Maniac Magee Lesson Plan

Why do you think Jeffrey was so contrite when Mrs. Beale scolded him for trash talking in the house?

Jeffrey has gone most of his life without having a place or group of people to call home. Once he finds the Beales, Spinelli describes in great detail about how happy Jeffrey was. You can see him starting to change from a loner to a boy with a community of his own. When he trash talks in front of Mrs. Beale and she scolds him, there is the possibility Jeffrey sees this new life slipping away in an instant. For him in his short life, a lot of things have not been permanent. Losing this would be another example of the temporary nature of things.

What is the signifiance...