Freak the Mighty Chapters 1-25 Review

Questions and Answers

What happens to Killer Kane?

Just before the trial starts, Killer Kane pleads guilty and makes a deal to serve out the rest of his original sentence plus ten more years.

What does Grim say to Max about his father?

Grim tells Max, 'The man is an accident of nature. All you got from him is your looks and your size. You've got your mother's heart, and that's what counts.'

What does Freak tell Max about remembering?

Freak says, 'Remembering is just an invention of the mind.'

Why is Freak's birthday like two birthdays?

Because not only is it Freak's birthday, Freak the Mighty is almost a year old too. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Freak on his birthday?

Freak has a seizure and is taken to the hospital. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max take to the hospital, and why?

Max takes the old ornithopter bird, figuring maybe Freak will get a chance to look out the window and see it flittering by. Signup and view all the answers

Who finds Max outside the hospital, and where is he taken?

Gwen finds Max and takes him to see Freak because Freak is insisting on seeing him. Signup and view all the answers

Describe what Max sees and feels in the ICU.

Max sees many nurses and telemetry equipment; he feels scared when he sees how small Freak looks in the bed. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak tell Max about The Bionic Unit?

Freak tells Max The Bionic Unit is on red alert, and that he will be taken down for his special operation. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak tell Max to do with the book he gives him?

Freak tells Max to fill the book with their adventures. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Freak starts coughing in the ICU?

The doctor and nurses swarm around the room, and Dr. Spivak tells Max to leave. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max do with the book from Freak?

Max puts the book in the pyramid box for safekeeping and good luck. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max find out when he gets to the ICU?

Max finds out that Freak has died. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dr. Spivak tell Max about lying to Freak?

She told Max she tried to fib to Freak about his new bionic body because she didn't think he could handle the truth. Signup and view all the answers

How does Freak die?

Dr. Spivak tells Max that Freak's heart just got too big for his body. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max do after Freak dies, and how does he feel?

Max hides in the down under and feels like a balloon that has had all the air let out. Signup and view all the answers

What does Grim tell Max about living and having Freak as a friend?

Grim tells Max it isn't how long you have, but what you do with the time you have. Signup and view all the answers

How does Max feel when he goes back to school?

Max hated every minute and felt sorry for himself as if he was the one who died. Signup and view all the answers

What does Tony D. say to Max when he returns to school, and what does Max do?

Tony D. tells Max it is a shame what happened, and Max threatens him if he ever feels sorry for him again. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Max see the winter after Freak died, and what does she say to him?

Max sees Loretta, who says, 'Nothing is a drag, kid. Think about it.' Signup and view all the answers

What does Max do with the empty book?

Max writes Freak the Mighty. Signup and view all the answers

Who is telling the story?

Maxwell is the narrator of the story. Signup and view all the answers

Who are Gram and Grim?

Gram is Maxwell's grandmother, and Grim is his grandfather; both are on his mother's side of the family. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max think of Freak when he sees him for the first time?

He thinks Freak is fierce, but he thinks Freak's crutches and leg braces are cool. Signup and view all the answers

Identify Him.

Max's grandparents refer to Max's father as Him. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Grim concerned about Maxwell?

He is concerned because Maxwell looks like his father and is afraid Max will inherit his father's character. Signup and view all the answers

What didn't Max have until Freak moved down the street?

Max did not have a brain until Freak moved down the street. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the down under. Why does Max like the down under?

The down under is a little room Grim built in the basement for Max. He likes it because he has the space to himself with no fear of Gram interfering. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how Freak looks when Max sees him giving orders to the moving men.

He has a normal-sized head, but the rest of him is shorter than a yardstick and twisted. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max retrieve from the tree for Freak?

It is a plastic bird, light as a feather, which Freak calls an ornithopter. Signup and view all the answers

What observation does Max make about how Freak talks?

Max says Freak talks like right out of a dictionary, so smart you can hardly believe it. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak do when Max asks him why he calls his mother 'Fair Gwen of Air'?

Freak shakes his head and tells Max his mother's name is Gwen, referencing King Arthur. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max know about King Arthur?

