Freak the Mighty (Scholastic Gold)

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.

Good for Kids Interesting story

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.

Book was in good condition. It’s a sad book though.