Freak the
Mighty
By Rodman Philbrick
Guided Reading Packet
NAME: __________________________________________________________
PERIOD: _____________________
Directions: You must answer at least two questions for each
chapter. They do not need to be the same questions as your
group mates. Please use a separate piece of paper.
Chapter 1- The Unvanquished Truth (pages 1-4)
1.
What was Max’s name in daycare? Why was he called that? Why do you think he was such an aggressive child (what
reasons?)
2.
What does Max mean by “…I never had a brain until Freak came along…”?
3.
Describe Freak (Kevin.) Describe Mighty (Max)
4.
What does Grim mean when he says that Maxwell is “getting to look a lot like him”?
Chapter 2- Up from the Down Under (pages 5-9)
1.
What is Max’s 1st impression of Freak (Back in Chapter One?) Why?
2.
Describe Max’s living situation.
3.
When do Max and Kevin meet up again? What is Kevin doing when Max first sees him again? What does Kevin’s behavior
tell us about his personality?
4.
What is the first thing Kevin says to Max? What does Max think about it?
Chapter 3- American Flyer (pages 10-14)
1.
Briefly describe the incident Max observes with Kevin and the tree?
2.
Why does Max call Kevin a “freak”… use textual evidence to support/explain your answer?
3.
According to Kevin, what is an ornithopter?
Chapter 4- What Frightened the Fair Gwen (pages 15-20)
1.Who is the Fair Gwen? How does she compare to Queen Guinevere?
2. How does Kevin describe televisions? Why do you think he uses this description? Do you think he is correct?
not?
Why or why
3. How does Kevin compare knights to robots? Why does he get so excited about the Knights of the Round Table.
Chapter 5- Spitting Image (pages 21-27)
1.
Describe Max’s “Timeout” places? Where do you think Kevin’s place might be?
2.
How was Max hurt by the Fair Gwen? When have you ever been hurt by someone’s reaction to you? How did you
handle your feelings about it?
3.
How does the Fair Gwen try to smooth over the situation with Max? Why did she react the way she did? How do you
think Kevin came to Max’s aid?
4.
What makes Max so happy at the end of the chapter? Why?
Chapter 6- Close Encounter of the Turd Kind (pages 28-33)
1.
What does Max say the 4th of July is really all about?
2.
Why do you think this chapter is called “Close Encounter of the Turd Kind”?
3.
Why do Max and Freak laugh so hard after Tony and gang run away the 1 st time?
4.
Giving textual evidence, how is the relationship between Kevin and Max changing?
Chapter 7- Walking High Above the World (pages 34-40)
1.
Describe the 2nd incident with Tony and his gang?
2.
Do you think running into the pond was a good plan? Why or why not?
3.
How do Max and Freak end up taking the name “Freak the Mighty”?
4.
We now have a good impression of how much the Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
have influenced Kevin. Using textual evidence, give examples of language that Kevin has used pertaining to the
Arthur and the Knights.
Chapter 8- Dinosaur Brain (pages 41-47)
1.
Does Max get in trouble with Grim and Gram when he comes home with the police officer? Why or why not?
2.
Describe Max’s relationship with Grim and Gram after the bully incident? How has it changed? Give examples.
3.
What does Grim giving Max his first cup of real coffee symbolize?
4.
How has Max’s summer changed now with Kevin around? Is Kevin a positive or negative influence on Max?
How and why?
5.
What more do Max’s dictionary skills tell us about him?
Chapter 9- Life is Dangerous (pages 48-53)
1.
Describe Kevin and Max’s first quest.
2.
Why does Freak take Max to his “special” Fortress?
3.
How does Freak describe “bionics” to Max?
4.
How does the tone of the chapter change when Freak starts telling Max about becoming a “human robot”?
Chapter 10 – Rats or Worse (pages 54-62)
1.
What is a “Walkman”?
2.
Why do Freak and Max have to wait until night time for their next quest?
3.
Why do you think Freak always talks in Star Wars references?
4.
What is the “retrieval device” that Freak made to get the treasure?
Chapter 11 – Damsel of Distress (pages 63-71)
1.
A compound word is made up of two smaller words. Locate the compound word in the following sentences from
Chapter 11 and write the two words from which it is made.
“What we do is go down to the playground and cut over behind that little patch of trees….” (63).
i. _____________ + ______________ = _______________________
“…he’s the boss of The Panheads, this bad-news motorcycle gang.” ( 66).
ii. _____________ + _____________ = ________________________
2.
Why does Kevin say it is sometimes OK to break a promise when you are on a quest?
3.
Who are Loretta and Iggy?
4.
What does Iggy mean when he says “Life ain’t life”? (70).
Chapter 12 – Killer Kane, Killer Kane, Had a Kid Who Got No Brain (pages 72-79)
Write a summary of Chapter 12. Make sure to identify the main events of this chapter and add details from the chapter. Include
at least one quote from this chapter would help the reader of your summary get an idea for what happened in Chapter 12. Your
summary must be at least 5, complete sentences. You may add an illustration, if you would like.
Chapter 13 – American Chop Suey (pages 80-87)
A common noun names a person, place, or thing. A proper noun names a particular person, place or thing. It is always capitalized.
Find three proper nouns and three common nouns from this chapter and list them here.
Common Nouns
Proper Nouns
Ex: day
Ex: Monday
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
1.
On pg. 81, what strategy does Freak use to get out of answering questions in class?
2.
What influence has Freak had on Max? Specifically, how has Freak affected Max’s ability to read?
3.
Why is Max called to the principal’s office? What happens when the principal mentions Max’s father to him? Why
do you think he reacts that way?