King Arthur is a brand of flour Gram uses. Signup and view all the answers

What is Freak's version of the Arthurian Legend?

Freak describes Arthur as a wimpy orphan who pulled a sword from a stone. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Freak really interested in the knights?

He believes the knights were like the first human version of robots. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak tell Max about robots?

Robots are not just in the movies and robotics is a huge industry. Signup and view all the answers

What is Freak's mother's reaction to seeing Max?

She appears to be scared of Max. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how Max feels when he goes to the place in his head.

He feels like nothing, like nobody, and that nothing matters. Signup and view all the answers

What was Gwen's relationship with Max's mother?

Max's mother and Gwen were good friends before Gwen got married. Signup and view all the answers

What does Gwen think of Max's father?

Gwen thinks he is crazy and scary. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it bad for Max to look like his father?

Everyone in town knows his father is in prison and why he is there. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Max cry like a baby when he goes to bed after having dinner with Freak and Gwen?

Max cries because he is happy. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Max and Freak when they are walking to the millpond to see the fireworks?

Tony D. and his gang stop them and harass them. Signup and view all the answers

Identify Blade.

Blade is Tony D.'s nickname. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Max put Freak on his shoulders at the fireworks display?

Freak can’t see anything because of the crowd, so Max lifts him up. Signup and view all the answers

Describe what happens to Freak and Max after the fireworks.

Tony D. and his gang come after them, and they escape by heading into the millpond. Signup and view all the answers

How do Freak and Max get out of the pond after escaping from Tony D. and his gang?

Freak sees a police car and whistles to get the officers' attention. Signup and view all the answers

After rescuing Freak and Max from the pond muck, who does the cop say Max is?

He identifies Max as Kenny (Killer) Kane's boy. Signup and view all the answers

When the police officers ask for the boys' names after rescuing them, what name does Kevin give the police?

He says they are 'Freak the Mighty.' Signup and view all the answers

How do Grim and Gram react to Max's being a hero?

Gram makes a fuss over him, and Grim finally accepts him. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max think about rescuing Freak?

He thinks he did not rescue Freak; rather, Freak rescued him. Signup and view all the answers

What does Gram ask Max to do regarding the hoodlum boy? What is his response?

She wants him to promise to keep away from him, and Max tells her he will run. Signup and view all the answers

What has become a habit for Max and Freak when they go out together?

Freak rides on Max's shoulders and uses his feet to steer Max. Signup and view all the answers

What secret does Max promise to keep about the Medical Research building?

Inside is a secret laboratory called The Experimental Bionics Unit. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak tell Max when he asks if the transplant will hurt and if it is dangerous?

Freak says, 'Sure it will hurt. Life is dangerous.' Signup and view all the answers

What is the quest Freak and Max have to wait until exactly three in the morning to do?

The quest is a treasure hunt in a storm drain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the treasure in the storm drain?

The treasure is a purse belonging to Loretta Lee. Signup and view all the answers

How did the treasure get into the storm drain?

Freak saw one of Tony D.'s punks stuff it in the sewer. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max call the New Tenements?

He calls them the New Testaments. Signup and view all the answers

What type of people live in the Testaments?

Poor people and drug addicts live there. Signup and view all the answers

Identify Loretta Lee.

The 'treasure' purse Max and Freak find belongs to her. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Max like Freak riding on his shoulders?

He likes having a really smart brain on his shoulders helping him think. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max know about Iggy?

He is the boss of the Panheads, a bad-news motorcycle gang. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Iggy let Max and Freak leave without messing with them?

He did not want to take the chance that Killer Kane would find out he was messing with his kid. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak tell Max about his father's leaving after he was born?

Freak said his mother won't talk about it. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in Mrs. Donelli's class that gets Max and Freak sent to the principal's office?

The class makes fun of them, and Freak climbs onto Max's shoulders, leading a chant. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak teach Max that no one else has been able to do?

Freak has been showing Max how to read a whole book. Signup and view all the answers

How is reading different from writing to Max?

Reading is just a way of listening; writing is like talking. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Max think Mrs. Addison has called him to the office?

