Firegirl: Chapters 7–12
Seventh-grader Tom Bender has a life-changing experience when Jessica, a transferring student joins his class. Despite Jessica's arresting appearance, having been badly burned in a car fire, Tom begins a tentative friendship with her.
Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–12, Chapters 13–20
15 words
44 learners
Learn words with Flashcards and other activities
Definition First
Other learning activities
Full list of words from this list:
-
rummage
search haphazardlyHe was already across the room, pulling the top box off a stack of cartons in the corner and rummaging in the one under it.
-
acrid
strong and sharp, as a taste or smellFlames wrapped around it, curling from the top to its underside, then going higher and filling the air with acrid, black smoke.
-
mocking
playfully vexing, especially by ridicule“Ahhh!” Jeff yelled in a mocking way.
-
crusader
someone who pushes to improve something by changing it“The caped crusader is trying to escape, but he can’t!”
-
dynamic
characterized by action or forcefulness of personalityI sprayed the car. “I am The Spitter, helper of the dynamic duo!” I said, doing some stupid accent that made it sound like “Zee Spittaire!”
-
graft
the act of transplanting something onto something else“Jessica just finished undergoing some skin grafts,” she said to Darlene’s mother as I put my lunch in my locker. “Some more grafts,” she added. “She’s had quite a few already.”
-
matted
tangled in a dense massI discovered that if you didn’t see the edge of her face or her hand or arm lying on the desk, she looked almost like any girl with dirty hair. It was sort of crushed and matted in the back.
-
wince
make a face indicating disgust or dislikeJessica’s face came to me again and I must have begun to wince or something because Rich laughed and pointed at me.
-
candidate
a politician who is running for public office“Before we start social studies,” Mrs. Tracy said, “Sister Margaret Christopher has suggested that the classes join in a special prayer for all the candidates in the real elections this year. A prayer that they may make the right decisions and will guide us and help us lead safe and prosperous lives in our state and our country. All the grades are doing it. So, hands, everyone.”
-
prosperous
marked by peace and success“Before we start social studies,” Mrs. Tracy said, “Sister Margaret Christopher has suggested that the classes join in a special prayer for all the candidates in the real elections this year. A prayer that they may make the right decisions and will guide us and help us lead safe and prosperous lives in our state and our country. All the grades are doing it. So, hands, everyone.”
-
contagious
(of disease) capable of being spread by infection“It’s not like she’s contagious or anything —”
-
flowchart
a diagram showing a sequence of operations or a progressionTalking the whole time, Samantha Embriano and Kayla tacked their extra-credit poster project about primaries to the bulletin board. It was drawn with lots of different colored markers. Right after them, Darlene marched up with a better one, a flowchart with little orange Halloween lights fitted through the poster board.
-
slogan
a favorite saying of a sect or political groupA Vote for TOM is a Vote for TOMorrow!
I didn’t like the slogan. I didn’t like it because I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant. -
practically
for almost all actual purposes but not completelyKayla stopped me, practically lunging at my hand and stopping it. “Oh, my gosh,” she whispered. “Is that her?”
-
inaudible
impossible to hear; imperceptible by the earThe words were almost inaudible, but it felt as if all the air was pulled out of me when she said them.
Created on Sat Jan 31 21:22:57 EST 2026
(updated Tue Feb 10 14:50:25 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.