Parents' Guide to

Freak the Mighty

By Monica Wyatt, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Outcasts join forces and conquer readers' hearts.

Book Rodman Philbrick Friendship 1993
Freak the Mighty Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Brittany.cumming
Brittany.cumming Adult
July 13, 2022
age 14+

Rating doesn't cover the myriad of topics discussed in this book.

This book deals with a lot of difficult topics that some kids may need help unpacking. The rating says there is no smoking, drinking, or drugs. However, there are multiple references to alcohol, smoking, and other illicit behaviors. In fact, one of the side characters is an alcoholic. The grandfather is a chain smoker as well. Another character has a cigarette in her hand at every appearance. The rating also says there is no swearing, but there is a lot of name calling within the bullying aspect and thought process of the main character (midget, retard, etc.). In addition to the above, the book deals with bullying, gang violence, domestic violence, and murder. It also covers disability and child death. There is also discussion of violence within schools, including explosives. It is a rough book to read through and many young readers will have a difficult time unpacking these topics without guidance. Left to their own, a younger audience may feel a lot of disappointment by the end of the book. Do I think there is value in the book? Yes. However, I think guidance is needed for younger readers. The description is just misleading because while there is a friendship story, there is so much more going on as stated above.
MCJ197744
MCJ197744 Adult
November 13, 2021
age 18+

See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A hulking boy with learning disabilities and a brilliant boy who uses crutches due to a physical disability become strong as they undertake imaginary quests and fight all-too-real criminals. The only thing they can't conquer is time. Max knows that people -- even his own grandparents -- fear him because he looks just like his imprisoned father, who's known as Killer Kane. He's huge, he can hardly read or write, and he lives in his grandparents' basement. But his new neighbor, Kevin, in his tiny, differently formed body, seems willing to accept him. The two become close friends, assuming a new identity when Max begins carrying Kevin on his shoulders. Kevin dubs them Freak the Mighty, and they wander their town using Max's mobility and Kevin's brain to conjure up exciting quests. With Kevin's help, Max learns to read and is allowed out of his special-education classes to join Max in his honors courses. But when Max's father is paroled, Max relives the horrors of his past, while Kevin tries to rescue him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (90 ):

Funny, scary, suspenseful, and wise, this book can build empathy and help young readers accept kids who seem different from them. When you don't fit in, and you're a kid, what do you do? Max just suffers alone, compressing his emotions inside his massive body. Kevin fights back by letting his intelligence and his imagination soar beyond his deformed body. Even if he can't save himself, Kevin can save Max. He teaches Max how to use his imagination to create exciting adventures: Houses become castles, swimming pools become moats, and a hard-boiled motorcycle mama becomes a damsel in distress. And he teaches readers compassion and that everyone is valuable and has something to contribute.

Through Kevin's courage in the face of his illness, Freak the Mighty shows the importance of not giving up when faced with difficulty, and readers see how Kevin inspires Max's progress. Kevin uses his vocabulary as a weapon and teaches Max how to use the dictionary, his favorite book. Max says that Kevin "pulls it out like Arnold Schwarzenegger pulling out a machine gun or something," showing readers the power of words.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Freak the Mighty deals with bullying. How do Max and Freak respond to the cruel and relentless teasing from their classmates?

  • Does the friendship between Freak and Max seem realistic? Have you ever had a good friend who was very different from you?

  • How does Freak help Max see himself in a different light?

Book Details

  • Author: Rodman Philbrick
  • Genre: Friendship
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
  • Publication date: January 1, 1993
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
  • Number of pages: 169
  • Last updated: September 22, 2020

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