Student Question
In Maniac Magee, what does Maniac eat?
Quick answer:
In Maniac Magee, Maniac eats whatever he can find due to his homelessness. His favorite food is Tastykake butterscotch Krimpets, and he is allergic to pizza. Notable meals include spaghetti at the Pickwells', grilled chicken and ribs at a block party, Cup-a-Soup and a zep from Grayson, and a Thanksgiving feast with Grayson featuring roast chicken and butterscotch Krimpets.
Because he is essentially homeless, Maniac Magee pretty much eats whatever he can get his hands on. His most favorite food is Tastykake butterscotch Krimpets, and, oddly, he is allergic to pizza.
Among the things that Maniac eats in the book are spaghetti at the Pickwells', "carrots, apples, and day-old hamburger buns" at the deer shed at the Elmwood Park Zoo, and a bite of Mars Bar Thompson's candy bar which was offered as a challenge. When he initially is living with the Beales, Maniac tries pizza for the first time in his life, and breaks out in "round, red blotches" all over. At the East End Fourth of July block party, he feasts on grilled chicken and ribs and sweet-potato pie, and at Cobble's Corner, he has orange soda and is introduced to what would become his favorite food, butterscotch Krimpets.
When Maniac, near starvation, is rescued by Grayson at...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
the zoo, the first thing he eats is some chicken noodle Cup-a-Soup. He also has a zep, which is like a hero sandwich, and more Krimpets. When Grayson takes the unbelievably hungry boy to a diner, Maniac "wolf(s) down meatloaf and gravy, mashed potatoes, zucchini, salad, and coconut custard pie," and one morning, in the bandshell, the old man brings him "an Egg McMuffin and a large orange juice." On Thanksgiving, Grayson and Maniac cook a magnificent dinner on two hotplates and a toaster oven. Their bill of fare is "a feast of roast chicken, gravy, cranberry sauce, applesauce, SpaghettiOs, raising, pumpkin pie, and, of course, butterscotch Krimpets."