SOURCE CITATION
"Rodman Philbrick." Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 31. Gale Group, 2000.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2007.
Photograph provided by Scholastic, Inc.
BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY
Rodman Philbrick, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, started his career as an author of adult thrillers before shifting his interest to young-adult fiction. Gaining national accolades for his debut novel for teen readers, Freak the Mighty, Philbrick has gone on to lead a double life, continuing to pen adult mysteries while also adding to the body of fiction available to younger readers, sometimes in collaboration with his wife, journalist and author Lynn Harnett. Among Philbrick's novels for teens are The Fire Pony and Max the Mighty, while his works for adults include such works as Brothers and Sinners, winner of the Private Eye Writers of America's best novel award in 1993.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Philbrick grew up close to the New England coast, where one of his hobbies, fishing, is a prominent regional industry. Asked when he started his career as a writer, Philbrick explained to Authors and Artists for Young Adults (AAYA): "I got the `bug' in about sixth grade, when I started writing short stories. Later I wrote a novel-length work while in high school, although it was never published." Although he had proved he had the ability to complete an entire novel-length work without giving up, adulthood meant focusing on the day-to- day necessities of life, and Philbrick devoted much of his attention to earning a living. Drawing his livelihood from the sea in traditional New England fashion, he worked as both a longshoreman and a boatbuilder, but still found enough time to complete several novels. Unfortunately those works were not accepted for publication. In 1982, however, the author made his literary debut with Shooting Star, published under the name W. R. Philbrick.
First Book Encourages Further Efforts
Philbrick's Slow Dancer, the first of two novels featuring female sleuth Connie Kale, was released by St. Martin's Press two years later, and by 1987 the writer had left his other occupations behind to devote himself to novel-writing full time. Working out the twists and turns of plots to mysteries and detective novels now became his stock in trade, with some of his work published under the pseudonym William R. Dantz. The prolific Philbrick would write more than a dozen mystery novels for adults before moving into the Young Adult market in the early 1990s.
The move from adult whodunits to teen fiction happened, as Philbrick recalled, "more or less by accident." It was inspired by a boy from his own neighborhood, the novelist explained to AAYA. "I used to see two kids walking down the street near our apartment. One of them was a big guy and he sometimes carried the small kid on his shoulders. Later my wife and I became friends with the small boy's mother. We discovered that the small boy had Morquio Syndrome, which meant he would never grow to be more than three feet tall. He was extraordinarily bright, had a love for words and books, and an interest in sci-fi and Arthurian legends. About a year after his tragic death, I got an idea for a story inspired by his very special personality. The story is fiction, but I never would have written it if I hadn't known the boy himself."
Inspired by the imagination and courage of his young neighbor, Philbrick was moved to write Freak the Mighty, which was published in 1993. An award-winning work that has been translated into numerous languages and is now read in schools throughout the world, the novel is described by School Library Journal contributor Libby K. White as "a wonderful story of triumph over imperfection, shame, and loss." In the book middle-school narrator Maxwell Kane feels doubly cursed. Not only is he clumsy, big boned, and condemned to an academic life of torment as a learning-disabled kid, but his dad is in prison for killing Maxwell's mom and the whole town knows about it. A loner, he spends much of his time in his room in the basement of his grandparents' house. Then something happens to change the dull despair of each passing day: a new boy moves in next door whom Max recognizes from his day-care days. The new boy, Kevin, is wheelchair-bound due to a birth defect that has prevented him from growing physically; however, he has an imagination and an energy that allow him to soar mentally. Soon Max and "Freak"--Kevin's name for himself--are the best of friends. With Kevin sitting astride Max's broad shoulders, the two dub their joint self "Freak the Mighty," channeling the one's strength and the other's intelligence to confront the taunting of other children and get out and explore the world. Caught up in the legend of King Arthur and his noble knights, the two boys search for causes to battle, one of which proves scary: "Killer" Kane returns and kidnaps Max, who escapes only with Kevin's help. Sadly, the effects of Morquio Syndrome begin to overtake Kevin, and he finally dies. Left to continue on his own, Max "is left with the memory of an extraordinary relationship," as well as a heightened sense of his own worth and a more optimistic outlook on his future, according to White.
