Hands: Chapters 7–14

by Torrey Maldonado
Twelve-year-old Trevor, a talented artist, faces difficult situations living in the projects and violence in the family. He grapples with how to use his hands: to fight or to build a better future.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–14, Chapters 15–30, Chapters 31–43, Chapters 44–67
15 words 85 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. squat
    sit on one's heels
    I notice P’s eyes pop. He’s surprised by my strength but squats down to brace himself to see if I can add more to my punches. He barks, “Harder.”
  2. brace
    prepare for something unpleasant or difficult
    I notice P’s eyes pop. He’s surprised by my strength but squats down to brace himself to see if I can add more to my punches. He barks, “Harder.”
  3. swig
    swallow hurriedly, greedily, or in one gulp
    He sips his OJ, then passes me it....I swig.
  4. turf
    range of jurisdiction or influence
    “All I could do after they beat me was run mad fast toward our projects. Them chasing and whaling on me. Two blocks from my building they stopped. I guess they figured it’s my turf..."
  5. stoop
    small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
    "And my stepdad’s friends did: ‘Ayo, that’s Trev!’ They pointed to me. Jumped off benches. Flew off stoops. Ran toward us. The kids who’d jumped me jet."
  6. bulge
    swell or protrude outwards
    P’s eyes bulge. “Did you?”
    “Did I what?”
    “Fight all five heads?”
    “Nah."
  7. recite
    repeat aloud from memory
    P counts fingers like he’s reciting some equation.
  8. equation
    a mathematical statement that two expressions are the same
    P counts fingers like he’s reciting some equation.
  9. involve
    engage as a participant
    “Throw hands. Dude feels your power. He gets the message. He stops playing. No one else gets involved. Problem solved. How your dad did.”
  10. encourage
    inspire with confidence
    “I see you in the hall with Cole, encouraging him.”
    “He’s a good kid.”
    “And you’re a good influence on him, Trev. He really looks up to you.”
  11. influence
    a power to affect persons or events
    “I see you in the hall with Cole, encouraging him.”
    “He’s a good kid.”
    “And you’re a good influence on him, Trev. He really looks up to you.”
  12. titan
    a person of exceptional importance and reputation
    She flips through drawings, naming heroes she knows. “Batman. Superman. Wonder Woman. Spider-Man. X-Men. Teen Titans.” Then she holds one up. “Who is this? This is soooo good, Trev.”
  13. spar
    practice boxing or fighting
    She smiled a smile that said, It’s funny you say that. “Trev, your grandpa— my father—was so good at boxing he almost went pro.”
    My eyes probably almost popped out my head. “For real?”
    “He sparred with famous people.” She named names I didn’t know.
  14. flashback
    a transition in a story to an earlier event or scene
    Right now, P interrupts my flashback and blows my mind. “When your uncle Puff fought Whiz was when I first ever thought, ‘I’ma learn to box like them.’ ”
    “Whaaaat?” I can’t hold it in. “Thought that then too.”
    We laugh a little at that coincidence.
  15. coincidence
    the property of two things happening at the same time
    Right now, P interrupts my flashback and blows my mind. “When your uncle Puff fought Whiz was when I first ever thought, ‘I’ma learn to box like them.’ ”
    “Whaaaat?” I can’t hold it in. “Thought that then too.”
    We laugh a little at that coincidence.
Created on Thu Nov 07 21:07:26 EST 2024 (updated Thu Nov 14 18:52:16 EST 2024)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.