Lol counting this even though I only read it bc I had to teach it to my 6th graders for summer school

Oh my goodness me and my kids read this one together and we finished it tonight *spoiler alert and I was bawling! It was so good and I am super glad we picked it as one of ours to "read together" books! I think YA and adults could read this too it's just one of those great reminders of not taking life for granted.

Freak the Mighty (Freak the Mighty #1), Rodman Philbrick
Freak the Mighty is a young adult novel by Rodman Philbrick. Published in 1993, it was followed by the novel Max the Mighty in 1998. The primary characters are friends Maxwell Kane, a large, very slow, but kind-hearted boy, and Kevin Avery, nicknamed "Freak", who is physically handicapped but very intelligent. Kevin is diagnosed with Morquio syndrome. In the beginning of the book, Maxwell Kane is a young boy with low self-esteem. He lives with his grandfather, Grim, and grandmother, Gram. Max thinks of himself as a butthead. People are afraid of him because he looks like his father, Kenneth "Killer" Kane, a convicted murderer. Max sets the stage for the story by reminiscing about his time in daycare, when he had met a boy named Kevin, or Freak, as their classmates called him. Kevin has Morquio syndrome, wears leg braces and uses crutches, and thinks of himself as a robot and is bullied by many bigger kids due to his short height. However, Max likes Kevin and thinks the crutches and leg braces are neat.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز سیزدهم ماه آگوست سال 2007 میلادی
عتوان: گوژپشت نیرومند ؛نوینده: رودمن فیلبریک؛ مترجم: گیتا گرکانی؛ تهران، کاروان، 1385، در 224 ص؛ تهران، نشر هیرمند؛ 1385، در ؟ ص؛ شابک: 9789648497458؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، علمی فرنگی؛ 1395؛ شابک: 9786008267256؛ موضوع: کتاب درمانی از نویسندگان امریکایی - سده 20 م
داستان اين كتاب درباره «ماکس (مکس)» است که هیکل بسیار بزرگی دارد و کم هوش است و بچه های هم سن و سالش را کتک میزند و با پدرو مادربزرگش زندگی میکند ...؛ ماکس میگوید: «من هرگز مغز نداشتم، تا آنکه گوژپشت آمد و اجازه داد مدتی مغز او را قرض بگیرم، و این حقیقت است، تمام حقیقت». پایان نقل. «ماکسول»، معروف به «ماکس دیوانه»، پسر «کین» قاتل است و اگر راستش را بخواهید، با آن هیکل گنده و بدترکیب، با پدر زندانی‌ خویش مو نمینزند. اما «کوین» گوژپشت که بود؟ و چرا «ماکس» اجازه میداد، بر روی شانه‌ هایش سوار شود؟ کتاب «گوژپشت نیرومند» شاهکاری ادبی و روانشناسانه، از: «رودمن فیلبریک» است. داستان، به روایت زندگی نوجوانی میپردازد، که ضربه ی روحی بسیار سنگینی را در کودکی دریافت کرده، و هنوز هم نتوانسته، با آن کنار بیاید. خوانش این کتاب برای کودکان و نوجوانانی که تجربه عاطفی سختی را پشت سر گذاشته اند، و در پذیرش آن با مشکل مواجه هستند، و یا بخشی از گذشته ی دردناک خود را انکار میکنند، توصیه میشود. جذابیت کم مانند کتاب، و ساختار روانشناسانه نیرومند آن، خوانش آنرا برای همه ی سنین دلچسب میکند. کتاب، جایزه ی بهترین کتاب نوجوانان برگزیده ی انجمن کتابداران آمریکا را از آن خود کرده است. ا. شربیانی

I think the book is good and sad. Its about this guy named Max who is tall. People make fun of him becaus they say that he has no bran. Like he need a class to help him to read. Then he met Freak in that class becaus he had to help him. Freak told Max that he had to read this book but then Max said that he can't read so then Freak reads it for him. Then the next day freak asked Max if he can take him to this place and says that he will pay him if he takes him. they became best friends

Of Mice and Men for middle school! This was written in the early 90s so there is some terminology when it comes to those living with disabilities or chronic illnesses. The message of this book is wonderful! The characters are fun, hilarious and relatable to many middle schoolers.

