Kevin is a brainy boy who gets teased for being small and sickly. To become Freak the Mighty, he joins forces with Max, a giant boy everyone calls stupid. They combine their strengths in an unlikely friendship and take on the bullies in their lives—together.
Max’s father is a violent criminal, so fear and trauma are a part of his everyday life.
Because of the scary factor, my friend Tamika was a little disturbed when she read this book before bed. But don’t let this discourage you—she’s even more sensitive to scary stuff than my kids. This book is suited to children over age 10 or 11 years and deals with a serious and debilitating illness.
Although the theme of the book is serious, the suspense, loveable characters, crazy adventures and hilarious dialogue make this book nearly impossible to put down. Even sensitive Tamika couldn’t deny the delight of this award-winning book. The magic lies in the bond between two very different boys helping each other through challenging life struggles. Kevin and Max will make you feel like anything is possible.
Helps with: being different, friendship, loss, trauma, death, illness, bullying, hope, adventures, facing adversity, male friendship, learning disabilities, physical disabilities.
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2001