Chapter 14 – Cross My Heart and Hope to Die (pages 88-92)
1. How does Freak’s smile from the back of the car make Max feel?
2. What reason does Freak give for needing a new body?
3. What do Grim and Gram argue about?
4. What does it mean to be “paroled”?
5. How do you think Max feels about the possibility of his father getting paroled?
Chapter 15 – What Came Down the Chimney (pages 93-99)
1.What does the following quote mean? “Freak and the Fair Gwen have supper with us, and we’re all trying to pretend
like everything is normal…” (pg. 93)
2. Describe the gift that Freak gives Max for Christmas. What do you think the significance of this gift is? After you
answer these questions, try to draw a picture of it.
3. What happens at the very end of this chapter?
Chapter 16 – A Chip off the Old Block (pages 100-107)
1.
Why does Max say that he isn’t surprised that his father came back to get him?
2.
Why does Max’s father say that he is a “chip off the old block”?
3.
Why does Max think that his father doesn’t need a suit of armor?
4.
Where does Max’s father take him? Why do you think he takes him there?
5.
Where do you think Iggy is taking Max and his father at the end of Chapter 16?
Chapter 17 – By All That’s Holy (pages 108-114)
1.
In Chapter 17, the big secret about Max’s father, Killer Kane, is revealed. Summarize this Chapter in at least three, full
paragraphs. (Use additional paper and attach.)



The first paragraph should summarize the sequence of events in this chapter.
The second paragraph should summarize the story about Killer Kane and what he tells Max about his time in
jail.
The final paragraph is your opinion of what Killer Kane tells Max and swears on the Bible. Do you believe him?
Why or why not?
Chapter 18 – Never Trust a Cripple (pages 115-121)
1.
What does Max mean when he says that he’s “…just a blob in the chair with numb hands and numb feet”?
2.
At pages 117-118 Max’s father tells him of his plan for their future. What is it?
3.
Why does Max’s father say the he is “the light”?
4.
How is it that “the cops” come to Iggy’s house looking for Max? How do they know to look there?
5.
Do you think Max really doesn’t trust “a cripple” (aka, Freak), or he is just saying that to his father? Why
Chapter 19 – Into the Black Down Under (pages 122-127)
2.
Describe the “black down under”.
3.
Look up and write the definition for the word “accommodations”. Then, tell me what you think it means as used on
page 124
4.
What does Loretta Lee say when she comes down to untie Max? Does this change your opinion about her and, if so,
why?
5.
What happens at the end of the chapter? How does this make you feel about Max’s dad and what he told Max earlier
when he revealed his big secret?
6.
Compare and Contrast Max to his father. Include 5 points in each section of the Venn Diagram. (On next page)
Chapter 20- Freak the Mighty Strikes Again (pages 128-134)
1.What does Max confess to on pages 128-130 as he is saving Loretta Lee? Are you surprised? Why or why not.
2. What makes Max’s dad stop choking him?
3. If I told you that it was Freak’s smarts that saved Max, what would you think I mean? Describe what Freak does
to save Max.
4. How do you feel at the end of Chapter 20 when Freak says “Freak the Mighty strikes again!”? How does the mood
change with the ending of this Chapter?
Chapter 21 – The Accident of Nature (pages 135-140)
1.
How do you think Grim acts towards Max throughout the hospital/police station ordeal? Give evidence from the text to
support your answer.
2.
On page 136, why does Max say that Gram’s expression “you can’t judge a book by its cover” is right?
3.
What is happening at this point in the book with Freak’s health?
4.
Name two things that are different about school after the Christmas break?
5.
What happens to Killer Kane’s trial?
Chapter 22 – Remembering is Just an Invention of the Mind (pages 141-146)
1.
At the end of the previous chapter, Grim and Max have a talk about how Max IS and ISN’T like his father. (pgs. 139-140).
a.) What does Grim say? b.)What ways does he say Max is NOT like his father? c.) How does Max feel about this?
Answer a.), b.) and c.) below.
Which character belongs which description?
Description
____ A freak of nature
Character
a. Max
____ A kid who’s got no brain
b. Loretta Lee
____ A Heroic Biker Babe
c. Freak
____ A robot-boy
d. Killer Kane
2.
At pages 141-142, freak explains to Max what remembering is. Summarize what Freak says. Do you think he is
foreshadowing something that is going to happen? If so, what?
3.
How does Freak’s birthday celebration end?
Chapter 23 – The Empty Book (pages 147-152)
1.
How does Max find Freak looking when he visits him in the hospital?
2.
What is a “tracheotomy”? Look up the word, write the definition, and then tell me why it is mentioned in Chapter
23.
3.
Why does Freak give Max and empty book? Why does he say he won’t have enough time to fill it?
4.
How do you feel about this part of the book? What do you think is going to happen, and why?
Chapter 24 – The Return of Kicker (pages 153-157)
This is a very sad chapter. Instead of answering questions, you can choose to do one of the following activities:
1.
2.
3.
Write a journal entry about what happened to Freak and how you feel about it.
Write a journal entry about whether you think what Freak told Max about getting a new, bionic body was really a “lie”
or not.
Write a journal entry making a prediction about how you think Max will handle this sad turn of events.
Chapter 25 – What Loretta Said (pages 158-160)
1.
How do you think Max is handling Freak’s death one year afterwards?
2.
What does Loretta say to Max that helps him get on with his life?
3.
After he talks with Loretta, what does Max start doing?
4.
If you could fill the first few pages of Max’s empty book, which adventure of his and Freak’s would you write about
and why? Write the first paragraph of that adventure (or the whole thing if you’d like) below.