I remember reading this book in middle school. It was one of my favorites, because it was the first time a book made me feel things: love, gratitude, humor, sadness, fear. When my mom started teaching middle school years later, she remembered my love of this book and introduced it to her class. She read it aloud to each of her classes for the rest of her career.

Twenty-five years later, I picked this book up again. Would I still find it special and enjoyable? Yes! It’s a quick read, but the story still managed to touch my grown up heart. The depth of the characters, their growth, Max’s inner dialogue, and Kevin’s surprisingly poignant quotes make this book a gem for readers of any age. After watching my book club, my middle school daughter, and my non-fiction-loving husband also enjoy this book, I know it can touch many hearts.

They were known as Freak and Kicker. Kevin Avery and Maxwell Kane had known each other since daycare and you’d think that given Kevin’s abnormal smallness, he would have been a pretty kickable target for Kicker. But maybe it was Kevin’s crutches or perhaps it was the shiny braces holding up his crooked legs. Whatever it was, he quickly captured Maxwell’s imagination…and possibly even his respect. When Kevin suddenly re-enters Maxwell’s life during the summer before eighth grade, the two form an unlikely friendship. Separately, they are Midget and Butthead, but together they’re Freak the Mighty and soon everyone would realize that you can’t always judge a book by its cover.

Rodman Philbrick warms your heart and then breaks it with this story of friendship, acceptance, and courage. Told from Maxwell’s point of view, Freak the Mighty shows us how two fractured halves come together to form one implausibly wonderful whole. Kevin is the yin to Maxwell’s yang and they prove that opposites not only attract, but they bond and strengthen. Through Kevin, Maxwell begins to realize his academic potential and starts to free himself from past ties that hold him back. In turn, Maxwell gives Kevin the ability to look for castles, hunt for buried treasure, help damsels in distress, and realize his dream of having a seat at the roundtable.

There seems to be a lot of disparity online regarding the appropriate reader age for this book. Freak the Mighty is recommended for sixth graders and up, although some websites suggest a reader age as young as ten. While it is an easy and fast read—which would clearly appeal to younger readers—there are many instances of violence and disturbing behavior throughout the book, not to mention that Maxwell’s father is far from Father-of-the-Year material. And while the themes of anti-bullying and pro-acceptance are important, there are more age-appropriate options available for younger readers (R. J. Palacio’s Wonder is just one example). All in all, I really loved this story, but it fell just a little short of completely winning me over. With the two main characters being such polar opposites, I feel the story could have benefitted from having alternating narrators—switching between Maxwell and Kevin. Having the opportunity to learn more about Kevin and being able to see the world through his eyes would have added another layer of depth and emotion to this story. Having Mighty without the Freak seems like a sadly missed opportunity.

They say that a friend is someone who looks beyond your broken fence and instead admires the flowers in your garden. Maxwell and Kevin certainly exemplify this through their quirky and unlikely friendship and demonstrate how brains and brawn are not competitors, but rather a wonderful symbiosis. Maxwell gave Kevin legs and Kevin gave Maxwell heart—their own mental and physical challenges replaced by adventure, possibility, and hope. Rare is the friendship that not only opens the door to life’s opportunities, but also lifts you up so that you won’t miss them when they finally arrive.

Freak The Mighty

I recommend Freak The Mighty by: Rodman Philbrook and I would give it a 5 star rating. I give a 5 star rating because the moods in the book are superior.
The first mood of the story is exciting, I think is very exciting when Freak rides on Max's back. Because every time they go somewhere Freak turns houses into castles and cars into horses. And says all his funky words that nobody has heard before. “You don't need a time machine if you know how to remember.” Those are words from Freak because his mind never forgot anything.
The second mood of the book is scary. I thought the book was a little scary because when Killer Kane also known as max's dad was let go from jail he went to find max. He went to Max's Grandmothers house and kidnapped him. He took him to an old abandoned church but after a while at the church Freak showed up. And sprayed soap, vinegar and curry powder at killer Kanes eyes and they escaped.
Also i thought the book was really sad. I thought the book was sad because Freak has a really bad disease that will soon end his young life. But the doctors told Freak that they are making him a bionic suit but the doctors didn't tell him the truth that he was going to die. This ending was the best ending ever. Because of the sad ending.
Read Freak The Mighty BY: Rodman Philbrook
Review BY: Nick B

Can’t believe it took me until now to read this book, and I’m glad I did. It’s a really touching story and also pretty funny. I laughed out loud a bunch of times and nearly shed tears a few. Curious… Did the author model Kevin and Max after George and Lennie on purpose? My English teacher brain would love to do a comparative analysis of the two novels. Also think this would make an excellent pairing with Holes.

