| Booktalk
#1
Maybe you’ve had times in your
life where you felt like you didn’t fit it. Maybe you’ve felt like
a misfit, or even a freak. This is the story of two misfits, and
their unusual friendship. First, there’s Max Kane, an 8th grade
giant of a kid, who is learning disabled and convinced that he has no brain.
He lives with his grandparents since his mom is dead and his dad’s in prison.
Second, there’s Kevin Avery, or as Max calls him--Freak. He’s an
8th grader too, with a severe growth problem. He’s a little dude,
only about two feet tall with crutches and a brain like Einstein.
He knows everything there is to know about technology, Star Trek, and King
Arthur. Anyway, when Freak moves into Max’s neighborhood, the
two boys greet each other. . .sort of. Most people might say something
like, “Hello!” or “My name is Kevin, what’s yours?”, but not Freak.
When he spots Max staring at the movers, Kevin says, “Identify yourself,
earthling, or suffer the consequences.” Max is like, what?
He thinks this is one weird kid. It’s a strange beginning for a friendship,
but somehow it works. When these two misfits join forces, they become
“Freak the Mighty”! With Kevin riding around on Max’s shoulders,
they can use Freak’s brain and Max’s brawn to create a force to be reckoned
with! Like King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, they will protect
the weak, rescue fair maidens, and battle evil forces, including secrets
from Max's past. (Lisa Barkhurst, Youth Services Librarian, Woodmont
Library, King County Library System,
lbarkhur@kcls.org)
Booktalk #2
Maxwell Kane is a young man
with a learning disorder. He lives with his grandmother and grandfather,
otherwise known as Grim and Gram. His father, Kenny Kane, is in prison
for murdering his mother when he was 4 years old. He is a loner and
many of the other kids make fun of him. He first saw Kevin in preschool.
He remembered him because he had crutches and shiny metal braces on his
legs that Max thought were cool. The next time he saw Kevin, known
as Freak, he was moving in next door. Kevin Avery is a young man
with disabilities. His body is small but he is extraordinarily smart.
His mother, Gwen, is raising Kevin by herself. Kevin’s father left
when he was a baby. Kevin and Max become great friends. Kevin
is always telling Max stories and sometimes uses words that Max doesn’t
know, but Kevin doesn’t mind explaining them to Max. Max sets Kevin
on his shoulders and they walk around going on adventures. Kevin
comes up with a name for them, Freak the Mighty. When
Max is kidnapped by his father, Kevin rescues him and Max’s dad is put
back into prison. When Kevin turns thirteen, he is hospitalized.
He has told Max that he is being fitted for a special robotic body so that
Max doesn’t know that the worst is coming. Max goes to the hospital
and Kevin gives him a book to write down their adventures they’ve shared.
Max sneaks out of his house to visit Kevin, as he is not allowed to see
anyone. When Max arrives, he learns that Kevin has died. Kevin’s
doctor explains to Max what was really wrong with Kevin. (Shannon
Cyrus, Student of ACTC)
Booktalk #3
Do you have a friend that is
very close who only has a few years to live? If you do then you maybe can
relate to this book Freak the Mighty, written by Rodman Philbrick. In this
book there are two boys that do everything together in their small town,
They play games, go on expeditions with knight and dragons, and play tricks
on each other. The two boys, call themselves "Freak the Mighty."
If you want to find out more about why they call themselves that, and about
what they do, then you should read this book Freak the Mighty. (Dirk,
student) |
