Freak the Mighty

Freak the Mighty is a book written in first person by a boy in eighth grade, Max, who has a learning disability. The book is unclear what his specific disability is, however it is clear that he struggles with reading and he has attended the "LD class" for many years. There is a boy across the street that just moved in named Kevin that has a physical disability, but he is very intelligent. He is the same age that Max is. These two boys become great friends, and together they call themselves "Freak the Mighty." Throughout the book the boys help each other with their disabilities and they help each other through many different struggles. Max puts Kevin on his shoulders a lot so that he can see and get from place to place. Kevin helps Max with his school work, and Max is eventually put into the regular education class full time. "Freak the Mighty" have a lot of exciting adventures together, and they help each other through many struggles. This book does a great job of explaining the challenges that students with disabilities can face. The students are put down and called names in this book by people in society and in school because of their disabilities. This is something that many students with disabilities do face. It is written from the point of view of Max, and it shows that he knows and understands a lot more than people give him credit for, even though he can't read very well. Even though this book shows how the students are put down, it does a great job of showing that this is wrong. I think this is a book that many students, those with disabilities as well as those without disabilities, can relate to. I feel that this book can be used in my classroom in a couple of different ways. I am a seventh grade learning support teacher. I think that this would be a great read-aloud book to use in my classroom as well as a great book for students to read. It is a very exciting and entertaining book that is hard to put down. I think the students would love to hear this book. The book is written in first person. It is an entertaining book to read. After the students have read or heard the book, I would then have the students compare their experiences in school to the characters' experiences in school. The boys in this book have a very exciting eighth grade year. It also shows how many students with reading disabilities and physical disabilities can be put down. I don't necessarily agree with how these students are treated in the book however I feel it does a great job of showing how disrespectful that can be. We can then have a discussion of what we can do as a school to make the environment better for all students.

A Review of Freak the Mighty Philbrick, Rodman. (1993). Freak the Mighty. New York: Scholastic ISBN-13:978-0-439-28606-0 ISBN-10:0-439-28606-9 Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Realistic Fiction Social Issues and Themes: Bullying, Death, Grief, Living with Illness and Disabilities, Self Esteem, Friendship, Behavior and Learning Disorders The summer before eighth grade Max and Kevin form a friendship that causes both boys to step outside of their comfort zones. Max, a larger boy has learning difficulties. In addition, he comes from a nontraditional violent family that causes him to have low self-esteem and resort to fighting often. While Kevin, a small boy who has Morquio Syndrome has a vivid imagination and is extremely bright. As a result of Kevin’s syndrome he walks with crutches and has braces on his legs. Max first sees Kevin, while Kevin was outside playing with his robot bird. The bird gets stuck in a tree and Max helps Kevin recover the bird. As a result of helping Kevin recover the bird, they attend the Fourth of July firework celebration together. On this day they encounter their first adventure escaping bullies who want to terrorize Max. The boys were able to escape danger due to Kevin’s quick thinking and him helping Max to navigate the situation. At the Fourth of July celebration Max takes Kevin and places him on his shoulders so he is able to see the fireworks. This signifies that together the boys are capable of defending themselves from the ills that society inflicts on them. With school starting, the boys are in the same class. Kevin encourages Max to become a better reader and helps him throughout the process. In return, Max is able to help transport Kevin on adventures and missions around the neighborhood that he physically would not be able to do independently. Together the boys find peace in their hectic situations. The boys finding support in each other is a great connection and thinking piece for boys diagnosed with emotional disturbance. In the classroom, critical conversations could be about Kevin’s physical disorder, Max’s father being in prison, and how it feels to experience death of a friend or loved one. Teaching in an urban setting, students will have connections, thoughts, and stances in regards to the themes in Freak the Mighty. In the end, Kevin dies. This causes Max to enter a deep depression and become very angry. However, Max is able to recall the adventures that the boys went on together and thus Freak the Mighty is formed. This book encourages discussion of broken families, odd friendships, learning disabilities, and adolescent death. The entire books focus is on two boys who find friendship due to having disabilities –this could be challenging because it may suggest that people with disabilities have trouble finding friends. This is a review of a book from the Larissa Gerstel Collection at American University.

