Tight by Torrey Maldonado (English) Paperback Book

Description: Tight by Torrey Maldonado Tight: Lately Bryans been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows whats tight for him in a good way - reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But dramas hard to escape where hes from, and that gets him wound up tight. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description * "Maldonado excels at depicting realistic and authentic interactions between middle school boys."--School Library Journal (starred review)* "Maldonado excels at depicting realistic and authentic interactions between middle school boys."--School Library Journal (starred review)A Washington Post Best Childrens Book of 2018!Tight- Lately Bryans been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows whats tight for him in a good way--reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But dramas hard to escape where hes from, and that gets him wound up tight.And now Bryans new friend Mike is challenging him to have fun in ways that are crazy risky. At first, its a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subway surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never feels right acting wrong. So which way will he go when he understands that drama is so not his style? Fortunately his favorite comic heroes shed light on his dilemma, reminding him that he has power--the power to choose his friends and to stand up for what he believes is right . . .Torrey Maldonado delivers a fast-paced, insightful, dynamic story. Readers will connect with Bryans journey as he navigates a tough world with a heartfelt desire for a different life. Author Biography Torrey Maldonado, the author of the critically acclaimed Secret Saturdays, is a teacher in Brooklyn, New York, where he was born, raised, and lives. His books reflect his students and his experiences. Review "I was riveted by Bryans journey, breaking down stereotypes and becoming his own kind of superhero. This, in and of itself, is not only Bryans superpower but Maldonados as well. Loved this book!"—Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award–winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming "Tight hits all the right notes in delivering a suspenseful tale of what it means to become a man in a world split by superhero devotion and macho swagger. A thoughtful look into the pitfalls of male friendship and a riveting addition to tween lit."—G. Neri, Coretta Scott King Honor–winning author of Yummy* "The complex emotional lives of young boys of color are portrayed through a nascent friendship. . . . Pushing of boundaries as an emotional response to trauma, vulnerability, and societal pressures is an overarching theme of the novel, pressing readers to consider the impetus of what is deemed bad behavior. . . . [Maldonado] excels at depicting realistic and authentic interactions between middle school boys. An excellent addition to libraries with fans of David Barclay Moores The Stars Beneath Our Feet, Jason Reynoldss Ghost, and character-driven realistic fiction."—School Library Journal, starred review"Through Bryans believable, emotionally honest first-person narration, Maldonado skillfully shows a boy trying to navigate parental desires and the societal expectations of his Brooklyn neighborhood while trying to figure himself out. Readers will be rooting for Bryan to make the right choices even as they understand the wrong ones."—Kirkus Reviews"Maldonados novel quietly interrogates toxic masculinity in a story that will resonate with middle-grade readers who, just like Bryan, are questioning who they are, who they want to be friends with, and how those choices will impact their lives."—Booklist "The author shrewdly builds suspense, fueling readers dread that Bryans poor choices will have dire consequences. . . . This is a psychologically intricate story of the challenges and rewards of family, friendship, and discerning ones true self."—Publishers Weekly"A book about making good choices and knowing who your real friends are, topics that are relatable to nearly everyone. . . . It is an engaging story and readers will find themselves rooting for Bryan."—School Library Connection Promotional Tight- Lately Bryans been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows whats tight for him in a good way-reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But dramas hard to escape where hes from, and that gets him wound up tight. Review Quote "I was riveted by Bryans journey, breaking down stereotypes and becoming his own kind of superhero. This, in and of itself, is not only Bryans superpower but Maldonados as well. Loved this book!"-- Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming " Tight hits all the right notes in delivering a suspenseful tale of what it means to become a man in a world split by superhero devotion and macho swagger. A thoughtful look into the pitfalls of male friendship and a riveting addition to tween lit."