Hands: Chapters 44–67

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 42 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. glare
    look at with a fixed or angry gaze
    Rick and his boys glare at me.
  2. serious
    of great consequence
    But then I hear Nikki shout, dead serious, “STOP!”
  3. flinch
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    I don’t flinch and his fist stops an inch from my nose.
  4. clueless
    totally uninformed about what is going on
    Nikki tells P, “Bring my brother inside, quick!”
    “Huh?” P is as clueless as me.
    “Cops’ll arrest Trev for the window.”
  5. advice
    a proposal for an appropriate course of action
    “Do you want advice?”
    “No.”
    She’s studying my face, figuring out what to say.
    Finally she speaks. “Okay, here’s the thing with promises—as long as they don’t hurt you, or anyone else, then they’re okay to keep.”
  6. potential
    the inherent capacity for coming into being
    “Another thing—your promise shouldn’t hurt your promise, your potential.”
  7. blurt
    utter impulsively
    Words blurt out. “That’s Muhammad Ali. Did you know he only counted his reps of an exercise once his muscles started to hurt.”
  8. bodega
    small shop selling groceries, especially in a Hispanic area
    We cross the street toward the bodega and a guy even thinner than Larry calls to him, “Oye, flaco.”
  9. greedy
    immoderately desirous of acquiring something
    Inside the store, Uncle nods. “Trev, get whatev.”
    At first I don’t because Ma taught us, Don’t be greedy.
  10. stress
    a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
    “Yeah, because you’re living in stress, in survival mode. Your mind’s telling your body you’re always in danger. I mean, look at you. You just were so kid-happy with candy and Star Wars. Then thinking of your stepdad, you flipped. Now you got bags under your eyes and look old as me. And I’m a hundred.”
  11. mode
    a particular functioning condition or arrangement
    “Yeah, because you’re living in stress, in survival mode. Your mind’s telling your body you’re always in danger. I mean, look at you. You just were so kid-happy with candy and Star Wars. Then thinking of your stepdad, you flipped. Now you got bags under your eyes and look old as me. And I’m a hundred.”
  12. clench
    squeeze together tightly
    “I know cops came, Trev! They caught me.”
    “What?!” My fists clench from hearing cops cornered him. “What happened, P?”
    “They musta been milling around our building’s halls all day. They caught me before I could jet. Hit me with all these questions.”
  13. grit
    clench together
    I hate that P is praising my stepdad. I’ve held back the truth from him for a while. Right now, I’m tired of doing that. “About my pops’s hands, you know why he’s in jail?”
    “A fight?”
    I grit my teeth. “For hitting my moms.”
  14. flex
    exhibit the strength of
    I huff-snatch the sheet off me, get on the floor, and start banging out push-ups. I get up and flex my arm. My bicep muscle is a softball.
  15. express
    communicate beliefs or opinions
    She’s the only one I can talk to and not seem soft. Gentle giant, she calls me. She’ll let me express myself.
Created on Thu Nov 07 21:22:24 EST 2024 (updated Fri Nov 15 10:55:17 EST 2024)

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