First published 2008
Maxwell Kane towers over his classmates but wishes he could disappear. The teenage giant wears size 14 shoes and carries a secret that keeps him locked away in his basement bedroom. He avoids everyone until a new family moves next door. When Maxwell meets his neighbor, everything shifts. The two boys discover they make an unlikely but powerful team. Together they call themselves Freak the Mighty. They roam their neighborhood like medieval knights, helping people in trouble and fighting injustice wherever they find it. But their biggest challenge waits closer to home. Maxwell must face the dark truth about his family that has shaped his entire life. Through their friendship, both boys learn that being different can be a strength. They prove that real courage has nothing to do with size or appearance.
Genres: fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Period: 20th-century
4 pages · Audio CD · Listening Library