Max thinks Mrs. Addison is going to put him back in the learning disabled class. Signup and view all the answers

What does Mrs. Addison promise Max regarding his father?

She promises Max he would not have to do anything he did not want to. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Freak while Max is getting him more chop suey?

Freak's face is all red and swollen, and he is choking on the chop suey. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Freak NOT want Gwen to hear Max talking about the robot stuff?

Freak believes it strikes fear in her heart. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Freak need a new body?

Freak is growing on the inside but not on the outside. Signup and view all the answers

While Max is in the down under wrapping Christmas presents, why are Gram and Grim shouting?

Grim wants a gun to protect his family, but Gram doesn't want a gun in the house. Signup and view all the answers

What does Grim tell Max about his father?

Grim tells Max his father is up for parole and has made arrangements for his incarceration. Signup and view all the answers

On Christmas Eve what do Freak, Max, Grim, Gram, and Gwen do?

They all have dinner and pretend everything is normal. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the box and gift Freak gives to Max on Christmas Eve. What does Max think of his gift from Freak?

The box is pyramid-shaped, wrapped in Sunday comics and contains a personalized dictionary. Max thinks the dictionary is the best. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Max in the night on Christmas Eve?

His father sneaks into his room claiming he came back as promised. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max's father tell him is the truth?

He claims he never killed anybody. Signup and view all the answers

What has Max always feared about his father?

Max feared his father would come for him in the night. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Killer Kane take Max on Christmas Eve?

He takes Max to Iggy and Loretta's apartment in the New Testaments. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Iggy take Max and Killer Kane on Christmas Eve?

He takes them into a boarded-up building that used to be part of the Testaments. Signup and view all the answers

What does Killer Kane want Max to know?

Killer Kane wants Max to know he never killed anybody and that he sent him letters from prison. Signup and view all the answers

What does Killer Kane swear on the Bible?

He swears he did not murder Max's mother. Signup and view all the answers

What is Killer Kane's plan for the future?

Killer Kane plans to get an RV and collect money in a basket pretending to be a man of God. Signup and view all the answers

Describe where Killer Kane takes Max to hide from the cops.

He takes Max to a boarded-up building that used to be part of the Testaments. Signup and view all the answers

Who first comes to help Max escape from his father?

Loretta Lee comes to help Max. Signup and view all the answers

What is the escape plan Loretta describes to Max?

Loretta tells Max that Iggy will keep Killer Kane busy while she gets him loose. Signup and view all the answers

What happens while Loretta is untying Max?

Two big hands are squeezing her neck as Killer Kane attacks her. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max do to help Loretta?

Max falls on top of Killer Kane to try to shove him loose from her. Signup and view all the answers

What does Max remember as he sees his father strangling Loretta?

He remembers seeing his father killing his mother. Signup and view all the answers

How does Killer Kane react to Max's memory about his mother's death?

He tells Max he was only four years old and could possibly call that event. Signup and view all the answers

What did Max do when he was four that cost Killer Kane years?

Max broke a window yelling for help after his mother was killed. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Max's father try to strangle him?

He thinks he has to 'clean this mess up' to get rid of Max, the witness. Signup and view all the answers

Who comes to rescue Max and Loretta from Killer Kane?

Freak comes to the rescue. Signup and view all the answers

How do Freak and Max get away from Killer Kane?

Freak sprays Killer Kane in the eyes with a squirt gun, allowing them to escape. Signup and view all the answers

What does everyone say will happen to Killer Kane?

Everyone says they've got Killer Kane for multiple crimes, and he'll be locked up for good. Signup and view all the answers

What do the newspapers call Loretta Lee?

The papers call Loretta the Heroic Biker Babe. Signup and view all the answers

What does Freak tell Max Dr. Spivak says about his unique medical status?

Dr. Spivak says Freak's unique status makes him an object of intense curiosity. Signup and view all the answers

What is different about school after Christmas vacation?

The response requires clarification regarding upcoming changes at school. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Relationships

Maxwell serves as the narrator of the story, sharing his thoughts and experiences.
Gram and Grim are Maxwell's grandparents; they belong to his mother's side, showing concern for his well-being.
Freak, also known as Kevin, is a significant character who first meets Max in daycare. He impresses Max with his fierce demeanor and unique mobility aids.

