Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee was orphaned as a baby, but nothing gets him down. He comes to a small town which, although divided by racism, is populated by colorful/comical characters. As he searches for his place in the world, Maniac changes the people around him, espcially the other children. With his amazing athletic abilities and good, almost unbelievable deeds, his name becomes legend and with this new status he will try to unite the town.