Chapter 13: American Chop Suey

M.S. 302-1C2                                                             10-18-10

Humanities                                                             _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 13: American Chop Suey

· "It's October, and so far things have been going pretty good.

· Kevin has been showing Maxwell how to read. 

· Max gets nervous of talking in front of the class.

· Max can't write.

· Max gets word that his father is trying to contact him.

· Kevin almost chokes to death.

· "You're going to be okay, Maxwell Kane."

*** Essential Question/Thought ***

Why was Max's father trying to contact him, 

and for what reason?

Chapter 12: Killer Kane, Killer Kane, Had a Kid Who Got No Brain

M.S. 302-1C2                                                             10-18-10

Humanities                                                             _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 12: Killer Kane, Killer Kane, Had a Kid Who Got No Brain

· "But I know he ran away because of me." 

· Freak and Maxwell are in the same classes, the smart classes. 

· Other students are making fun of Kevin and Maxwell.

· "Sometimes we're 9 feet tall, and strong enough to walk through walls. 

Sometimes we fight gangs."

*** Essential Question/Thought ***

Is it a good idea that Maxwell is in the smart classes with Kevin, after being in a "special" class all his life?

Maxwell and Kevin

Complete the handout by using your book and chapter notes. You will be analyzing the similarities and differences that our 2 main characters, Max and Kevin, share in the story.


First, discuss the similarities you see between them. Next, write about how the 2 boys are different.

Maxwell, Kevin and Gwen

Copy the graphic organizer into your notebook. Think about how the characters Maxwell, Kevin and Gwen are similar. Then think about how they are different from each other. Fill in the graphic organizer with your thoughts and ideas.

Main Characters

How are the main characters from the story, "Freak the Mighty" described?

Maxwell:

Kicker, little critter, Mad Max, butthead, brainless, goon, learning disabled, beast, Giant Retard, big, dumb body, "that boy," albino walrus, lazy beast

Kevin:

Human robot, fierce, small, little Freak, Robot Man, yellow-haired, crippled midget, little dude, smart, intelligent, Igor, dwarf, genius, Poor Kevin, remarkable boy

Gwen:

beautiful, brown-haired, Fair Gwen of Air, star quality, young, Fair Guinevere, pretty cool, single mother

Chapter 11: The Damsel of Distress

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                             10-14-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 11: The Damsel of Distress

·  Maxwell is forbidden from visiting the New Testaments.

·  Iggy and Loretta were friends with Killer Kane.

·  "He was only a little kid when IT happened."

·  Killer Kane is getting "out" eventually.

*** Essential Question ***

"He must be a magician, because as soon as he heard the 

magic words 'birth defect,' he disappeared."

Chapter 10: Rats or Worse

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                             10-14-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 10: Rats or Worse

·  While Maxwell continues to grow, Kevin is not growing.

·  Freak is leading Maxwell on a new quest, at night.

·  Freak the Mighty recover a purse from the sewer drain, and decide to return it to its owner.

*** Essential Question ***

What does the phrase "a damsel in distress" mean?

Chapter 9: Life Is Dangerous

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                             10-14-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 9: Life Is Dangerous

·  Kevin's imagination brings many things to life.

·  Kevin and Maxwell really believe they are on quests.

·   Kevin leads Maxwell to a Medical Research building.

·  Kevin hopes to become "the first bionically improved human."

·  Kevin's "surgery" will be painful and dangerous. 

*** Essential Question ***

Is Freak really going to undergo surgery?

Chapter 8: Dinosaur Brain

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                             10-14-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 8: Dinosaur Brain

·  "It turned out to be a cool summer."

·  Maxwell gets credit for saving Freak, 

but he knows it was Freak who saved them from Blade.

·  Gram, Grim and Maxwell are getting along better after the incident with Blade.

·  Every morning Freak and Maxwell go on quests and adventures.

·  Freak continues to "teach" Maxwell.

*** Essential Question ***

Why do you think Maxwell and his grandparents 

are getting along better?

Chapter 7: Walking High Above the World

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-12-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 7: Walking High Above the World

· After the fireworks end, Freak and Mighty are chased by Blade and his gang.

· Freak and Mighty escape by using Mighty's body and Freak's smarts.

· Freak and Mighty escape to the smelly pond.

· They get stuck in the mud, but Mighty's size saves them both.

· They are saved by the cops again.

· Kenny Kane, a.k.a. Killer Kane, is Maxwell's father.

· "We're Freak the Mighty, that's who we are." 

*** Essential Question ***

Why is Maxwell's dad called "Killer Kane?"

Chapter 6: Close Encounters of the Turd Kind

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-12-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 6: Close Encounters of the Turd Kind

· For the 4th of July, Maxwell heads down to see the fireworks with Kevin (Freak).

· Freak and Mighty meet Tony D. (Blade), who is a villain.

· Blade has been to "juvy court" for stabbing somebody. 

· Kevin can't see the fireworks because he's so small, so Maxwell places him on his shoulders. 

*** Essential Question ***

At what point do Freak and Mighty become Freak the Mighty?

Chapter 5: Spitting Image

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-12-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 5: Spitting Image

· "There's a place I go inside my head sometimes."

· Gwen calls Maxwell's Gram to apologize for her behavior towards Maxwell.

· Maxwell's mother and grandmother had children young.

· "I think the rest of him is so small because his brain is so big."

· Gwen is also raising Kevin without a father's presence.

· Maxwell is a spitting image of his "old man."

· Maxwell's father is in jail; he's "crazy and scary."

*** Essential Question ***

Why do you think Maxwell's father is in jail?

Chapter 4: What Frightened the Fair Gwen

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-08-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 4: What Frightened the Fair Gwen

· Fair Gwen of Air is named after Guinevere, King Arthur's queen.

· Story of King Arthur is similar to that of Freak and Mighty.

· Freak loves robots and books.

· Mighty is learning disabled.

· Fair Gwen picks up Kevin and is startled and scared by Maxwell.

*** Essential Question ***

Why is Fair Gwen scared by Maxwell?

Chapter 3: American Flyer

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-08-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 3: American Flyer

· Kevin's disability prevents him from doing simple things. 

· Maxwell helps Kevin get his mechanical bird from the tree.

· Kevin uses advanced vocabulary that Maxwell doesn't understand.

· Freak and Mighty are becoming friends.

*** Essential Question ***

Why is Kevin happy to be pulled in the wagon by Maxwell?

Chapter 2: Up From the Down Under

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-08-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 2: Up From the Down Under

· Maxwell loves living in the basement because he has his own private place.

· Gwen and the Freak move back to the neighborhood.

· The Freak is Kevin, and his mother's name is Gwen.

*** Essential Question ***

How are the characters being described?

Chapter 1: The Unvanquished Truth

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                              10-08-10

Humanities                                                                              _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

Chapter 1: The Unvanquished Truth

·  "I never had a brain until Freak came along..."

· Freak and Mighty meet in daycare.

· "Remembering is a great invention of the mind."

· Mighty (Maxwell) is starting to resemble Him more and more.

· Maxwell is growing a lot.

*** Essential Question ***

How do Freak and Mighty become Freak the Mighty?

How To Take Care of Your Book

M.S. 302-1C2                                                                             10-05-10

Humanities                                                                             _________

"Excellence In Work & Behavior"

How to Take Care of Your Reading Book:

1) Always keep your book inside of its cover.

2) Do not write in the book.

3) Do not fold the pages or tear them out.

4) Keep your book in its plastic sleeve.

5) If you lose the book, you pay for it.