The main character of Maniac Magee is Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee. Maniac is a very optimistic person. Although his parents died he was very hopeful that he would be able to find a new family unit. Maniac is also very kind and friendly. When Mars Bar kept trying to start a fight with him, he would just calmly say that he didn't want to fight. He preferred to be nice to everyone, anf to possibly become friends. Thirdly, Maniac was a "runaway." he would always run away from his problems when he got sad. He would never face and try to conquer them. Maniac was always finding the best in things. When Grayson began to care for him, Maniac's living conditions weren't the best. Maniac didn't care, he was just happy to have a friend.