Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear: Chapters 18–21

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 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    “Tell me,” Ford coaxes.
  2. amenable
    disposed or willing to comply
    “Hypothetically, if I were to tell Sid Spencer we’re letting a zombie eat you alive, would she be amenable to our requests?”
  3. interrogation
    an instance of questioning
    There’s no time to explain everything, but I’m guessing she heard enough of the interrogation to know what’s at stake.
  4. expanse
    a wide and open space or area, as of land, sea, or sky
    I see Nell across the expanse of grass, waving for us to follow her.
  5. resolute
    firm in purpose or belief
    “We stay together,” Brian says, resolute.
  6. copse
    a dense growth of trees, shrubs, or bushes
    But she’s already on her belly when the ray of light sweeps toward us, sawing straight through a copse of trees as the air sizzles and pops.
  7. barrage
    an overwhelming or vigorous outpouring
    A barrage of glistening droplets shower down like arrows.
  8. inexorable
    impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
    Ford chokes, coughing, gurgling on bile and saliva, struggling against the inexorable pull as Brian summons the Key from inside him.
  9. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
    “Try not to die,” she says. But not in the flippant way she said it once before.
  10. debilitating
    impairing strength and vitality
    The exhaustion that comes with Brian’s power is less debilitating and more of a constant pressure, like moving against a current.
  11. impasse
    a situation in which no progress can be made
    He flinches. I struck a nerve. But he doesn’t respond to the question. “It appears we are at an impasse,” he says instead.
  12. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
    A force field materializes between Ford and me, shimmering, thin as a bubble, but as impervious as he is.
  13. debrief
    elicit a report from someone about a mission, job, or event
    “You’re nicer than the military guy who debriefed me. I think he was military… I don’t know who he was, to be honest.”
  14. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    The graves are covered in pungent dark soil because the grass hasn’t had time to grow yet.
  15. emanate
    proceed or issue forth, as from a source
    Out in the yard, snowflakes drift in the soft glow emanating from the windows.
Created on Fri Dec 05 06:45:58 EST 2025 (updated Thu Jan 08 17:32:13 EST 2026)

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