Guest Review: Real Kid Claire takes on Freak the Mighty

Freak the Mighty By Rodman Philbrick

There’s Max, and there’s Freak, Max’s friend who moves into the house next door. Freak is brilliant. He is very interested in stuff about King Arthur, science, architecture... he teaches max about everything. Freak is only 2 feet tall due to a life-threatening disease, and by the way, Freak isn’t his real name. Max, only being in the 8th grade, is said to have grown an inch every day, and towers more than a head over every other kid. Max lives in his grandparent’s basement, which he calls the down under; he lives with them because his mom was murdered by his dad who is now in jail!

Not convinced yet?

The story is told in present and past and flows easily.

There’s really good contrast between characters.

Recommended for 7^tth grade and up.