Maniac Magee
by Jerry Spinelli
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 820L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Maniac Magee is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 820L
- Grade range
- Grades 4–7
- Difficulty for grade
- Within the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
- Age range
- Ages 9–13
- Pages
- 184
- Reading time
- about 3h 20m (est.)
- First published
- 1990
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780316809061
Reading difficulty: At 820L, Maniac Magee falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Pricing + Prime availability shown on Amazon.
About this book
Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee, a legendary orphan runner, crosses the racial divide of a fictional Pennsylvania town. Spinelli's Newbery Medal novel is widely assigned in 5th-7th grade for its approachable take on race relations and homelessness.
Why widely assigned
This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on race and homelessness; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Content notes
racial tension · homelessness · death of parents
Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Maniac Magee→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Maniac Magee?
- Maniac Magee is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 820L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Maniac Magee?
- Maniac Magee has a Lexile measure of 820L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read Maniac Magee?
- It takes about 3h 20m to read Maniac Magee (184 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 200 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Maniac Magee hard to read for 4th grade?
- At 820L, Maniac Magee falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- What curricula assign Maniac Magee?
- Maniac Magee appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 820L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.