Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear: Chapters 1–4

by Robin Wasley
In this novel, high school student Sid lives in a magical town that's normally safe, but when someone triggers an apocalypse, she has to help halt it while looking for her missing brother.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1-4, Chapters 5-8, Chapters 9-13, Chapters 14-17, Chapters 18-21
15 words 70 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. manifest
    reveal its presence or make an appearance
    It’s the same deal for any place sitting on a fault line, though the lingering energy manifests differently.
  2. unperturbed
    free from emotional agitation or nervous tension
    You can instantly tell the tourists from the locals based on who stops midsentence and gapes and who bites unperturbed into their biscotti so all we hear is open-mouthed crunching.
  3. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    He shakes his head, droplets flying everywhere, as she shields her face and laughs, a musical laugh I can hear over the din of conversation.
  4. nondescript
    lacking distinct or individual characteristics
    Sometimes faces are difficult to describe because they’re nondescript.
  5. careen
    move at high speed and in an uncontrolled way
    As we careen down Main Street, I decide to save my burrito for when I’m less at risk of losing it to the floor and pretend not to hold on for dear life while pumping an imaginary brake.
  6. rueful
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow
    Ella glances at me, a rueful smile curving her lips.
  7. mottled
    having spots or patches of color
    Fingers, dirty, white, mottled with purple, inch over his shoulder.
  8. imposing
    impressive in appearance
    He’ll stand out in the rain, tall and imposing, and unafraid.
  9. bout
    a period of indeterminate length marked by some condition
    Bouts of tremors come and go.
  10. spry
    moving quickly and lightly
    Each stair creaks as the intruder takes slow, careful steps down. Too coordinated to be a zombie, but ax murderers are probably quite spry.
  11. bode
    indicate by signs
    That doesn’t bode well for me when I’m out there trying to avoid zombies.
  12. elfin
    small and delicate
    Ella and Zora with their matching elfin beauty both grin too widely for their faces.
  13. renege
    fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
    “I require a coupon so you don’t renege.”
  14. ephemeral
    lasting a very short time
    “Magic is meant to be ephemeral, flitting from person to person.…”
  15. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    He gingerly cups his cheekbone, scowling at me.
Created on Fri Dec 05 06:44:51 EST 2025 (updated Thu Jan 08 15:59:00 EST 2026)

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.