In Tight by Torrey Maldonado, lives Bryan, a sixth-grader who lives in Brooklyn with his mother and younger sister. Adapting at school proves difficult, and his peers frequently tease him. This friendship, however, causes conflict for Bryan between his allegiance to Mike and his wish to avoid problems, he finds enjoyment in his friendship with Mike, a neighborhood boy who actively participates in a gang. Bryan's situation gets further influenced by his mother staying too busy to spend time with her children, leaving Bryan to take care of his sister. Bryan's academics suffer as a result, and he risks failing the sixth grade. Eventually, Bryan starts to struggle with his identity and tries to figure out his authenticity. Bryan must difficult …show more content…
He also learns the importance of education and family. Overall, Tight remains a powerful and thought-provoking book that addresses the difficulties of growing up in a rough area and the importance of preserving authenticity. As an encapturing read, Tight deserves a four-star rating due to the vivid and striking aspects of the book, with genuine characters and dialogue. The tension builds throughout the story, leaving an impression on the reader. However, some might find the speed boring, and the lack of climactic events could cause disinterest in continuing to read the book. Torrey Maldonado's novel, Tight, includes a strong and suspenseful atmosphere. An underlying tension begins to build as soon as Mike returns to Bryan's life and never really goes away. The discomfort only intensifies as Bryan gets drawn deeper and deeper into his friend's secret web. The novel contains a few hopeful and humorous passages, but primarily, the tone remains gloomy and melancholy. "Sometimes the people who should love you end up as the the ones who hurt you the worst" (Maldonado 126). This quote proves significant because this saying highlights the book's theme of family dynamics and their impact on a person's life. The protagonist, Bryan, struggles with his relationship with his parents, the pressure to conform to his expectations, and peer pressure from many of his friends, but especially from Mike, to do things that Bryan knows he should …show more content…
The quote also emphasizes the importance of finding support and love outside of one's immediate family and creating trustable bonds and friendships. Torrey Maldonado's novel Tight acts as a powerful and thought-provoking novel that discusses the challenges of growing up in a tough neighborhood. One of the most harsh aspects of the book demonstrates the harsh realities of life in the inner portions of the big city. Mr. Maldonado successfully captures the hopelessness and despair that many young people in these situations feel. He also highlights the impact poverty, violence, and drugs can have on both families and individuals. At the same time, Tight also appears as a story of resilience and hope. Despite the challenges he faces, Bryan demonstrates a determined and resourceful young man who refuses to give up on his dreams. Bryan becomes surrounded by a supportive community of friends and family who help him to stay focused and motivated. Overall, Tight exemplifies a compelling and emotionally charged novel that offers a powerful commentary on the realities of life in the inner city. Tight by Torrey Maldonado won the "Christopher Award" in May 2019 and has represented one of few books to have the crown of "ALA Notable Award", "National Book Award", and finally, "Washington Post Best Book of The Year". Tight by Torrey