Freak the Mighty
Journals
Name_______________
Block________
Chapter 1
“The unvanquished truth is how Freak would say it……”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “He didn’t look so different back then; we were all of us pretty small, right.” 2
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 2
“My brain is vacant
, okay?”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“I must have seen her bringing Freak to daycare, way back in the dark ages, because next thing I notice is this crippled up yellow-haired midget kid strutting around the sidewalk giving orders to the beards.” 7
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 3
“We’ll schedule the installation of a new propulsion unit.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
1.
Character Description
: In your own words, describe Maxwell’s appearance and personality.
Maxwell’s appearance could be described as____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
His personality could be described as__________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Character Analysis of Max: Why do you think Max acts the way he does?
There are several reasons that Max may act the way he does. One is________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Another is ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
A third reason may be______________________________________________________
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1

Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “I go, ‘You want this back or what.’ The little Freak is staring at me bug-eyed and he goes, ‘Oh, it talks.’ I give him the bird thing. ‘What is it, like a model airplane or something?’ You can tell he’s real happy to have the bird-thing back, and his face isn’t quite so fierce.” 12-13
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 4
“Grim would be, I suppose, a sobriquet for your grandfather based on his demeanor.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
3. Character Description : In your own words, describe Freak’s appearance and personality.
Freaks appearance could be described as_______________________________________
_________________and____________________________________________________ and_____________________________________________________________________
His personality is__________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. Character Analysis of Freak : Why do you think Freak acts the way he does?
There are several reasons that Freak may act the way he does. One is________________
________________________________________________________________________
Another is _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
A third reason may be______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“This time I don’t say huh because then I might have to explain how I’m in L.D.
19
Explanation _____________________________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “Freak is in the wagon and he’s trying to look back at me, trying to shrug his shoulders and let me know he doesn’t understand what got into the Fair Gwen, but I know. It’s pretty simple, really. She’s scared of me.” 20
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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2

Chapter 5
“
Expel the object’, Freak shouts.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
5. At the end of chapter 5 Max states “….and I’m crying like a baby. And the really weird thing is, I’m happy.” What do you think about this statement? Why would he cry if he was happy? Why is it weird for him to be happy?
Max may make this statement because________________________________________
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He may cry when he is happy_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
It might be weird for him to be happy since_____________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “Gram is saying, ‘she said—she especially wanted me to tell you this, Max—she said she’s delighted that you and Kevin are going to be friends. That’s the word she used—delighted. And she’s inviting you to supper.’” 23
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 6
“Freak says, ‘Cretin. C-R-E-T-I-N. Defined as one; who suffers from mental deficiency
.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
6. Why do you think Blade chooses Max and Freak to pick on in chapter 6? What kind of guy is Blade?
Blade chose Max and Freak to pick on________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
Blade is the kind of guy that_________________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“The deal this year is that I get to go with Freak which Gram thinks is a good idea because she’s afraid he’ll get crushed or something, she actually thinks people are going to step on him, which goes to show how brainless she can be sometimes, and scared of everything. I mean nobody steps on little kids down there, so why should they step on
Freak.” 29
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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3

Chapter 7
“They’ve locked on to us. Their trajectory is converging
.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
7. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting Max and Freak. Compare means to tell what is similar. Contrast means to tell what is different.
Max and Freak are both the same in regards to________________________________
__________________and to ______________________________________________ and to_________________________________________________________________
Max is different from Freak in that he________________________________________
He also________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “We’re Freak the Mighty that’s who we are. We’re nine feet tall in case you haven’t noticed.’” 39-40
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 8
“He’s not running away.’ Grim says, real impatient, ‘he’s taking evasive action.’”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
8. How do Gram and Grim treat Maxwell differently after Max “saves” Freak from Tony
D? Why do you think they change how they treat him because of this incident? What does the coffee Grim offers Max symbolize?
Gram and Grim treat Maxwell differently after he saves Freak _____________________
They change because______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The coffee symbolizes_____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“Gram is looking at the two of us and she gets this Gram-like glow, like this is how it’s supposed to be, the way things always happen on the Wonder Years, with the family getting all gooey and sentimental about some numb thing the bratty kid did while he’s having all his wonderful years or whatever.” 45
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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4

Chapter 9
“Now swear on your heart that the data you are about to receive will be divulged to know one.
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
9. Why do you think Freak takes Max to the hospital? Why was it so important to him?
Max takes Freak to the hospital_____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
It was important because___________________________________________________
___________________________and__________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “Life is dangerous,’ Freak says and you can tell he’s thought a lot about this.” 53
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 10
“This has been confirm ed by visual observations.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
10. Why do you think Max does everything Freak tells him to do?
Max probably does everything Freak tells him to________________________________
_____________________________and because_________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote I’ll bet you anything she’s a damsel in distress. 67
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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5