Heartbreaking, beautiful story that showcases the importance of enjoying the experiences that make up your life, no matter how different your experiences may look to others. 10/10 I cry every time

“Freak is holding tight to my shoulders and when they ask him for his name, he says, ‘We’re Freak the Mighty, that’s who we are. We’re nine feet tall, in case you haven’t noticed.’ That’s how it started, really, how we got to be Freak the Mighty, slaying dragons and fools and walking high above the world.” Freak the Mighty is a brilliantly written fiction novel by Rodman Philbrick. A strangely lighthearted read, it is directed towards sixth graders and up; Freak the Mighty is a quick and easy read that you will simply fall in love with. Maxwell is an oversized eighth grader with a small brain and a big heart. Frequently bullied in school, he’s never had much to say until Freak comes along. Kevin, nicknamed “Freak”, is a shrunken boy with a big brain; he practically knows everything. Fate brings the two opposites together. Watch as this ironically dynamic duo is left to deal with dragon slaying, bullies, and a devastatingly difficult past… a past that won’t stop returning. Max and Freak are both intriguingly detailed characters; both are filled with a swarm of thoughts and daydreams, not to mention a complicated past. Rodman Philbrick portrayed the characters in such a graceful way that will have you shoving strangers out of the way to race home and rip open the book. You will immediately connect with the painfully realistic protagonists, learning and laughing and crying with them, sharing their adventures. Drawn together by fate or coincidence, their friendship was not an accident. Several messages can be drawn from this story. One of the ones that stuck out to me was this: no matter how different you are, there will always be someone else out there that can relate. I find comfort in this, knowing that I am not alone. Keep your head up, keep pushing through, and someone will eventually come along the lonely road to accompany you. Freak the Mighty is set in the past; Maxwell recalls the adventures and describes his story in great detail, as if he is telling it to an old friend. The author captivates the reader by including several details, making it feel as if they are actually there, conquering the world with Freak and Max. Readers will find themselves eager to delve into the crazy world of Kevin and Max; this story is simplistically beautiful as it easily attracts readers by the strange friendship of Freak the Mighty. Rodman Philbrick most definitely achieved his goal: to teach kids that not everyone has to be alike to be friends. Balancing and supporting each other, picking up for the things the other person lacks, that’s what true friendship is. A real tear-jerker, I feel that Freak the Mighty was a rollercoaster of emotions, but in the end, the story was elegantly complete. Readers of all ages will simply fall in love as they experience this delicately emotional story.

Good, quality book. Bought for son’s school reading. Worked well and worth money!

loved this touching story. was so beautiful and emotional. i thought it was a very heartfelt book about 2 boys, and their many adventures.

This book is phenomenal! I first read it when I was helping my then 7th grade daughter do a book report on it. I immediately became engulfed in the deep relationship formed between the two main characters in the book. I literally did not want to put the book down. I think I finished it in a day. It was very thought provoking and deep, especially for a young adult’s book. Over the years, we have lent it out, and bought it again a few times for both of my kids to do reports on, because it is a family favorite. Basically the gist of the story is that one kid is small and not physically able to do much, but he is mentally smart and able to think fast. The other kid who becomes his best friend, is big and strong, but not the brightest. So, the must work together to accomplish the tasks that the want to do! And together they are mighty! The moral of the story is very heart warming, together you can do more than you can alone, and each person is unique, so did your attributes and use them properly. This book holds a special place in my heart, and on my bookshelf! I highly recommend this book for people ages 11-111.

My son who is fifteen came home in the beginning of the school year 07 and was wild about a book, but couldn't remember to tell me its proper title. It has been a struggle to get him to read anything other than the covers to the next PS3 gangster/ mafia blue ray game. I purchased this book on a lark that maybe he might read something about an odd friendship, seeing as he is forever dragging home misfit types to befriend. When the book arrived he saw it and his face lit up,while yelping "this is the book I told you about", my heart sank thinking I had wasted my money, he had already read it.Promptly he took the book upstairs to his room and didn't put it down until it was finished. It has got to be interesting and well written. Best of all it actually proved to be more powerful and captivating to a fifteen year old than a PS3 game. Now my son has asked me if there are anymore books by the same author, smiling I answered "of course my boy of course"

Language not very accessible for a 10yr old

História linda e triste.

