Though I have read many awesome books with many characters in the 2022-2023 school year, one character that stood out to me was Trev from Hands by Torey Maldonado. In this story, Trev goes through many physical and mental situations that shape him to be a better person and man. Once his step dad hits his mom and threatens her, Trev is lost and confused and doesnt know how to solve his problem other than learn to throw hands to protect his mom and sisters. During his journey to learn how to box he develops many traits like bravery, anger, and toughness. Trev believes that learning how to fight is the only way he can protect his family, but he learns later on that that’s not the way. Meanwhile, I can connect to this in other ways not related to fighting. When I was about 6, I wanted to be a professional baseball player (And still do), so I did what many kids would do. I would go outside to play and practice. I kept that up for about a year and then ran into an issue. I wasn’t practicing the right way, this relates to Trev when he started to find that fighting wasn’t the right way to resolve conflict. I began to start practicing the right way to hopefully reach my goal one day. Trev wanted something and went out to get it, but realized it could be done a better way and that’s how Trev connects to me. I hope you chose to pick up Hands and can learn a similar lesson of taking a step back to do things the best way possible.