Red Flags and Butterflies: Chapters 1–7

by Sheryl Azzam
Tenth-grader Lexie is applying to a fine arts high school, but her unsupportive father and a confusing new relationship leave her searching for a way to make everyone else happy at the cost of her own dreams.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–16, Chapters 17–22, Chapters 23–31, Chapters 32–41
15 words 42 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. peeve
    cause to be annoyed, irritated, or resentful
    “Coach will be peeved if you don’t know the drill when we get in the pool.”
  2. prestigious
    having an excellent reputation; respected
    “It’s one of the most prestigious programs around.”
  3. relinquish
    release, as from one's grip
    The ice had barely relinquished its grip on the water when I saw it moored on its side, hidden in the reeds, covered in a layer of green slime.
  4. rationalize
    defend, explain, or make excuses for by reasoning
    The ones stamped with third and final notice I labeled with bright yellow Post-it flags and filed them on top, leaving the most recent and by virtue of that, I rationalized, less important at the back.
  5. queasy
    causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
    Shoving away the queasy feeling that’s creeping into my gut, I slip my weekend essentials into my backpack along with my Moleskine sketchbook, my drawing pencils, and my chemistry textbook.
  6. engrossed
    giving or marked by complete attention to
    He and Jonah are so engrossed in their conversation, he doesn’t even look back to say hello.
  7. incredulity
    doubt about the truth of something
    Jonah freezes, a look of incredulity on his face.
  8. simultaneously
    at the same instant
    I dig my fingernails into my palms, simultaneously punishing myself for my cowardice while also urging myself to just do it already.
  9. necessitate
    require as useful, just, or proper
    That’s the part of the project that necessitates working slowly and methodically, like how I like to approach a new sketch or painting.
  10. precariously
    in a manner affording no ease or reassurance
    His grin turned smug, perching precariously on his lips like it might fall off.
  11. lethargic
    deficient in alertness or activity
    A lethargic ding signals my arrival on the fifth floor.
  12. dollop
    a soft lump or portion of something, especially food
    Zara hands us each a paper plate loaded with a skewer of chicken, a few triangles of pita (crackers for me), lettuce, dill pickles, and pickled turnip, and of course, a generous dollop of sauce.
  13. harebrained
    very foolish
    “I will not be setting a single toe in any one of those harebrained death traps,” Zara says.
  14. defunct
    no longer in force or use; inactive
    We clean off the workbench, hang tools back in their proper place on the pegboard, return power tools to the tool cabinet, empty the bins stored underneath the workbench, file defunct engine parts and offcuts of wood in the garbage, and untangle and hang masses of rope and extension cords.
  15. assess
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
    Nate and I are more than ready to call it a day when Zara decides to climb the ladder to assess the stuff stored in racks above the workbench.
Created on Wed Feb 25 08:35:00 EST 2026 (updated Fri Mar 20 17:08:30 EDT 2026)

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