Tight

by Torrey Maldonado

Overview

Tight: Lately, Bryan's been feeling it in all kinds of ways . . .

Bryan knows what's tight for him—reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama is every day where he's from, and that gets him tight, wound up.

And now Bryan's friend Mike pressures him with ideas of fun that are crazy risky. At first, it's a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subway surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never really feels right acting so wrong, and drama really isn't him. So which way will he go, especially when his dad tells him it's better to be hard and feared than liked?

But if there's one thing Bryan's gotten from his comic heroes, it's that he has power—to stand up for what he feels . . .

Torrey Maldonado delivers a fast-paced, insightful, dynamic story capturing urban community life. Readers will connect with Bryan's journey as he navigates a tough world with a heartfelt desire for a different life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524740559
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	402,449
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

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.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Tight"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Torrey Maldonado.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Young Readers Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

11/05/2018
Set in Brooklyn public housing, this novel by Maldonado (Secret Saturdays) centers on Bryan, a Puerto Rican sixth grader grappling with a volatile home life, a friend he can’t trust, his conscience, and his identity. Since leaving jail, Pa hasn’t done much except “hanging in the streets with his homeboys,” but he “still spends zero time” with Bryan and his sister. His level-headed, loving mother has always counseled her son to focus on school rather than friends, since the “wrong friends bring drama,” which proves true when Bryan meets Mike, an edgy, older schoolmate who shares Bryan’s love of reading superhero comics and drawing. Wary of Mike’s mood swings and manipulative behavior yet fearful of being labeled “soft,” Bryan follows Mike’s lead—skipping school and riding the subway by hanging out the back car—while feeling “far away from who I am.” The author shrewdly builds suspense, fueling readers’ dread that Bryan’s poor choices will have dire consequences, but lands Bryan in a satisfying place. This is a psychologically intricate story of the challenges and rewards of family, friendship, and discerning one’s true self. Ages 10–up. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

I was riveted by Bryan’s journey, breaking down stereotypes and becoming his own kind of superhero. This, in and of itself, is not only Bryan’s superpower but Maldonado’s 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 Moore’s The Stars Beneath Our Feet, Jason Reynolds’s Ghost, and character-driven realistic fiction.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Through Bryan’s 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

“Maldonado's 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 Bryan’s poor choices will have dire consequences. . . . This is a psychologically intricate story of the challenges and rewards of family, friendship, and discerning one’s 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

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2018
Gr 4–7—The complex emotional lives of young boys of color are portrayed through a nascent friendship. Bryan is constantly teased for being "soft," thanks to his preference for comics, drawing, and spending quiet moments with his mom. Through his mother's work at a Brooklyn community center, he meets Mike, an older, "harder" schoolmate whom he's never socialized with before and is apprehensive about befriending. Slowly, Bryan finds they have much in common and begins spending more time with Mike. When Bryan's recently paroled father is re-incarcerated, Mike offers him an emotional outlet in the form of ditching school, the first of several exploits the pair undertake. 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." Regrettably, Mike, who faces many of the same emotional struggles and home life difficulties as Bryan, is not allotted the same degree of sympathy. Maldonado, however, excels at depicting realistic and authentic interactions between middle school boys. VERDICT An excellent addition to libraries with fans of David Barclay Moore's The Stars Beneath Our Feet, Jason Reynolds's Ghost, and character-driven realistic fiction.—Jessica Agudelo, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

2018-07-16
A loner navigates a dangerous relationship.Bryan is a quiet, Afro-Puerto Rican sixth-grader living in Brooklyn. He enjoys comic books, video games, and keeping to himself. Pa, recently released from prison, and Bryan's sister, Ava, encourage him to be tough. Ava mocks him for being a "momma's boy," and Pa tells him it's better to be feared than liked. Ma, however, encourages Bryan to use his brains instead of his fists. Ma introduces Bryan to Mike, a slightly older black boy who uses the services at the community center where Ma works; she says he "seems nice" and "gets good grades," and Bryan needs a friend. Soon Mike and Bryan become so close that they say they're brothers—but Mike isn't as good as Ma and others think. Bryan gets swept up in Mike's influence and begins to behave badly in small ways, throwing rocks at cars from rooftops and practicing his mother's handwriting so he can forge excuses from school. After Pa violates his parole and is arrested again, Bryan's behavior escalates, including cutting class and hopping onto moving trains. Through Bryan's 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. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

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