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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Maniac make the deal even better for the McNab boys to go to school?

2. What makes Maniac run from the graveyard?

3. What falls out of the ceiling frightening Mars Bar badly?

4. What does Maniac do as a feat with the bison pen?

5. Where does Maniac sleep one night--just once in Chapter 43?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Maniac manipulate Russell and Piper and how do they manipulate Maniac?

2. How does the situation with Mars Bar climax at Piper's birthday party and how does Mars Bar deal with it all?

3. What tale does Mars Bar tell Maniac about Russell?

4. Why does Maniac work so hard to get Russell and Piper to go to school?

5. What part of the day does Maniac enjoy the most and why now that June was on its way?

6. What do the worms symbolize?

7. Why does Maniac take Mars Bar to the Pickwells?

8. What is family life like at the McNabs?

9. How does Mars Bar's rescue of Russell help change the prejudices of the town?

10. What precious gift does Grayson give to Maniac for Christmas and how does it affect Maniac?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Jerry Spinelli give the character of Maniac such incredible athletic abilities even though he is not an athlete?

Essay Topic 2

How is Amanda the staying power for Maniac? What makes her different from everyone else that he encounters? How does she ultimately change Maniac?

Essay Topic 3

What is the theme of the book concerning race? How is the theme expressed? What do the characters learn about race by the end of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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