imagined--and he sets out to find a way to bring them together. Told in the style of a tall tale or a legend, MANIAC MAGEE is the winner of the 1991 Newbery Medal.