Freak Draws National Acclaim
The winner of numerous awards, Freak the Mighty has been lauded by reviewers for its sensitivity and ability to appeal to more reluctant readers. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books reviewer Deborah Stevenson praises Philbrick's novel as "a sentimental story written with energy and goofy humor instead of sentimentality; ... kids will be drawn in by the idea and appreciate the story of an unusual relationship. In Horn Book, contributor Nancy Vasilakis calls Freak the Mighty "A fascinating excursion into the lives of people whose freakishness proves to be a thin cover for their very human existence," while Stephanie Zvirin labels it "both riveting and poignant, with solid characters, brisk pacing, and even a little humor to carry us along" in her Booklist review.
Freak the Mighty soon became a project that grew far beyond Philbrick's original novel. "Freak the Mighty was optioned by Scholastic Productions before the book was published," recalled the novelist. Philbrick was asked to adapt his novel into a screenplay, which he did; "but the producers thought it was too close to the original novel and hired another screenwriter," he explained. In 1998 Freak the Mighty made it into theatres, where it proved a success with young audiences as The Mighty, starring Sharon Stone and Gillian Anderson. Unlike some novelists who see their work transformed by others' hands onto the screen, Philbrick found the experience a positive one. "I'm quite pleased with the movie version--it reflects the emotional content and suspense of the novel," he told AAYA.
Freak the Mighty also sparked a sequel, Max the Mighty, which was published in 1998. Reuniting with narrator Max Kane now that he is on his own, readers are introduced to Max's new friend, Rachel, a pre-teen who has escaped so far into her hobby of reading that fellow students now refer to her as the "Worm." What prompts Rachel's reading is her need to mentally escape from the abusive household in which she has found herself since her Mom's remarriage. Unfortunately, her books can't save her from her unstable stepdad, dubbed the "Undertaker" because of his creepy demeanor, and the much older Max--he's now fourteen--eventually agrees to help Rachel run away and find her real father. On their way to Chivalry, Montana, in search of Rachel's real dad, the pair encounter a colorful cast of characters ranging from wild dogs to con artists, and have numerous adventures, all the while trying to elude both the Undertaker, who follows in pursuit, and the police, who are hunting Max in response to the kidnapping charges filed by Rachel's stepfather. Noting that the novel's ending is filled with "surprises" and is "more upbeat" than Philbrick's previous YA novel, a Publishers Weekly reviewer calls Max the Mighty a "rip-roaring, heartwarming escapade." Although Nancy Vasilakis notes that several of the story's zany characters "sometimes threaten[s] to stretch the reader's sense of reality to its limits," she concludes in her Horn Book review that Max and Rachel "grab our attention and engage your heart."
Novels Find Fans in New Territory
While Freak and its sequel are very "issue-oriented" novels--learning disabilities, single parenting, and family violence are just a few of the subjects covered--Philbrick's more recent books for younger readers, particularly those written with his wife, are fun reads, while also containing a salting of typical teen concerns in their plots. Because of the fast-paced action and the relatively simple vocabulary in such books as The Haunting, Abduction, and Children of the Wolf, they have been praised for their ability to motivate even reluctant readers to turn the page and see what happens next.
"I don't have any `lessons' in mind when I write about adolescent kids," Philbrick explained in response to a question regarding his opinion on the importance of inserting a "message" in books for young adult readers. "Most of what I write, and the first person `voice' I use, comes out of my own memories of being that age. The books Lynn Harnett and I collaborate on are intended to be easy-reading mass market paperbacks. My own work might be considered slightly more `serious', but, I hope, still entertaining enough to hold a reader's attention. For the most part I find that all young readers really want is a good story, of whatever type." However, Philbrick also expressed delight that the techniques he uses in creating his adult mysteries--"how to keep a reader turning pages to find out what happens next," for example--have been of value in his YA projects.