-- G. Neri, Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author of Yummy * "The complex emotional lives of young boys of color are portrayed through a nascent friendship. . . . Pushing of boundaries as an emotional response to trauma, vulnerability, and societal pressures is an overarching theme of the novel, pressing readers to consider the impetus of what is deemed bad behavior. . . . [Maldonado] excels at depicting realistic and authentic interactions between middle school boys. An excellent addition to libraries with fans of David Barclay Moores The Stars Beneath Our Feet , Jason Reynoldss Ghost , and character-driven realistic fiction."-- School Library Journal , starred review "Through Bryans believable, emotionally honest first-person narration, Maldonado skillfully shows a boy trying to navigate parental desires and the societal expectations of his Brooklyn neighborhood while trying to figure himself out. Readers will be rooting for Bryan to make the right choices even as they understand the wrong ones."-- Kirkus Reviews "Maldonados novel quietly interrogates toxic masculinity in a story that will resonate with middle-grade readers who, just like Bryan, are questioning who they are, who they want to be friends with, and how those choices will impact their lives."-- Booklist "The author shrewdly builds suspense, fueling readers dread that Bryans poor choices will have dire consequences. . . . This is a psychologically intricate story of the challenges and rewards of family, friendship, and discerning ones true self."-- Publishers Weekly "A book about making good choices and knowing who your real friends are, topics that are relatable to nearly everyone. . . . It is an engaging story and readers will find themselves rooting for Bryan."-- School Library Connection Promotional "Headline" Tight- Lately Bryans been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows whats tight for him in a good way-reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But dramas hard to escape where hes from, and that gets him wound up tight. Excerpt from Book Chapter 1 Im chilling at the community center where Ma works. Shes cool with her boss and coworkers, so theyre cool with me and my sister, Ava, being at Mas job after school. Usually, Ava chills for minutes. Me? Hours. I dont know why Ava doesnt hang longer. Maybe shes too busy with her ninth-grade life. But me? I like doing office things, like Ma: reading, being quiet, and chilling for forever. For example, about a month back, I found this empty spot at Mas job and asked her if I could use it as my pretend-office. She asked her boss and she told Ma, "Sure. We also have a spare desk-chair and some other supplies Bryan can use." So, right now, Im doing homework in my office, but this kid named Mike is at Mas desk and Im distracted spying on him. Hes a year older than me and about two inches taller. He rocks a sweater like mine, but his kicks are newer and more popular. He has hair like me, Afro-type if we grew it out. Mines grown out a little since I need a cut. He just got one. Now hes alone, but Ive seen him with his mom here, two or three times. I didnt think twice about Mike at first because a lot of kids and their parents come through here. Then I saw him at my school, hanging with seventh graders. He didnt do his sixth grade in my school. So, whyd he transfer for his seventh grade? I asked Ma, and she said his family was in the Bronx and she helped them get an apartment here in Brooklyn in our projects. In school, me and Mike nod whats up but dont hang. I see him around the neighborhood too and at the handball courts near us. Then the other day I saw him talking to my pops. I didnt get why Pa was so friendly to him. And I dont get why Mike is here now, talking to Ma. I squint at them. "Did Mike just call Ma Ma?" I ask Ava, who is in my office looking at my homework on my clipboard. Ava stares from the clipboard at him and shrugs. "Who cares? Almost anyone younger than her calls her Ma." Thats true. Ma helps lots of people and they love her. But I dont like this kid Mike calling her Ma right now. I ask Ava, "Whys he playing her so close?" Ava goes back to reading the clipboard, but I cant look away. Mike stares at Ma like shes his mom for real and gives her a hug. Yo! He better let go of my moms. Ava interrupts me and points at different spots on my clipboard. "You spelled some stuff wrong." "What? Where?" Nothing should be wrong because I checked it twice like Ma says to do. I look where she points. Ugh! Shes right. I hate when shes right. I grab a pencil, take the clipboard, and fix my mistakes. By the time I look up again, Mikes about to leave. He yells, "Bye, Ma!" I turn to Ava. "He just called her Ma again!" She rolls her eyes. "Because hes probably her real son. Unlike you." Here she goes again, cracking that stupid joke shes been cracking since I was in day care, telling me Ma and Pa found me in a trash can. Back then, I believed her since me and Ava have different complexions. Hers is chocolate brown. Im a lighter caramel. The first time she said it, I ran to Ma and she showed me our birth certificates. Ava got punished but she never stopped joking I wasnt her brother--like right now--and for some reason it still bothers me. "Well, I wish Mike was my real brother," she continues. "Hes no mommas boy like you." My whole head burns