Spinelli's Maniac Magee (excerpt): Reading and Critical Thinking Practice

A brief, dialogue-rich passage from Jerry Spinelli's novel Maniac Magee is accompanied by a well-written literacy assessment tool. Thematic content lends itself to age-appropriate discussions about race relations and social justice. Seven questions address main idea, supporting details, key events, inference, figurative language, and cause and effect. Paragraphs labeled with letters and sentences numbered for reference develop useful test taking skills.