Hands

Hands (2023) is a contemporary middle-grade novel by American author and educator Torrey Maldonado. The story follows 12-year-old Trevor, who believes he must learn the skill of boxing in order to protect his mother and sisters from his abusive stepfather, who is due to be released from prison. As Trevor builds his physical strength, he grapples with his identity as a talented artist and confronts conflicting advice from his community about how to best use his hands. The novel explores the themes of Redefining Strength Beyond Physical Violence, The Importance of Accepting Community Support, and Breaking the Cycles of Trauma and Abuse.

Maldonado is a longtime middle-school teacher in Brooklyn, New York, and his writing is informed by his students’ experiences. His work, which includes the acclaimed novels What Lane? and Tight, often features young men of color who must navigate complex social and emotional challenges. Maldonado has garnered significant recognition for his authentic and diverse narratives for young readers. Hands was named a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews and won a 2024 Christopher Award, an honor that was also bestowed upon Tight.

This guide refers to the 2023 Nancy Paulsen Books edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of death, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and bullying.

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Trevor, or “Trev,” must navigate complex family dynamics. After his biological father died when Trevor was seven, his mother (“Ma”) married a man whom Trevor initially admired. However, his stepfather was jealous of the memory of Trevor’s biological father and proved to be abusive. When Trevor was 10, his stepfather’s abuse escalated; he hit Ma, and the incident led to his arrest. He shouted from the police car, “I’ll get you back!” (5). Because he had violated his parole, he received an additional two-year sentence, for which he blamed Ma. That night, Trevor’s older sister, Nikki, and stepsister, Jess, explained the history of the man’s abuse, revealing that the final fight started because his stepfather had criticized Ma for raising Trevor to be “soft” since he refused to learn to box. As Ma iced her bruised eye, Trevor made a silent promise that he would never let his stepfather hurt her again. As time went on, Trevor began having nightmares of his stepfather threatening his mother. To combat his sense of helplessness, he started a workout routine of push-ups and shadowboxing, inspired by famous boxers.

Two years after the arrest, Trevor’s stepfather is due to be released, and Trevor has grown to nearly six feet tall. Ma calls him her “gentle giant,” but Trevor still believes that he must abandon gentleness in order to protect her. However, his confusion deepens when he recalls his stepfather making him promise to protect his sisters with his fists.

Trevor is friends with a younger boy in his building, Little Cole, who reminds him of himself because they both love to draw. Trevor also befriends a new neighbor, Pete (known as “P”), after seeing him show kindness to Cole. When P’s father discards some old boxing equipment, the boys use it to begin training together in a nearby stadium. When Trevor practices his punches, he channels his rage toward his stepfather, startling P with his raw power.

When Trevor sees a happy photograph of his mother and stepfather, it reminds him of kinder moments, and he feels torn. Trevor tells P that when he was 10, he was attacked by his classmates, and his stepfather’s presence scared them away. This impresses P. Trevor initially lies and claims that his stepfather is away “Down South,” but he eventually admits that the man is in jail. To save face, he then expounds upon the image of his stepfather as a powerful fighter.

Trevor dislikes being compared to his stepfather. Ma hangs one of Trevor’s old drawings on his wall and asks why he stopped making art, and she reminds him that his strength is not just physical. Trevor stares at his old drawing and feels conflicted. Jess also praises his artistic talent for conveying emotion and makes him promise to consider the idea of taking up his art again, suggesting that he could even teach art to younger children.

Trevor and P discuss a legendary neighborhood fight between Trevor’s “uncle” Puff and a man named Whiz, which inspired both of them to learn to fight. P suggests that they train at the local recreation center to learn boxing properly. The gym is intimidating, but P and Trevor go to the center every morning for two weeks to watch the training and exercise. All the early-morning exercising negatively impacts Trevor’s ability to focus in school. His teacher tells him that he “has promise,” but Trevor doesn’t believe that this is true.

