Maniac Magee: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

At Amanda’s house, Mrs. Beale is busily scrubbing purple crayon marks off the TV. Amanda introduces him, and Mrs. Beale remembers him as “the book boy” Amanda had mentioned. They’re interrupted by a crash from the kitchen, where a little girl, four-year-old Hester, and a little boy, three-year-old Lester, have just broken a jar. Maniac romps with the kids and their dog, Bow Wow, in the backyard while the mess is cleaned up. He ends up staying for dinner and helping Amanda repair her book. He even reads a bedtime story to the little kids.

When Mr. Beale offers to drive Maniac home, Maniac doesn’t know what to say, so he just gets into the car. When Maniac points to a random house after just a couple of blocks, claiming it’s his, Mr. Beale quickly figures out what’s going on. He points out to Maniac that this is a black neighborhood. Maniac, almost in tears, tells Mr. Beale the truth. Mr. Beale takes Maniac back to his house. No sooner is the explanation out of Mr. Beale’s mouth than Mrs. Beale tells Maniac he’s staying with them.

Amanda is tucked in with Hester and Lester so that Maniac can have her bedroom. Before he goes to sleep, however, Maniac steps outside. He stares at the house number on the doorframe, smiling. Then he says goodnight to the Beales. He finally has an address of his own.