like I have a fever. I want to cut on her so hard. But only weak disses come to mind. I finally growl, "Big Head." "Oooh, Big Head. Ouch. I cant wait until Mike comes to eat." "Eat?" "What you think? He calls Ma Ma and he wont come eat soon? You know anyone who calls Ma Ma ends up eating with us. You saw how she hugged him." Ma sneaks up on us. "What is going on with you two?" We shut up. "You both were going at it. Now youre quiet?" "Bryans mad because you hugged Mike." Ma makes a face like Im her baby and I have nothing to worry about. "Come here." I go over and she hugs me. "You dont have to worry about Mike. Youll see tomorrow night. Hes coming for dinner." Chapter 2 When I get back from school the next day, Ma tries handing me what looks like a grocery list. I U-turn to bounce. "Bryan," she calls me back. "Here. I need you to go to Hectors." I sigh, turn around, and take her grocery list as thoughts fly through my head. I hope theres no note for the bodegas owner. I hope theres no note for the bodegas owner. Ugh! Theres a note for him. Why do I have to get groceries with a note and not real money? I wish I had brothers to get groceries. Actually, I do have brothers. Before Ma, Pa had three sons from another woman. But I dont even know what they look like. I used to imagine them. I pictured them stopping bullies from bullying me. I pictured them giving me money when I wanted candy. I pictured them teaching me boy stuff Pa didnt. Now, Ive stopped imagining them. Theyre not coming to Brooklyn for me, and they probably dont even know about me. Supposedly, theyre grown and live in Philly or somewhere. Pa probably doesnt even know what his sons look like either. Ma says Pa left them when they were like nine or ten and he hasnt seen them since. Whatevs. So, I have to go get groceries. Not Ava. Not imaginary brothers. Me. And I hate it. *** I look at Mas shopping list. "Can I add chocolate powder?" She sighs. "Bryan, were just getting what we need." "I need chocolate milk," I say. I look at the list again. "Okay, how about grapes? We need them." "We have." "They so shriveled," I joke, "they raisins now." But Mas in a serious mood. "Money is tight." I want to say, If money is tight and we have to buy food on credit, why you inviting Mike to dinner? But I just take the list and head for the elevator. When it shows up, theres a puddle of piss in it. Instead of someone cleaning it up, it looks like heads did what they usually do--keep trashing it. Junk-food wrappers and cigarette butts float on the puddle that stinks ammonia-strong. I take the stairs. *** Pas friends hang out on the corner near the bodega. His friend Pito lowers his sunglasses and waves when he sees me. Pito could pass for that basketball player Stephen Curry and always rocks skintight T-shirts that show off his abs, no matter how cold it gets outside. A bunch of other familiar faces spot me and their faces flip from hard to hi, but not much else flips. Loud Spanish music thumps. Teens who rock the most dip gear sit on milk crates. Some of Pas real old--viejo--friends sit at a table and play dominoes and beef about the last move made. This is Pa and his homeboys spot. I only come by when Im on my way to the bodega or the arcade next door. Ava says I dont like to hang here because Im soft. Thats why she calls me a mommas boy. Im not a mommas boy, but I am like Ma since she got me used to being by myself, the way she keeps to herself. "Focus on school," Ma always tells me. "There will be friends later. The wrong friends bring drama, and I dont want them rubbing off on you." Anyway, with all that advice, I wonder why shes letting Mike come over. Nicholas, this black older man with dark skin and all-white hair like Magneto from the X-Men, puts his hand on my shoulder and nods at a crate. "Sit! Sit!" "No thanks," I tell Nicholas real kind. "Ma and Pa want me back with the food." Nicholas and Pas friends circle me, smiling. Some are a bit bent with that same smell Pa has when he drinks. But the look in their eyes is the same: love. I know they have my back. When me and Pa are here, he tells them, "Look out for my son," and they swear theyd body anyone who messes with me. Once, when Pa told Pito to look out for me, Pito lifted his fist, showed Pa his knuckles, and told him, "Joe, you kidding me? Someone messes with him and they get this." Pa lifted his fist too, and they winked, pumping fists like boxers before a boxing match. Details ISBN1524740578 Author Torrey Maldonado Year 2019 ISBN-10 1524740578 ISBN-13 9781524740573 Format Paperback Country of Publication United States Language English Audience Age 10 DEWEY 813.6 UK Release Date 2019-08-27 Publication Date 2019-08-27 US Release Date 2019-08-27 Pages 192 Place of Publication New York Publisher Nancy Paulsen Books Imprint Nancy Paulsen Books Narrator Simon Russell Beale Illustrator Pablo Tunica Edited by Sue Buswell Birth 1927 Affiliation Lecturer, University of Fort Hare Position Professor Qualifications J.D. Audience Children / Juvenile NZ Release Date 2019-08-26 AU Release Date 2019-08-26 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 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