Fire Pony Reflects Ranch Life
Philbrick's 1996 novel, Fire Pony, which would be his second written for a younger readership, also uses Montana as its setting and features a young man as its narrator. In the story, half-brothers Joe and Roy Dilly are on their own, having fled from ranch to ranch after the habits of arsonist Joe put an end to job after job. Now Joe has found work at the Bar None Ranch, where the owner, Nick Jessup, raises Arabian horses. The older of the two brothers, Joe has a talent for both blacksmithing and saddle-breaking horses and soon becomes a prized employee. Meanwhile, eleven-year-old Roy, while remaining concerned that his older brother's fascination with fire will ultimately force the two to go on the run again, begins to settle in at the ranch. Trying to follow in Joe's footsteps, he attempts to break a palomino filly named Lady Luck, which Jessup has promised to Roy if he is successful. Ultimately, Roy rides Lady Luck to glory at a rodeo, despite the efforts of another man named Mullins to thwart the boy's success and get the horse for himself. Older brother Joe, angered at Mullins, first accosts the man, then goes into a hay field and sets a fire which quickly grows out of control and ultimately threatens the life of Roy and Lady Luck. Noting the complex personalities of the two brothers, Horn Book contributor Martha V. Parravano comments that Philbrick's portrait of "the scarred but spirited Roy is near flawless"; likewise, Joe is "loving and funny and talented even as he is scary and unpredictable and disturbed." Praising Joe's rescue effort as the high point of the novel, School Library Journal contributor Christina Linz notes that The Fire Pony "has plenty of action and suspense and is a good choice for reluctant readers."
"The idea for The Fire Pony came while Lynn and I were driving across the Southwest," Philbrick explained of the novel's inspiration. "I loved the landscape, and when we got to California the state was suffering from a rash of fires. The two ideas combined into a story about a boy and his older brother, who is not only a talented farrier, but a sometimes arsonist. The idea from that part may have been inspired by my love of Faulkner, in particular his story `The Barn Burner.'"
Husband-and-Wife Writing Team
Continuing his prolific career as an author of adult mysteries, Philbrick and his wife Lynn Harnett collaborate on mass-market paperbacks for school-age readers, and have begun several novel series in the horror and science fiction genres. Their novels appeal to even reluctant readers due to their fast-paced plots, with many chapters coming to a cliff-hanger conclusion that keep teens captivated--and reading. Part of their success may be credited to their ability to devise a system of working together that seems to work well. As Philbrick explained, "Lynn and I discuss story ideas. Then I write an outline and Lynn does all the heavy lifting, writing the first draft of the chapters. After more discussion we polish up a finished draft."
As far as his own projects go, Philbrick remains constantly busy, reserving his mornings for his craft, and rewarding himself with a chance to go fishing in the afternoon. One of his forthcoming books, titled Spaz, is a YA novel set in the future; next on the list is an adult thriller. Another teen novel, Rem World, is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2000. "I've never stopped writing for adults," Philbrick explained to AAYA, "although I spend more time writing YA novels these days. I've also written a number of screenplays, but none of them have been produced yet! I doubt I'll ever write much nonfiction, as I have a bad habit of making things up."
A voracious reader for many years, Philbrick counts among his favorite authors suspense novelist Elmore Leonard, as well as writers like Mark Twain and Joseph Conrad. Perhaps because of his roots in the seafaring culture of the New England shoreline, Philbrick also enjoys the seagoing fiction of Patrick O'Brien. He and his wife divide their time between their home in Maine and the Florida Keys.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born in 1951, in Boston, MA; married Lynn Harnett (a novelist and journalist). Hobbies and other interests: Fishing. Addresses: Home: P.O. Box 4149, Portsmouth, NH 03802-4149. E-mail: Philbrick@earthlink.net.
AWARDS
Best Novel award, Private Eye Writers of America, 1993, for Brothers and Sinners; Judy Lopez Memorial award honor book, 1994, Nebraska Golden Sower Award, Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award, 1997, California Young Readers' award, Arizona Young Readers Award, Maryland Children's Middle School Book Award, and Charlotte Award, New York State Reading Association, and best Young Adult book of the year and recommended book for the Young Adult reluctant reader designations, both American Library Association, all for Freak the Mighty.
CAREER
Writer. Formerly worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. Full-time writer, 1987--.
