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In Freak the Almighty by Rodman Philbrick, how is the reaction of the students at school and the reactions of the people they meet in the...

Kevin and Maxwell are friends who find a way to survive life as misfits by joining forces. Kevin suffers from birth defects that affect his ability to walk without crutches. Max, on the other hand, can walk just fine, but he is very tall for his age and feels like he doesn't fit in because he towers over everyone his age. Also, Kevin is highly intelligent and Maxwell is in the learning disabled classes. Together they find a way to forge their way through physical and intellectual trials together. Max hoists Kevin on his shoulders so they both can get around more easily and Kevin helps Max with reading and writing. People around them have never seen a partnership like this before, though. Their reactions are similar because both groups are amazed and excited when they see Kevin sitting on top of Max's shoulders.


First, in Chapter 11, Kevin and Max meet Loretta and Iggy in the Testaments. The boys went there to give Loretta her wallet that they found. When she sees them, she tells Iggy that the circus has come to town and gets really excited about it. When he sees the boys, he says it isn't the circus, but a carnival. Overall, though, they show great interest and excitement over the boys. 


Then at school in Chapter 12, Kevin climbs up on Max's head right in the middle of class and screams "Freak the Mighty!" This goes to show what a pair the two are together. The other students get excited and start chanting "Freak the Mighty!" over and over again with the two boys. The teacher has to send the boys to the principal's office to calm the class down. The two groups' reactions to Freak the Mighty are similar because they get interested and excited about the display the two boys create together. 

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