Keeping Pace: Chapters 8–13

by Laurie Morrison
In this novel, eighth grader Gracie gets beat by her former friend and rival at an important goal, and she decides to spend the summer after her middle school graduation training for a half-marathon to get back at him.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1-7, Chapters 8-13, Chapters 14-19, Chapters 20-26, Chapters 27-34
15 words 27 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. audition
    a test of the suitability of a performer
    So this is some kind of audition? Suddenly, I feel underprepared.
  2. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    I bristle a little.
  3. chaperone
    one who accompanies and supervises young people
    Those Baby-Sitters Club girls didn’t need a chaperone.
  4. transition
    a change from one place or state or subject to another
    “Transitions aren’t easy for him, and his old babysitter left out of nowhere. I worry, that’s all.”
  5. motivational
    of or serving to provide incentive or stimulus to action
    I look around the room desperately, as if whatever person came up with the quotes on those motivational posters might show up and tell me what to do.
  6. initiative
    readiness to embark on bold new ventures
    “Take some initiative? Be proactive!”
  7. supplemental
    functioning in a supporting capacity
    “One of them might even write you a supplemental recommendation for college, if you make a good enough impression,” Dad adds.
  8. bound
    move forward by leaping
    She pops the last mini muffin into her mouth and bounds out the door and across the yard.
  9. welt
    a raised mark on the skin
    "I’m covered in mosquito bites!"
    Sure enough, there are red welts all down Avery’s shins, but even as she scratches one, she seems delighted it’s there.
  10. compromise
    a middle way between two extremes
    When Brie picks me up for babysitting the next Tuesday, she says she’s figured out a compromise.
  11. flail
    thrash about
    I pick Teddy up, which is easier said than done since he’s kicking and flailing, and when I finally set him down over near the swings, he starts to run.
  12. alcove
    a small recess opening off a large room or garden
    She pulls a few books off the shelves and hands them to Teddy, and then she leads us to an alcove with a rainbow shag rug on the ground and plastic bins on shelves.
  13. elective
    a course that the student can select from among alternatives
    Erica Shah. I think she’s one of the honors English teachers at the high school. Celia’s friend Amber was super excited to get into her elective.
  14. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
    He lifts the bottom of his shirt to wipe off the water that’s dripped down his chin, and I look away because it feels too intimate to see the bottom of his freckled stomach.
  15. croon
    sing softly
    He starts crooning, “Caterpillar, caterpillar, can you find my caterpillar?”
Created on Tue Dec 30 07:03:42 EST 2025 (updated Tue Feb 17 15:29:38 EST 2026)

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