Student Question
Who does Maniac Magee love more: the Beales or the McNab family?
Quick answer:
Maniac Magee forms a more stable and loving relationship with the Beales than with the McNab family. While both families welcome him into their homes, the Beales, despite racial differences, treat him as part of their family. In contrast, the McNabs hold racist views and prepare for a racial "war," making it difficult for Maniac to integrate his black friends into their environment. Thus, Maniac likely prefers the Beales over the McNabs.
The question is not so much who Maniac loved more. Throughout the book, he is able to get along with just about everybody. The only people he seems to have any trouble spending time with are his aunt and uncle.
Both the Beales and the McNabs take Maniac into their homes and make him a part of their family. With the Beales, however, Maniac seems to have a more stable relationship. He is different from them because he is white, but they don't relate to him as being different until someone from the neighborhood writes a nasty message on their sidewalk. The McNabs, however, are very different. They are very racist and are preparing for a "war" between whites and blacks. Maniac could easily bring a white friend into the Beale home, but it wasn't so easy to bring a black friend to the McNabs' home. They very nearly attack Mars Bar when he comes to visit. In my opinion, he'd rather be with the Beales than with the McNabs.
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