After three weeks of going to the rec center, Trevor and P approach the “cowboy-walking trainer” (41), who is called Quick. Quick recognizes Trevor and reveals that he was a close friend of Trevor’s deceased maternal uncle, Lou; he then notes that Trevor is his uncle’s “twin.” Quick explains that Lou, who was also a “gentle giant,” made his friends promise to keep Trevor away from fighting and stay focused on school. Honoring this promise, Quick refuses to train Trevor, but he does invite him to hang out at the gym anytime.

Frustrated, Trevor turns to another “uncle,” Frankie, who also insists on honoring Lou’s wish and dismisses the domestic abuse in Trevor’s family as his “parents’ business.” He tells Trevor that hurting his stepfather will only put others in danger. Frankie’s response makes Trevor feel abandoned by his supposed “village.” Trevor then encounters Uncle Puff, who senses his distress and buys hero sandwiches for the family. Puff offers to “handle” Trevor’s problem, but Trevor declines, not wanting to escalate the situation. The peaceful dinner reinforces Trevor’s desire to protect his family, and he is inspired to make breakfast for his mother and sisters the following morning.

Tensions rise when Nikki informs Trevor that their stepfather will be released from jail within the month. Jess confronts Nikki about her controlling boyfriend, Rick, whose behavior mirrors their stepfather’s.

After school, another mentor, Uncle Larry, who runs the housing project’s library, affirms Trevor’s artistic talent. Larry and Trevor talk about rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle’s legacy, and Trevor reflects on the fact that a person’s choices can have a dramatic effect on their life path.

On the way back from Uncle Larry’s, P and Trevor avoid a fight with two neighborhood kids. They then stop and talk to Little Cole, who is drawing in the hallway outside Trevor’s apartment. They praise Cole’s artistic ability, and as they enter the apartment, P comments on Trevor’s drawing, which Ma hung on the wall. While they’re there, Nikki brings Rick and his friends to the apartment, breaking Ma’s rules. When Trevor confronts them, they move into the hallway. Suddenly, Trevor hears Nikki shout and finds Rick aggressively grabbing her. As Rick’s friends surround Trevor, Rick taunts him. Overwhelmed with rage, Trevor punches the thick hallway window, shattering it, and this violent act intimidates Rick and his crew, who flee when the police arrive. Cole witnesses the event, his face a mixture of fear and confusion. P and Nikki rush Trevor inside, and Nikki wipes his blood trail from the hallway floor to hide his involvement.

The police leave when no one answers the door at their knocks. P praises Trevor for “solving” the problem, but Trevor feels conflicted, fearing that he has become the problem. Nikki berates him for the damage and for the police presence. When Ma arrives, she is deeply disappointed and warns Trevor that this path will lead him to become just like his stepfather.

Trevor confides in his teacher, Ms. Clark, about his conflicting promises. She advises him that a promise should not cause harm or compromise his own potential. Later, Trevor seeks refuge with Uncle Larry. While watching Return of the Jedi, Trevor feels disturbed by the scene in which Luke Skywalker fights Darth Vader, seeing it as a reflection of his own future. He confesses everything to Larry, who helps him understand that fighting is the “Darth Vader way” and that he should rely on his “village” for support (117).

On his way home from Uncle Larry’s house, Trevor reflects on all the people who care about him. He runs into P, who says that the police questioned him about the window. P laments the fact that Trevor’s stepfather isn’t around to “handle Rick.” Trevor tells P that his stepfather is in jail for hitting his mother, and P responds supportively. That night, Trevor has a nightmare in which he, not his stepfather, is arrested while his stepfather stands behind Ma, grinning.

The nightmare motivates Trevor to have an honest conversation with Ma, who reassures him that she will protect the family. In the hallway, Trevor finds Little Cole mimicking his window punch. Realizing the harmful influence of his recent show of violence, Trevor sits with Cole and teaches him to draw, showing him a different way to be “nice with [his] hands” (130).

At Uncle Frankie’s request, Uncle Puff brings Trevor to the garage. Frankie reconsiders his earlier dismissal and promises to be an active part of the village that will help Trevor’s family. Trevor accepts the support, feeling hopeful and eager to pursue a future defined by positive promises.