OMG I didnt expect a bridge to terabithia moment. While I know this novel is not meant for me. But I understand how it is a American classic. And I enjoyed the themes and writing.

Ich spreche nicht so gut Englisch, aber dieses Buch habe ich lesen können, ohne permanent im Wörterbuch nachschlagen zu müssen. Es erschließt sich viel aus dem Zusammenhang und ist in einer relativ einfachen Sprache geschrieben. Das Jugendbuch von Rodman Philbrick wurde 1993 veröffentlicht und ist wohl der größte Erfolg des Autors. Der bärenhafte Maxwell und der schwerkranke, hochintelligente Kevin kennen sich schon aus der Kinderbetreuung. Doch erst als Kevin mit seiner alleinerziehenden Mutter im Nachbarhaus von Max Großeltern einzieht, schließen die beiden gleichaltrigen Jungen Freundschaft, was sich zu Beginn nicht so ganz einfach darstellt, weil Kevin ein ausgesprochen freches Mundwerk hat. Doch die beiden haben sich gesucht und gefunden; sie bilden sogar ein so starkes Team, dass sie zusammen in eine Klasse kommen, obwohl Maxwell sonst den schwächeren Schülern zugeordnet ist. Er ist bereits zwei mal in der siebten Klasse sitzengeblieben. Maxwell hat keine Freunde, ist ein Außenseiter - ein Muskelpaket - seinen Vater nennen die anderen "Killer Kane". Der sitzt wegen Mordes an der Mutter von Maxwell im Gefängnis. Kevin wird nur "Freak" genannt, denn er ist ein Technik-Freak. Er kennt sich mit allen technischen Dingen supergut aus und interessiert sich auch für alles. Für Maxwell erschließt sich durch das Zusammensein mit Kevin eine vollkommen neue Welt und er schleppt ihn auf seinen Rücken durch die Gegend herum. Kevin als Gehirn und Max als Körper - gemeinsam sind sie "Freak the Mighty" und so kommt es, dass die beiden bedrohliche Situationen durch Maxwells Stärke und Kevins Intelligenz gut überstehen. Nicht jeder kann dieses unschlagbare Team so besonders gut leiden. Es gibt Konfrontationen mit anderen Jugendlichen an der Schule und in der Freizeit. Als Maxwells Vater aus dem Gefängnis entlassen wird, wird es richtig spannend. Der Vater beteuert zwar, dass er mit dem Mord an Maxwells Mutter nichts zu tun hat, doch wer will ihm glauben? Auch Maxwell spürt instinktiv, dass er sich vor seinem Vater in Acht nehmen muss. Da taucht dieser eines nachts in Maxwells Bude auf ... Ich habe dieses Buch sehr gerne gelesen. Ich kannte vorher bereits den Film The Mighty - Gemeinsam sind sie stark , der mich ebenfalls sehr berührt hat. Die Botschaft des Buches halte ich für wichtig. Kevin schenkt Maxwell ein dickes Buch mit leeren Seiten und er ermutigt ihn, es vollzuschreiben: "Jedes Wort ist der Baustein eines Bildes. Jeder Satz ergibt ein Bild. Alles was du zu tun hast, ist sie mit Hilfe deiner Vorstellungskraft zusammenzusetzen." Das ist für einen schwachen Schüler, wie Maxwell, eine echte Herausforderung. Doch zum Schluss sagt er dazu: "No big deal". Dafür fünf Punkte

This is a fabulous book. A rite of passage through school and life for anyone who feel they don't fit into a so called 'normal' square peg and those who do. This would be a fantastic book for GCSE level and YR.6 upwards. A heart warming story, funny and sad which will not fail to stir emotions. Get it. Read the book first then get the DVD called 'The Mighty'which is equally good.