Gr 6-9-A wonderful story of triumph over imperfection, shame, and loss. Large, awkward, learning-disabled Maxwell Kane, whose father is in prison for murdering his mother, and crippled, undersized Kevin are both mocked by their peers; the cruel taunting they endure is all too realistic and believable. The boys establish a friendship-and a partnership. Kevin defends them with his intelligence, while Max is his friend's ``legs,'' affording him a chance to participate in the larger world. Inspired by tales of King Arthur, they become knights fighting for good and true causes. But Kevin's illness progresses, and when he dies, Max is left with the memories of an extraordinary relationship and, perhaps, the insight to think positively about himself and his future. The author writes with empathy, honoring the possibilities of even peripheral characters; Kevin and Max are memorable and luminous. Many YA novels deal with the effects of a friend dying, but this one is somewhat different and very special.-Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Whether he's called Mad Max, that "retard," or the son of Killer Kane, Maxwell Kane has never been free of his father's reputation. If that's not bad enough, he's also inherited his father's looks and build. For an eighth-grader, Max is big, which makes him feel even worse--enormous as well as dumb and tainted. Things begin to change for Max, however, when Kevin, born with a birth defect that's stunted his growth, moves in down the street. The boys become friends. With Kevin, who's brilliant, providing the brains and imagination and Max providing the locomotion, the boys unite to become "Freak the Mighty" and venture out on "quests" around the neighborhood. It's on one of these outings that they meet Loretta and the menacing Iggy, who knows Max's father. What happens next is a shock: the poignant story about friendship and identity turns chilling and then horrifying when Killer Kane comes back and kidnaps his son. It's only after the suspense dies down that we think about the implausibility of what's gone on, and by that time, Philbrick's already moved on to Kevin's inevitable death and Max's breakdown. Yet, if events don't always ring true, there's honest affection in the boys' friendship--Kevin is clever, brave, and a good teacher for Max, who gains from the friendship an identity apart from his father for the very first time. Told by Max in retrospect, the story is both riveting and poignant, with solid characters, brisk pacing, and even a little humor to carry us along.
Praise for Rodman Philbrick:
Freak the Mighty
A School Library Journal Best Book for Young Adults
A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
A YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
An IRA Young Adults' Choices Book
A winner of: Arizona Young Readers' Award, California Young Reader Medal, Charlotte Award, Golden Sower Award (Nebraska), Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (California), Soaring Eagle Book Award (Wyoming)
"Max's description of their friendship . . . is gritty, unsentimental, sparked with Freak's wry verbal wit and Max's earthier humor, and ultimately poignant. Easily read but compelling: an intriguing and unusual story." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
A Newbery Honor Book
A Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee
An Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner
A New York Public Library's "Children's Books" 2009 — 100 Books for Reading and Sharing
A CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2010
"The book wouldn't be nearly as much fun without Homer's tall tales, but there are serious moments, too, and the horror of war and injustice of slavery ring clearly above the din of playful exaggerations." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
Elden Henson, who played protagonist Max in the film version of this book, proves how well he knows the characters and story in this audio rendition. His reading reinvigorates Max's point of view in this extraordinary story of two misfit adolescents who work together to become a force for good. Disabled Kevin rides on the shoulders of oversized Max—literally. Henson's voices changes its timbre when the brilliant Kevin speaks, and Max's growing admiration for him comes through clearly. When Max’s jailed father, "Killer Kane," reappears, and holds him hostage, Max must confront his fear that he may one day become as cruel as his father, and lose the relationships Kevin has helped him build. S.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