Our class just finished reading Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. This is a story about an unlikely friendship between two boys who have issues to deal with. They help each other develop socially, emotionally, and mentally. Max goes on an introspective journey led by his new friend, Kevin. After dealing with past issues, Max becomes more confident and secure. One of the themes is that we should give others a chance before we judge them. As a teacher of reluctant readers (like Max), this positive message is difficult to find in young adult fiction. My students empathize and become emotionally attached to Max and his journey to believe in himself.

tIn class we read a novel called Freak the Mighty, written by rodman philbrick. The story is about two boys max and kevin. Max and Kevin met for the first time when they were both in day care. Max was an angry kid called kicker because he kicked everyone and a kid who didnt have a mother and his dad was in jail, max lives with his grandparents. Kevin called himself robot man because of the leg braces he had to wear. Until one day Kevin stopped going to day care. The summer before eight grade started Kevin and his mom moved next to Max's grandparents down on a basement. kevin and max became really good friends and family started visiting back and forth and briefly in third grade they saw eachother ones again. On July fourth, Max and Kevin are on their way to see the fireworks and they ran into Tony D. Kevin starts to tease Tony D and the gang. Potentially turns out dangerous but luckly the cups showed up. Max and Freak finished watching the fireworks until Tony D and his gang find them again. Max and Freak start to runaway and the gang and Tony D stranded in the muddy pond. Max's grandparents are very happy that max was home safe. Freak tells max that today they were gonna go to venture east. They finally end up at a place called the experimental bionic. Freak makes him swear that he wont tell anybody about it. On christmas eve max wakes up in the middle of the night and feels a breeze but it was a person breathing and he heard a voice says " I came back like I promise". It was max's dad. His dad made him change into his close and took of to seekshelter but end up at loretta lee's house. Max's dad tells him that he didnt kill nobody he swore on the bible and that everything was a big lie and thats max's mind has been poisoned against him. max's dad ties max so he wont escape and if he try's to the rope will pull on his dad and he would know. His dad tells max that he never knew what happend the day max mother died. Later the next day on christmas day iggy runs in and says that the cops showed up at his house door asking if they knew where max was?. Freak was in the cups car and knew that max was somewhere. Max's dad asked iggy to get him transportation and a gun. They scaped and end up in a burned house. Then max's dad ripes a part of his shirt off and puts it in max's mouth. Loretta lee comes downstaires and tries to untie max and says that his dad isn't the way he used to be. Then all of a sudden max's dad starts chocking her and she's helpless. Max starts screaming at his dad that he saw him killed his mother by chocking her. Max's dad stops chocking loretta and tells max how could he remember he was only four and starts chocking his own son. Then freak come out of nowhere and shoots max's dad with his squirt gun and his eyes and he starts on chasing them and the cops were after max dad. Finally the cops grab him and took him to jail. loretta was ok after the attack and max had to go to the police station to get pictures of the bruises on his neck and loretta cracked a bone but shes ok. max found out his dad plead quilty and will senceten extra years to his origional sentence. Now Freak has a seizure and is sent to the hospital . Once everyone was in the hospital freak tells max that tonight is when the operation begins and he will have a new body. Max's grandparents take him home. Later in the morning max sneaks out and goes to the hospital and looks at the nurse and he sees everything going wrong. he ran threw class and doors but the cops caught up with him and hold him back. The doctor said freak had DIED and he knew he wouldnt have a long life. Max went home and didnt say a word. He locked himself for days feeling terrible but that was a year ago and now this is the end of Freak the Mighty. I think my Favorite character is max because he showed unending compassion for his friend Freak and was heartbroken about his death. I would really recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures and true friendship.

Didn't think I'd get so into this one, but I did. I even cried. I would like to read more books by this author. Meaningful and moving.