Hands


 
 
 
 Also by Torrey Maldonado
 
 What Lane?
 Tight
 Secret Saturdays
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nancy Paulsen Books
 An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York
 
 First published in the United States of America by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2023
 Copyright © 2023 by Torrey Maldonado
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 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
 Names: Maldonado, Torrey, author.
 Title: Hands / Torrey Maldonado.
 Description: New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York, 2023.
 Summary: Twelve-year-old Trevor has an adult problem to deal with: how to protect himself, his sisters, and his mother from his abusive stepfather (currently in prison) and he thinks the way to do that is to take up boxing—although he would really rather draw.
 Identifiers: LCCN 2022036081 | ISBN 9780593323793 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780593323809 (ebook)
 Subjects: LCSH: Stepfathers—Juvenile fiction. | Families—Juvenile fiction. | Responsibility—Juvenile fiction. | Boxing stories. | CYAC: Stepfathers—Fiction. | Family life—Fiction. | Responsibility—Fiction. | Boxing—Fiction.
 Classification: LCC PZ7.M2927 Ha 2023 | DDC 813.6 [Fic]—dc23/eng/20220816
 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022036081
 Ebook ISBN 9780593323809
 Edited by Nancy Paulsen
 Art © 2023 by Steffi Walthall
 Design by Theresa Evangelista
 Design by Cindy De la Cruz, adapted for ebook by Michelle Quintero
 This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
 The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
 pid_prh_6.0_142264359_c0_r0
 
 
 
 Ma, you almost lived to hold Hands in yours. I love and miss you.
 
 
 Chapter 1
 YOU promise? I promise. People say people have “promise.” Whatever that means.
 All I know is . . . I got promises to keep. I have to. But which ones are right? Which are wrong?
 Messed-up stuff happened with my stepdad. Has me feeling messed up. Feeling torn and confused about what to do.
 I thought my stepdad was the Man. Tried to make him smile. Hoped he’d accept me. Needed to be his boy after my pops died. Wanted to be his. Followed him.
 But not no more. Nah.
 Not after that night he got locked up for throwing hands. And not with just anyone . . .
 
 
 Chapter 2
 YOU don’t mess with my mother.
 But my stepdad did.
 I only saw him hit her that one night.
 My mom shielded me a lot after my real dad died when I was seven. I guess she couldn’t shield me completely because my dad dying hurt so bad I got left back. 
 Chapter 3
 AS cops put my stepdad in their car, he shouted at Ma like he was making a promise. “I’ll get you back! YOU did this to me! YOU got me locked up!”
 How was it her fault? He hit her. He’s wrong.
 And what’d she do anyway?
 Later that night, Jess and