Point of View

The story is told in first-person narrative, with Max as the narrator. Max begins his story by describing the first time he and his friend, Kevin, also known as Freak, meet. They are toddlers in pre-school. Kevin stands out in Max's memory because the fragile little boy has such a twisted body and is wearing leg braces and proclaims that he is a robot.

Max tells the story of the unusual and close relationship that the two boys eventually develop when Kevin moves in a few doors down from Max's house the summer before both begin eighth grade. Max relates all his self-doubts about his intelligence and abilities and his astonishment at how bright Kevin is. Although Freak does not have much of a body, his brain more than makes up for it. Although Max is labeled as learning disabled because he cannot talk in front...