Maniac Magee lost his parents early in life and was sent to live with his aunt and uncle who quietly hated each other. One day Maniac couldn't take it any longer and in the middle of the school concert, he began screaming and then he began running and he didn't stop until he found himself in a part of town where he'd never been before. As a runaway Maniac McGee is going to meet people who accept him on the black side of town and people who don't want him there. He'll find the same kinds of people on the white side of town. Through it all he is true to himself and that self is a natural born athlete. He gains a reputation for his athleticism. But what matters to Maniac Magee is larger than sports and he uses his talents to bring people together. The winner of the Newbery Medal in 1991. An amazing read...one of my top ten books for kids. Ages 9-13 175 pages