The Liars Society: Chapters 9–17

by Alyson Gerber
Are there, in life, some lies or secrets that are impossible to overcome? Both Weatherby and Jack — prestigious Boston School middle schoolers, but from very different backgrounds — must work together to solve a mystery that forces them to face the lies and secrets in their own lives.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–8, Chapters 9–17, Chapters 18–25, Chapters 26–34
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. gawk
    look with amazement
    My eyes stray out the window and I can’t help but gawk at the beautiful horses trotting around a perfectly manicured polo field.
  2. shorthand
    a method of writing rapidly
    I knew the note wasn’t for me, but technically I’m Charles Hunt too, so I took the letter. I couldn’t help myself, especially after I saw T > T/T > T, shorthand for the Last Heir oath, scrawled on the envelope.
  3. deadpan
    without betraying any feeling
    Chief Roberts taps his pen. “Do you consider your brother an enemy?”
    I hold my breath.
    “I don’t consider my brother at all,” Dad says, deadpan.
  4. exclusive
    admitting or accepting only a particular group
    "This invitation is only for you. An exclusive game for a select few."
  5. magnate
    a very wealthy or powerful businessperson
    “Last Heir is a secret society for world leaders, magnates, and royalty.”
  6. pathological
    caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition
    “Yates is pathological. He lies about everything. He’ll do whatever he can to mess with Dad.”
  7. tiller
    lever used to turn the rudder on a boat
    Without thinking, I instinctively start to talk, telling Jack the story of what I’m seeing, while he fiddles with the tiller in his hand.
  8. ominously
    in a manner suggesting something bad will happen
    I go back outside, but I don’t see Coach Greenleaf or Coach Davis anywhere. Even with my heart beating hard in my ears, the dock is ominously quiet.
  9. commonwealth
    a politically organized body of people under a government
    “The walkway leading to the home of a student who attends the Boston School, the oldest prep school in the Commonwealth and the country, was graffitied with the words:
    “ ‘Liar, liar, Harper’s pants on fire.’ ”
  10. scandal
    a disgraceful event
    “This is the second scandal for the local prep school, which just last week had $250,000 stolen from a discretionary fund in their endowment.”
  11. discretionary
    not earmarked; available for use as needed
    “This is the second scandal for the local prep school, which just last week had $250,000 stolen from a discretionary fund in their endowment.”
  12. endowment
    the capital that provides income for an institution
    “This is the second scandal for the local prep school, which just last week had $250,000 stolen from a discretionary fund in their endowment.”
  13. beady
    small, round, and shiny
    When his beady brown eyes lock on mine, fear tugs at my chest.
  14. relevant
    having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
    “I don’t see how that’s relevant,” Dad cuts in.
  15. pull strings
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously
    I bet Last Heir pulls all kinds of strings for society members. If I play and win, I’ll be one of them, they’ll pull strings for me, and I’ll get to stay at Boston no matter what.
Created on Thu Jun 25 13:12:15 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Jun 30 15:23:33 EDT 2026)

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