Red Flags and Butterflies: Chapters 8–16

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 13 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. clammy
    unpleasantly cool and humid
    My hands are a bit clammy too, which is gross.
  2. showcase
    make visible or apparent
    He grins, showcasing his solo left dimple that I didn’t notice before, and slips into the pool beside me.
  3. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
    He probably chastised one of them for helping the wrong way, so they forgot to come back to his room.
  4. manipulate
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously
    “IMy English teacher had more to say than any of us wanted to hear about how Lady Macbeth used language to manipulate Macbeth, which made me miss my regular bus.”
  5. referral
    a recommendation to consult a professional person or group
    I was sent home with a referral to see a therapist so I could learn how to manage my anxiety and identify my triggers or whatever.
  6. trivet
    a stand, often with short feet, used under a hot dish
    Zara places the still-warm dish on a trivet on the table, and uses a spatula to lift three pieces from the pan, depositing them on plates for each of us.
  7. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    A furious look dances in her eyes, but she obliges.
  8. subside
    wear off or die down
    The foaming sea sloshing in my gut subsides.
  9. renovate
    restore to a previous or better condition
    Nate and his dad get approval for the loan they need to renovate the Old Mill, and we, or rather Nate and Zara, solidify plans to host the regatta to coincide with the grand opening on Canada Day weekend.
  10. solidify
    make firm or more firm
    Nate and his dad get approval for the loan they need to renovate the OldMill, and we, or rather Nate and Zara, solidify plans to host the regatta to coincide with the grand opening on Canada Day weekend.
  11. feign
    give a false appearance of
    I copy her finger motion, feigning ignorance, even though I know what she’s talking about.
  12. implication
    a relation by virtue of involvement or close connection
    “Lexie, this has serious implications on your plans for next year.”
  13. woozy
    feeling dizzy or unsteady
    “Thanks. I haven’t eaten yet today. I feel a little woozy.”
  14. confidential
    given in secret
    “But I will remind you what I told you when I saw you the first time. Everything you tell me stays in here. Confidential."
  15. preposterous
    inviting ridicule
    The room tilts as my brain tries to piece together the preposterous idea she’s proposing.
Created on Wed Feb 25 08:35:16 EST 2026 (updated Fri Mar 20 17:15:27 EDT 2026)

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