This Newbery Award-winner is a GREAT book! It's that rare combination of great writing, great characters, great plot, good message, and high engagement. This book deserves my highest rating and any adult would enjoy this too. I read one chapter out loud to Leonard, and he commented on how well-written it was as well as how original and funny. That's a lot for one chapter! I read it to him because there were some baseball terms in it that I didn't understand. It was fun to tell him about the story.
Maniac's love for books and learning and helping people is great role modeling for kids as well. He's so capable and unassuming.
Ann recommended this book to me to get for Gabriel. I always like to read them before giving them to him. I think this is one that he will really enjoy. There's a lot in this book for a fourth grader to connect with. I think I will give him this one at Easter. Maybe he'll have plowed through his birthday books by then!
I especially liked the growing understanding that Maniac has about people, about families, about racism, about himself. There are many humorous subtleties that would make this book equally enticing and enjoyable for an adult. It's not kiddie lit...it's deep, rich, and wise. I will read this one again.
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