Review “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 Read more 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 more See all Editorial Reviews
V**N
Awesome read with your tween
We were introduced to the author and this book through a reading assignment in Newswela. The article about the author intrigued my 10 year old daughter enough to inquire about reading the book. Each night we read it together, excited to get to the next chapters. There was some slang that we had the opportunity to use the Urban dictionary to learn new words. Can’t wait to read another book by this author!
M**.
Love, Love, Love
Very nicely written and thought provoking. Great book for a teen or younger.
A**R
"Tight" is an excellent book for boys.
My 13 year old grandson requested this book. He was very excited to receive it.
T**N
Much Needed
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Penguin Kids for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.•⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this 9/4/18 release. Bryan is a middle school kid who just wants to be drama-free. Most of the other boys at school Ft to act so tough, and all he really wants to do is draw, read comics, and do his own thing. When he meets Mike, he is initially drawn to his new friend until it is clear that Mike is pretty toxic. Pair that with his father landing back in jail, and Bryan isn’t sure who he wants to be anymore. I highly recommend this for all middle school collections. I know mine desperately needed this story, so much so that I bought two copies
M**D
Tight is right
As I was reading this book, I was reminded of many students I've taught in the past. Those students really could have used a book like this in their lives. Many of them grew up in similar situations to the main character, Bryan: a home in the projects, a parent in and out of jail, and struggling to figure out where they belong. So often, I could see those students straggling an invisible line: they could be smart and well-behaved around certain classmates and teachers, but around peers from home, they had to be so hard. I think that many of those students probably worried about their friends and family thinking they were trying to be better than them by doing well in school and trying to have a different future. I hated seeing them have that internal struggle. I can only recall one student who was adamant that he was going to make a better life for himself, and I hope he did.Bryan has a very similar internal struggle; he longs for peace and quiet in a very loud and unpredictable environment. His dad often lets his temper get the best of him, and it has put him in jail more than once. Bryan doesn't want to be like his dad, but at the same time, he doesn't want his dad to think he's soft. He pushes himself out of his comfort zone with his new friend Mike who encourages him to do things that aren't exactly legal. Bryan's parents think Mike is a good friend, but they don't see Mike's wild side. When Bryan befriends Big Will, he realizes that there are other kids like him who value peace and calmness. He has to make a difficult decision: stay friends with Mike because they've been so tight or bounce because Mike isn't who he thought he was.#BookPosse
U**R
A gripping read that packs an educational punch
Relevant and relatable story about a tween negotiating a relationship with a “friend” who peer pressures him into doing things he doesn’t want to do. Bryan just wants to fit in and be accepted by his dad who is in and out of jail. So when his parents hand select another boy from the neighborhood to be his first best friend, a boy his dad seems to respect, Bryan is all for it. But this friend turns out to be a different character, goading Bryan to do things, like duck the turnstiles in the subway or throw rocks off the roof, that Bryan knows is wrong. But a part of Bryan likes the thrill of what they are doing. And he likes that hanging out like this makes him feel like he’s not “soft”. As the situation escalates, Bryan must consider not only his own safety and reputation but the safety of others. Should he seek help from the responsible adults in his life and risk being called “soft” or will he just continue to go along? A gripping read that packs an educational punch, highly recommended for any tween. While this will appeal to boys, girls will also enjoy this urban story as the well-developed characters and fast-paced plot are sure to draw in any reader. Maldonado’s take home message about conflict resolution is clear and worthwhile for readers of all ages.
J**W
New York teen life in the projects.
I am certainly not a member of this books target audience. But, I enjoy reading regardless of genre. While some of the dialogue was foreign to me, an a middle-aged white man, it didn’t make comprehension difficult. I enjoyed this story, and think teenage readers would thoroughly enjoy it.This story shows life in the New York projects from the youth perspective, something I knew next to nothing about. Dealing with a revolving door prison Father, friends both positive and negative, an environment largely negative, and a supportive strict Mother, we see our hero try to do what’s right most of the time.The struggle is captivating, and the read informative and entertaining.
S**S
TIGHT is the perfect title on so many levels!
WOW. What an amazingly real glimpse into the mind of a young man learning to make choices that can have devastating consequences. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this, wanting to help Bryan make the right choices, but having to watch him make his own decisions about friends, peer pressure, following rules, finding himself. I cringed and chuckled, cried and cheered as I walked with Bryan through his experiences. Reading it as a parent is certainly different than reading it as a kid, but I think it is just as powerful to see/remember/understand the struggles that adolescents are going through.I’m so glad I got to read this incredible book.
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