Ma, you’re gone but not forgotten. You died this year on National Spider-Man Day, and it fits. “With great power comes great responsibility.” You taught me that there’s great power in books, and I share a responsibility to share HANDS. Why? For starters, when I was Trevor’s age, I wish someone handed me HANDS. I needed it how many of my students need it now. As an adolescent, I felt Trevor’s ups and downs, but while writing HANDS, I felt more up than down, so I hope this book also helps readers feel more up and figure out how to feel less down. When we feel weighed down, we don’t need a book heavy in page count or content to weigh us down more. So HANDS aims to be fast-paced and thin, yet thick with complexity. My fingers are crossed that HANDS empowers anyone experiencing similar issues to respond to challenges in ways that keep empowering them and others.
Comprehension Questions
1. Torrey Maldonado's book called HANDS addresses domestic abuse and the sport of boxing. What is he hoping his book will accomplish?
A. He will become rich.
B. He will become famous.
C. He hopes that it will help kids who are experiencing violence find some empowerment.
A. So it will feel like a rollercoaster.
B. To mirror the changes in weather and temperature.
C. To help readers feel more up, and figure out how to feel less down.
Your Thoughts
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.