Setting and Symbolism

The "down under" is a secluded space in Grim's basement, providing Max a place of solitude and comfort.
The millpond serves as a location for a key adventure where Max and Freak confront danger from Tony D. and his gang.

Key Events

Max first perceives Freak as an imposing but intriguing figure, drawn to his crutches and leg braces.
Max retrieves a plastic bird, dubbed an "ornithopter" by Freak, highlighting their budding friendship.
Freak introduces Max to concepts of robotics and Arthurian legends, demonstrating his intelligence and imagination.
The pair’s adventures lead them to encounter challenges, from neighborhood bullies to the police, showcasing their loyalty and mutual support.

Conflicts and Resolutions

Grim fears that Max may inherit traits from his incarcerated father, which creates tension in their relationship.
Max grapples with his identity, often feeling overshadowed by his father's notorious reputation.
After a frightening encounter with his father, Max learns the importance of friendship and courage when Freak intervenes, solidifying their bond.

Themes

The concept of bravery is prevalent as Max often finds himself in dangerous situations but ultimately proves to be heroic.
The importance of friendship is demonstrated through the support and encouragement Max and Freak offer each other.
Identity and self-acceptance are explored as Max learns to differentiate himself from his father’s legacy.

Significant Moments

On Christmas Eve, Max experiences trauma when his father returns, illustrating the impact of familial fear.
The duo’s rescue journey culminates in a dramatic escape aided by Loretta, representing the theme of unexpected allies.

Learning and Growth

Amidst their escapades, Freak educates Max on reading and inventiveness, fostering Max's personal growth and self-esteem.
The narrative illustrates the transformative power of friendship, as Max evolves and finds confidence through his partnership with Freak.

Health and Medical Context

Freak's health condition and aspiration for a bionic enhancement become central to the plot, addressing themes of disability and hope for improvement.
His hospitalization raises stakes in the narrative, leading to moments of vulnerability for both characters.

Conclusion

The culmination of their adventures solidifies Max and Freak's friendship, establishing them as "Freak the Mighty" and emphasizing the narrative’s core message of courage, camaraderie, and resilience against adversity.### Freak's Special Operation
Freak is scheduled for a special operation that aims to change his life.
Max is told he will see a "new and improved" version of Freak afterward.

The Blank Book

Freak gives Max a blank book, instructing him to fill it with their adventures together.

Incident in the ICU

Freak starts coughing in the ICU, prompting a hectic response from medical staff.
Dr. Spivak tells Max to leave during the emergency.

Max's Discovery of Freak's Death

Upon arriving in the ICU, Max learns that Freak has died.
He observes nurses reacting with tears and feels a surge of rage.

Dr. Spivak's Explanation

Dr. Spivak reveals to Max that she misled Freak regarding his bionic body.
She recounts an incident where Freak, at a young age, sought the truth through medical literature.

Freak's Cause of Death

Dr. Spivak explains that Freak's heart "got too big for his body."

Max's Reaction to Loss

Following Freak's death, Max isolates himself and misses important events like the funeral.
He expresses feelings of emptiness, likening himself to a deflated balloon.

Grim's Perspective on Life

Grim advises Max that life is about quality, not quantity.
He encourages Max to appreciate having a friend like Freak.

Max's Experience Back at School

Max returns to school feeling hated and burdened by the sympathy of others.
He resents being treated as if he were the one who died.

Confrontation with Tony D.

Upon returning to school, Tony D. expresses regret about Freak's death.
Max reacts aggressively, warning Tony against feeling sorry for him.

Encounter with Loretta

During the winter after Freak's death, Max meets Loretta.
She encourages him to reflect on the meaning of "nothing" in his life.

Creation of the Book

Max decides to write "Freak the Mighty" in the empty book given to him by Freak.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the first 25 chapters of 'Freak the Mighty' with this comprehensive review. This quiz covers key characters, events, and themes as narrated by Maxwell. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of the book's content.