Hands: Chapters 1–6

by Torrey Maldonado
Twelve-year-old Trevor, a talented artist, faces difficult situations living in the projects and violence in the family. He grapples with how to use his hands: to fight or to build a better future.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–14, Chapters 15–30, Chapters 31–43, Chapters 44–67
15 words 701 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. promise
    grounds for feeling hopeful about the future
    You promise? I promise. People say people have “promise.” Whatever that means.
  2. disrespect
    a manner that is generally discourteous and contemptuous
    The woman next to her elbowed her and smiled. “Brenda, you know that’s Trevor Junior. Same handsome face as his father’s.” She eyed my stepdad. “No disrespect. You cute, but his real dad was fi-iine.”
  3. rude
    socially incorrect in behavior
    She didn’t mean to be rude, but my stepdad’s face got tight how people’s faces do when a splinter pricks their finger bloody.
  4. violate
    act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
    So anyway, back to the night my stepdad got arrested, he got heated because he got himself two more years in jail for violating his parole.
  5. parole
    a conditional release from imprisonment
    So anyway, back to the night my stepdad got arrested, he got heated because he got himself two more years in jail for violating his parole.
  6. deserve
    be worthy
    Turns out Ma did nothing to get hit because nothing ever deserves getting hit.
  7. threaten
    utter intentions of injury or punishment against
    Jess: “Ma said he shook a fist near her face. Threatened to clock her. And threatening became his thing when he couldn’t win with words.”
  8. eavesdrop
    listen without the speaker's knowledge
    Jess shares why the big fight started. “They were arguing about you, Trev. Dad told Ma, ‘You raising him soft.’ I know because I’d eavesdrop at their bedroom door when they argued...."
  9. snap
    lose control of one's emotions
    “Anyway. Their fight got louder—and I don’t know why, but he snapped. He must’ve lifted his fist because she said, ‘I’m NOT scared of YOU.’...”
  10. flurry
    a sudden and overwhelming outpouring or amount
    Amped, I stood and threw a punch, huffing. “I’m Ali.” Then I threw a flurry of punches, each time saying the boxer I pretended to be.
  11. superhero
    an imaginary character with amazing powers for doing good
    From my mirror, I saw my muscles get more pumped. I felt more swole, jacked. Like the superheroes I used to draw.
  12. diesel
    an internal-combustion engine that burns heavy oil
    It’s just I can’t be gentle if my stepdad flips on Ma again when he’s back. Giant—that’s what I need to be to protect her. More diesel, stronger.
  13. project
    publicly funded housing development for low-income families
    Our hall is maybe the safest in our projects. Some halls you better not pass through. Mine? Library quiet and chill.
  14. ramble
    continue talking or writing in a purposeless manner
    So, for a few years our hall was my paradise and now it’s Little Cole’s. When he’s there, I’ll ask, “You good?” and might sit and listen to him draw and ramble.
  15. portal
    a grand and imposing entrance
    “You see this?” Little Cole said once, and pointed at his drawing.
    “Yeah.”
    “It’s a portal. Ask me where it goes.”
    “Where’s it go, Cole?”
    “If we stepped in it—fwoosh—we’d zap into another universe. To a place where I can swim better than Aquaman—even in the deepest ocean . . .”
Created on Thu Nov 07 21:03:52 EST 2024 (updated Thu Nov 14 18:52:47 EST 2024)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.