A String in the Harp: Chapters 1–2

by Nancy Bond
The Morgan family reunites in Wales for Christmas while still mourning the mother's sudden death a year ago. Inclement weather, uncomfortable accommodations, and strained relationships threaten the family's holiday, until the Morgans must work together to protect a valuable artifact — a harp key with unique properties.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–19
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. painstaking
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
    All had gone according to Aunt Beth’s painstaking plans.
  2. illegible
    unable to be read
    She thought again of the round dining room table in Amherst covered with maps, schedules, an atlas, endless pieces of paper and pencils, the paper filled with Aunt Beth’s neat but illegible writing: times and flight numbers, lists of clothing, emergency information, names and addresses.
  3. bracken
    large coarse fern often several feet high
    They were among the mountains now, the train following a valley between the great, stone-ribbed humps, patched with dead, rust-colored bracken.
  4. sketchy
    giving only major points; lacking completeness
    And David had dutifully sent the invitation in one of his regular letters, those letters full of a determined cheerfulness and almost nothing else. They gave away very little. Jen realized what a sketchy preparation she’d had for Borth.
  5. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
    Peter stayed aloof and continued to feel strange.
  6. causeway
    a road that is raised above water, marshland, or sand
    Peter climbed among them and gradually something peculiar about the rocks filtered through his mind. They hadn’t been dropped at random at all: they ran out into the sea in a straight line. They must be a neglected causeway or a breakwater.
  7. imperceptibly
    in a manner that is difficult to discern
    The Key was warm in his hand, and after a few minutes he could feel it begin to vibrate almost imperceptibly with sound.
  8. cadence
    the rhythmic rise and fall of the voice
    Voices rose and fell in Welsh cadence, weaving together in patterns of rhythm that hung on the air.
  9. prepossessing
    creating a favorable impression
    The village wasn’t very prepossessing, even Becky had to admit.
  10. derelict
    forsaken by owner or inhabitants
    More than half the buildings were blank and empty, shut up for the winter, looking derelict.
  11. estuary
    the wide part of a river where it nears the sea
    He managed to look straight at Jen this time. “It’s good birding up at the estuary. Are you interested?”
  12. persist
    refuse to stop
    “But if it’s any kind of a bog why don’t things sink into it, like in quicksand?” Peter persisted.
  13. morbid
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
    “They do, on parts of it. Every now and again someone loses a cow. But it’s safe if you know where to walk.”
    “Unlimited possibilities.” Peter grinned ghoulishly.
    “What a morbid conversation!” Jen said.
  14. ruefully
    in a manner expressing pain or sorrow
    Ruefully David shook his head. “I’ve got far too much work to do right now to go on expeditions.”
  15. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    “All right, then.” Peter’s face hardened, became impassive. “Do what you want, but don’t count on me for anything.”
Created on Tue Feb 17 19:50:41 EST 2026 (updated Tue Jun 30 13:46:18 EDT 2026)

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