Name three problems that occur within the story.

Although there are many more than three problems in Freak the Mighty, three that are fairly easy to focus upon are as follows: Kevin’s birth defect, the boys’ tussle with Blade and his gang, and Max’s kidnapping.

Kevin’s birth defect affects the entire story. Kevin cannot walk properly, although he has a superior mind. He wears leg braces and uses crutches to get around. Ironically, this is what inspires Max and Kevin to come together as their dual character of “Freak the Mighty.” Unfortunately, Kevin’s “problem” eventually leads to his death at the end of the book.

One of the episodic adventures in the book deals with the problem with Tony (Blade) and his gang of thugs. They constantly taunt and torment the two boys until Kevin suggests that the two form “Freak the Mighty” and lose the gang in a muddy pond.

Finally, Max’s biggest problem (other than Kevin’s death) is his kidnapping by his father, Kenny “Killer” Kane. Kane has killed Max’s mother and is in jail. As soon as Kane is let out on parole, he immediately kidnaps Max and chains him to a boiler in an old basement. It is Kevin who saves Max.