Book Review: ‘Freak the Mighty’ by Rodman Philbrick

Max and Kevin shouldn’t get along. They’ve got nothing in common apart from being outsiders and neither seems to have the personality or simply the willingness to make a friend. In fact, they both seem to have a certain distaste for other people. They’re fine on their own, thank you very much. However, they’ve both got a level of curiosity too and it’s not long before they give in to it. And thank goodness they do.

Max is a loner by choice. Raised by his grandparents, he’s got a reputation with the other kids around school as being mean and prone to violent outbursts, earning him the cruel nickname Mad Max among others. But he’d known Kevin previously at nursery and been fascinated by his crooked legs and braces. So when years later Kevin moves back to town, an uneasy and unlikely friendship is quickly formed and Freak the Mighty is born.

Max (aka The Mighty) lives in his grandparent’s basement and rarely ventures out. He definitely doesn’t have friends around. But it isn’t long before Kevin (aka Freak) – back in the neighbourhood with his mum Gwen – is spending time there. And from this point on a beautiful friendship grows. Max protects Kevin and doesn’t judge him for the way he looks, while Kevin serves to educate Max and doesn’t judge him for the way he talks. It’s not long before adventure is calling.

‘Freak the Mighty’ is an amazing story. It’s actually aimed at Key Stage 3 kids, so ages 11-13, but I have no shame in saying that I loved every page. It was a book that was recommended on social media; the second one that I’ve picked up because a comedian said so! And what a recommendation it turned out to be! The book was also made into a 1998 film – The Mighty – starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, Harry Dean Stanton, James Gandolfini and Kieran Culkin and that too is well worth your time. But please read the book first! At under 200 pages it won’t take you long and it will make you smile!

At first, the friendship is mostly about childlike adventures. Kevin is carried round by Max on his shoulders, barking orders and encouragement in his ear as they investigate their neighbourhood. For a while, this is a good news story and the friendship feels indestructible. But then, a dark shadow from Max’s past re-enters his life and his world changes overnight.

It begins to seem very likely that Max will be lost to his grandparents. His life will be changed and for once, he won’t be able to force his way out of things. Mad Max seems sure to return. And this is where the beauty in Philbrick’s writing is. As a reader you’ll hate the transformation in Max, having witnessed first hand what friendship can do for even this most lost of lost boys. And now he’s about to become lost once more. However, there’s always a glimmer of light at the end of this particular tunnel. And it comes in the form of a ‘Freak’ named Kevin. Kevin uses every last measure of strength, cunning and intellect to come to the rescue, hatching a brilliant plan to come to the aid of his friend. So, just when it looked like they might be wrenched apart forever, Freak the Mighty are reunited. But can it last?

I would absolutely recommend you read Freak the Mighty. There are drug references and some violence, so be careful in who you share it with in terms of children. For the most part though it’s downright funny, while also being life affirming and then all of a sudden, desperately sad. At a basic level though, it’s just a great story with a lot to offer in terms of lessons in friendship and humanity.

Literature is full of unlikely friendships – George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men, Huck and Tom from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Bruno and Shmuel in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and they always make for good reading. Well Max and Kevin might well be one you’re yet to discover. I can only point you in the right direction; read Freak the Mighty!

I give Freak the Mighty…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.