Chapter 11
“Freak is scuttling around behind me…”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
11. What did you learn from this chapter?
I learned several things from this chapter. One was______________________________
_______________________________________________another was_______________
_______________________________________and lastly I learned_________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote Meanwhile Freak is giving met his look like he has no idea what’s going on, and that look scares me more than Iggy Lee and all his tattoos. 69
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 12
“Good riddance to rubbish
.”
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
12. How do you feel about Max? Would you want him as your friend? Why? What do you think about his life at home and at school?
I feel _______________________________about Max because____________________
______________________________________________________and______________
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I would (would not) want him for a friend because_______________________________
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His life at home was_______________________________________________________
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His life at school was______________________________________________________
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13. How do you feel about Kevin? Would you want him as your friend? Why? What do you think about his life at home and at school?
I feel _______________________________about Kevin because___________________
______________________________________________________and______________
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I would (would not) want him for a friend because_______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
His life at home was_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
His life at school was______________________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote It means sometimes I’m more than Kevin. 77
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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6

"Please sir, more gruel ."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “But Maxwell, if you can speak to me, then you can speak to your classmates, right?” 81
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Exit Summary
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"Easily corrected by biogenic intervention ."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “My problem is I’m growing on the inside but not on the outside.” (89)
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Exit Summary
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" ABSCISSA , the horizontal truth."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
14. Who came back? Why do you think he came back? What's your prediction for how
Max will handle this situation?
Who?___________________________________________________________________
Why?___________________________________________________________________
Predict__________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “This is the best, getting Freak’s dictionary.” (98)
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Exit Summary
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"You know how many Christmas Eves I've been deprived of my own blood kin?"
Def.____________________________________________________________________
7

Sentence________________________________________________________________
15. Do you really think Killer Kane wants to get to know his son better? Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________
Explain_________________________________________________________________
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For example_____________________________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“He doesn’t need anything except what he is.” 103
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Exit Summary
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"...except they're so ignorant and hateful they believe that worst."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
16. How do you think Max feels about being kidnapped by his father? Why doesn't he fight back or try to escape?
How?___________________________________________________________________
Why?___________________________________________________________________
One example is___________________________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“I’m waiting to see if something happens, and nothing does.” 113
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Exit Summary
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"He reaches out and tussles at my hair."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
17. Character Analysis: Killer Kane
What is his motivation: Why does he act the way he does? Do you believe he has
"religion?" Do you believe he is innocent?
Why?_________________________________________________________________
I think_________________________________________________________________
An example is___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8

Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“Iggy shuts up, every now and then he sneaks a look at me like he’s trying to tell me something with his eyes, but I can’t figure out what.” 121
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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"...they're numb and bloated from the rope cutting into my wrists..."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
18. What has happened in the last few chapters that help Max to begin to realize his father may not be as good as he says he is?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ is an example of what happened in the chapter that makes Max begin to realize his father is not as good as he says he is.
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“Oh, Lord Jesus, what am I doing down here.” 125
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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"...He's howling in rage behind me..."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“Lord, I wish you hadn’t done that boy. It cost me years.” 130
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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9

"Dr. Spivak says my unique status as a marvel of genetic aberration makes me an object of intense curiosity."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
19. What is it that worries Max about growing up?
Max is worried that________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“The man is an accident of nature.” 139
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Exit Summary
______________________________________________________________________________
"Talk about a prodigy ."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“Maybe he won’t have to stay home the Fair Gwen says and she and Gram lock eyeballs for a second, that secret code that mothers have.” 144
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 23
"The intensive care unit is this place where there are so many nurses..."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote “I’m not coming home, he says, not in my present manifestation.” 149
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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10

"This one woman runs right out from behind the telemetry station..."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
20. ASK ME WHAT THIS QUESTION IS (I don’t want to put it in your packet yet).
How?___________________________________________________________________
Why?___________________________________________________________________
How?___________________________________________________________________
Why?___________________________________________________________________
The reason is_____________________________________________________________
Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“I think he needed something to hope for and so he invented this rather remarkable fantasy you describe.” 157
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Chapter 25
“...he just kept saying I should come out for Gram's sake ..."
Def.____________________________________________________________________
Sentence________________________________________________________________
21. Explain what Loretta Lee meant by "Nothing is a drag, kid. Think about it." What was she trying to get Max to understand?
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Skill (visualizing, predicting, inferring)
Quote
“…I felt like I was a balloon and someone had let the air out of me. I don’t care if
I ever got the air back.” 158
Explanation_____________________________________________________________
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Overall Question
22. Discuss your ideas of what you think is the overall message of the book (theme)
Include friends, parent type relationships and life in your discussion. (use back side)
11