Characters
This young girl shares her books and home with Maniac and shows courage when facing Mars Bar.
Amanda Beale
Maniac does this while holding a book, showing his athletic skill.
Catches a football
the zoo
After he is born, this event happens and changes Maniac's story.
His parents die in a trolley accident.
Throughout the story, Maniac is always looking for this theme that he has lost.
Maniac is looking for a home.
This old man becomes a father-figure to Maniac and learns to read because of him.
Grayson
Maniac sits unafraid reading on these, even though they were “forbidden.”
Finsterwald's front steps
This gang chases Maniac and threatens him when he crosses their street boundary.
McNab and the Cobras
Maniac and Grayson celebrate this holiday together like a family, showing belonging.
Thanksgiving
Amanda and her precious suitcase are a clue to this theme of the story.
The importance of reading in changing your thinking and your life.
The tough kid who is known for his strength and anger; he is surprised when Maniac eats his food.
Mars Bar
Maniac does this three times in one game, surprising everyone with his skill.
Hits John McNabs pitch and makes 3 home runs
This problem is discovered because Maniac tells a lie about where he lives.
that Maniac has no home
Grayson gives Maniac this precious gift
Grayson's old baseball glove
Maniac is compared to this self-less Bible character.
the good Samaritan
These two small children create chaos but love Maniac; they help show his caring side.
Maniac unties this as he did smaller ones; it is a small act but symbolic.
This symbolizes the mess of hatred and racism in Two Mills.
Cobble's Knot
Maniac teaches Grayson something important that changes Grayson’s life—what is it?
Maniac teaches Grayson to read.
Maniac shows this theme when he rescues Russell from the trolley trestle.
caring is shown by your sacrifice for others
These two runways are violent and create chaos wherever they go, still Maniac rescues them.
Piper and Russel McNab
Name these two daring feats Maniac does in early chapters that help make him a legend (one running feat and one rescue).
Runs on the steel rail; rescues Arnold Jones
This symbolizes the segregation in Two Mills
Hector Street divides the town
After Grayson’s death, Maniac does this to the bandshell door number and then runs away.
Maniac shows his belief in this theme when he introduces Mars Bar to the Pickwells and even the McNabs.
That people can change their behavior and their thinking about things like racism.