HANDS

Torrey Maldonado's voice is perfectly pitched for Trev, a promising Black 12-year-old who is dealing with family and community violence. His stepfather is in jail for hitting his mother. Trev trains in boxing to protect his sisters, and he fears his mom will soon need protection, too. Complicating matters is Trev's promise as an artist. Are his hands for boxing or drawing? When Trev thinks to himself or shares concerns with caring relatives, listeners hear a worried teen with a voice that often cracks. When Trev is acting cool or feigning indifference, Maldonado gives him a deeper, disinterested voice. Sadly, some of the quieter conversations require multiple volume adjustments. Use of vernacular language and Trev's differing modes of communicating give this audiobook a tone of authenticity. L.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]