Max the Mighty

Everyone knows that there are moments in life that stand out.  They matter to us because we learn things about ourselves, about others, and about life in general.  Some of the moments can be good while others can be devastating.  Whatever the case, they are the turning points of our lives and they make us who we are.  In Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick, Maxwell Kane experiences a number of turning points that cause him to change and grow.

In this book, Max, an overgrown 8th grader with learning difficulties, just wants to live a normal life.  The problem is his mom was murdered, his dad, Killer Kane, is in prison, and he spends his days in the “Down Under,” his grandparents’ dark and dreary basement.  There’s no way anyone wants to be his friend.  That is until Freak, a handicapped genius, moves back into town.  Soon after, the two misfits form an unbreakable bond as they venture out on quests that change their lives forever.

Along the way, there are significant turning points for Max.  The most important one is when he stands up to his father.  In this scene, Loretta Lee, a lady from the New Testaments, is trying to untie Max and set him free when Killer Kane returns.  When he starts to strangle Loretta, Max says,  “I saw you kill her! I saw you kill Mom! I never forgot, not ever!  I know you did it! I know!“ (p.106).  This is significant because it’s the first time Max is self-confident enough to stand up to the biggest bully in his life, his own father.

As a result of this turning point, Max changes for the better.  He takes control of the situation by being confident and speaking up.  In that way, Max serves as a mentor for all of us.  We need to stand up for what we believe in even when it seems impossible. So the next time you are faced with a difficult turning point in your life, remember Max’s newfound self-confidence and confront it head on.