Amanda In Maniac Rige

Stargirl was another fantastic book Jerry Spinelli. He added interesting characters, such as, Leo the quiet and shy one, Stargirl unique and fun one, Dori Dilson Stargirl only friend, Archie the wise and elderly one, Kevin Leo’s friend that likes the stoplight, and Hillari Kimble the popular bratty one. This book takes place in MICA, Arizona. Now, in paragraph one I will discuss the plot of Stargirl. Next, I will talk about the theme in Stargirl. Finally, I will evaluate Jerry Spinelli`s job on the novel Stargirl.

I would describe Alicia from the book Things Not Seen by saying she is kind, independent, and a little sarcastic. In the book, Things Not Seen, on chapter 20, page 175, it states, “…, I go up to the third floor of the library, find Alicia, and in five minutes we’re looking for a cab to take us to the Sears corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates,”. This quote shows how Alicia is kind and would do mostly anything for Bobby, like help him sneak to Sears cooperate headquarters at night, for Bobby to find out who else had problems with their electric blanket. Also, Alicia is very independent, in the book Things Not Seen, on chapter 17 page 137 it states, “Just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I’m stupid,”. This quote shows how Alicia doesn’t want to be treated differently and that she isn’t a little kid who can’t do anything.

She’s very curious, intelligent and ambitious, she loves figuring out why things happen (ex. why some grasshoppers are yellow and others green, why dogs have eyebrows, how to trick earthworms into thinking it’s raining etc.) and she adores Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species. Throughout the book she had developed an unbreakable bond with her grandfather (her grandfather often ignores his other grandchildren) over nature and science. She dislikes the idea of housework, is awful at cooking, sewing and knitting. She would like to go to university and study to be a scientist.

Her stories are fiction, but they use aspects from people she has encountered in her daily life. Lower and middle class characters appear the most frequently throughout her works. The way she uses these ordinary people and transforms them into dynamic characters is unmatched. She uses very lengthy and in-depth descriptions of her character’s inner qualities that shape who they are. She uses these descriptions to show the inner workings of the character’s minds through an omniscient view (Entzminger 685-66).

In the book, Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli uses descriptive details, dialogue, actions, and thoughts to develop one of the main characters, Amanda Beale. Amanda Beale is a very helpful person. In the book Amanda, “If you go up there and untie Cobble’s Knot- which I know you can you’ll get your picture in the paper and you’ll be the biggest her ever around and nobody will mess with you them.” This shows how Amanda is helpful because Manic got bullied and she thought what can he do that no one will mess with him. So she thought if unties Cobble’s Knot he will get his picture and be famous. Another way Amanda was helpful is, “Amanda was happy to give up her room to Maniac.” This shows how Amanda gave her room to Manic instead of him sleeping on

The book Maniac Magee, the author Jerry Spinelli, Amanda Beale one of the character’s from Maniac Magee is smart. She is smart because she had many books in a soup case so she could read. Amanda was black, but black people didn’t have great schools like white did, but she was still smart even though white had better school. One way the author developed a character trait is Amanda was smart to put all here books it soup case and have it in alphabetical order. This was smart of idea because she can find out where all her books

Another reason why she is the ultimate best character in literature is because she was a hero. She rescued her step-sister, Heather, from Helen, who is the ghost. She also rescued her mother

Amanda and Tom share a familial relationship of mother and son. Williams depicts Amanda at first interpretation as overbearing, hypercritical and controlling. However, on further assessment, the audience is able to acknowledge a more admirable facet to her character: her evident persistence in trying to love her children. Through her attempts in perpetuating her youth and past glory, she distorts reality to fit her

Nelle was known as a “Tomboy”.(famousauthors) Her friend, eventual author Truman Capote, was bullied and Nelle would protect him.(famousauthors) Their friendship was strengthened by the fact that neither of them had great home lives.(famousauthors) Nelle’s father was a lawyer, co-owned the city newspaper, and was rarely home.(famousauthors) Her mother was believed to be bipolar and needed special treatment.(famousauthors) As a result her mother rarely let the house.(famousauthors) These hiccups did not stop Nelle from making it through school.(My Name Is Scout) In high school she developed a love for

CHARACTERIZATION: Melody is very smart for her age though everyone doesn’t believe that and she remembers everything that she senses forever. Melody was unique from everyone in a way that no doctor could fix her. Melody tries to express her feelings so people like her Mom can understand, but people misunderstand her. Melody likes to learn about others and sees everyone as an unique kid. She also acts like the omniscient narrator because it’s like she is explaining the story and is also the protagonist. She is also in a small room of disabled kids in her school and barely anyone says hello to

In the book, Maniac Magee Spinelli developed Amanda Beale as an intelligent person. The author put examples in the text and here are the ways the author developed Amanda character trait.

Lisa Scottoline in the novel, Lady Killer, skillfully illustrates the reality between the law and relationships. Scottoline supports her demonstration by telling the story between Mary DiNunzio, her work, and friendships. Scottoline’s purpose is to capture the reader with realistic events that are normally not talked about in order to grasp the interest of her readers, and reveal the reality of criminal justice. Scottoline writes in a conversational tone for her young readers without previous knowledge about criminals nor law.

In the story, Maniac Magee, the author, Jerry Spinelli, developed the character Amanda Beale to be devoted to her books.

Even if she did, she loses touch with reality by refusing to let go of her early adulthood.  She has repeated these stories so much that she finds them to be completely true.  Its almost like she refused to grow up with the times, especially once things got harder.       Although Amanda appears to often be stuck in the past, without any idea of reality, she bounces back and forth.  She first says to Laura, "I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position.  I've seen such pitiful cases in the South-- barely tolerated spinsters living upon the grudging patronage of sister's husband or brother's wife. . . encouraged by one in-law to visit another"  (1871).  When discussing the future, she seems to be very inept, clear, and very much realistic.  However, next she completely falls back into illusion when talking about Laura's gentleman caller.  She unrealistically reminds Laura that her 'defect' can overshadowed by simple charm.  She refuses to let Laura refer to herself as crippled (1872).  Not only is Amanda refusing to live in the reality, she is denying Laura the opportunity to be realistic about her disability.

Amanda constantly lives in her past and generates devastating consequences for her children. The fate of Amanda’s children is her fault, crippling them psychologically and emotionally, seriously inhibiting their own quests for maturity and self-realization. Amanda lives in a fantasy world of dreamy recollections, and her children cannot escape from this illusory world either. She suffers from a psychological impulse to withdraw into a fabricated "lost" time.