Freak the Mighty tells the story of Max Kane, a seventh grader who is formidable in stature but struggles with an undiagnosed learning disability and the trauma of losing his mother to violence at a young age. Max's new neighbor Kevin "Freak" Avery appears to be the polar opposite. Freak's small size is due to a rare genetic disorder that makes it difficult for him to walk. After striking up a friendship, Max takes to carrying Freak up on his shoulders and thus, "Freak the Mighty" is born!
Having students choose a favorite quote or scene from the book allows them to express which parts of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterwards and have a short discussion about what the quotes mean to them.
Storyboard Text
FAVORITE QUOTE in FREAK THE MIGHTY by Rodman Philbrick
Freak/Kevin makes Max a dictionary for Christmas. In it he writes all of his favorite words along with his own insightful and humorous definitions. His definition for Library: where they keep the books (which are truth serum) and magic carpets (stories that can transport you away to far away lands and times) is especially meaningful. Freak inspired Max through his own love of literature and learning. Before meeting Freak, Max had struggled with reading and writing. Their friendship enriched Max's life in many ways, one of which was opening Max up to the magic of books.
Freak's Dictionary:LIBRARY: where they keep the truth serum, and the magic carpets.