X: A Novel: Chapters 11–15

by Ilyasah Shabazz, Kekla Magoon
Cowritten by one of Malcolm X's daughters, this novel presents a fictionalized account of the activist's troubled youth.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–10, Chapters 11–15, Chapters 16–21, Chapters 22–27

Here is a link to our lists for Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson.

Here are links to our lists for other works by Kekla Magoon: The Season of Styx Malone, The Rock and the River.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. prim
    affectedly dainty or refined
    The kind who put on a certain face to go out, a prim and proper
    mask.
  2. affected
    speaking or behaving artificially to make an impression
    She seems different from the others, less affected.
  3. gist
    the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
    He says something under his breath to me, and I don’t totally catch it, but I sure get the gist.
  4. gush
    praise enthusiastically
    “I’m so looking forward to college,” she gushes.
  5. quad
    a rectangular area surrounded on all sides by buildings
    “Sounds like you have it all planned.” I could see it. Laura and all her books, striding across the quad with her curls bouncing.
  6. coy
    affectedly shy especially in a playful or provocative way
    She tips her cheek up, playing coy.
  7. lightweight
    weighing relatively little compared with another item
    She’s tiny and lightweight, and touching her like this wakes my whole body.
  8. whim
    an odd or fanciful or capricious idea
    I take the map over to the bed but, on a whim, return to the closet and pull that old green jacket off the hanger.
  9. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    I don’t like the thought of Laura at Spelman in Atlanta. That’s Deep South. Ella’s family came up from the Deep South, and she makes it sound like that, like it comes with capital letters. Ominous.
  10. clueless
    totally uninformed about what is going on
    Hilda especially will want to know I’m not entirely clueless when it comes to matters of romance.
  11. impress
    have a positive impact on
    It takes a bit more to impress me now.
  12. stole
    a wide shawl or scarf worn around the shoulders
    She hands me her ticket, and I retrieve a stylish fur stole.
  13. notch
    a small cut
    Every minute spent in Sophia’s company, my stock ticks up a couple notches.
  14. squire
    attend upon as an escort; accompany
    I squire Sophia everywhere I can.
  15. cringe
    draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
    The idea of walking back onto a dance floor alone makes me cringe.
  16. fluke
    a stroke of luck
    I’m desperate to know where she’s gone, if it was all just a fluke.
  17. locket
    a small ornamental case usually worn on a necklace
    I’m fingering a smooth golden locket.
  18. dainty
    affectedly refined
    Not much to it, really. Very lightweight. Dainty, you might even say. Not the sort of thing that would bog you down.
  19. bog
    cause to slow down or get stuck
    Not much to it, really. Very lightweight. Dainty, you might even say. Not the sort of thing that would bog you down.
  20. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    I conceal my cringe behind what I hope is a wry smile.
  21. shenanigan
    reckless or malicious behavior that causes annoyance
    I’m thinking about all the shenanigans Philbert and I used to pull back in Lansing.
  22. goodwill
    a disposition to kindness and compassion
    “Let me find Sophia and see if I can buy me some goodwill.”
  23. brazen
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
    Philbert always wanted to go in, all brazen, and just take stuff.
  24. sultry
    attractive and suggesting hidden passion
    “Hi, baby. It’s me.”
    “Red,” she says, low and sultry. “Take me dancing?”
    My heart exults. I try to play it cool. “Sure, baby.”
  25. exult
    feel extreme happiness or elation
    “Hi, baby. It’s me.”
    “Red,” she says, low and sultry. “Take me dancing?”
    My heart exults. I try to play it cool. “Sure, baby.”
  26. rut
    a groove or furrow
    I pace a rut in the living room, near the front window, watching for Sophia’s headlights.
  27. impasse
    a situation in which no progress can be made
    I already know what she thinks, and I’m still wearing it. Classic impasse.
  28. premonition
    a feeling of evil to come
    I’ve got a cold premonition that I know what’s waiting for me inside.
  29. admonish
    scold or reprimand; take to task
    I don’t even wait for her to admonish me.
  30. gig
    a job, especially a temporary job
    “We’re hoping to catch a gig together soon,” he explains.
  31. aerial
    existing, living, growing, or operating in the air
    All the boys from the kitchen and the servers are clustered around, listening.
    “...surprise aerial attack...uncertain at this hour how many lives were lost...”
  32. noble
    having high or elevated character
    The soldiers look noble and brave, willing to go out in the world and fight.
  33. askance
    with suspicion or disapproval
    But Sophia looks at me askance.
  34. injustice
    the practice of being unfair
    Isn’t this what he wanted—for me to turn my back on injustice by flouting the laws created for us blacks, no matter what might happen?
  35. flout
    treat with contemptuous disregard
    Isn’t this what he wanted—for me to turn my back on injustice by flouting the laws created for us blacks, no matter what might happen?
  36. earful
    a severe scolding
    If I run around to Ella’s place, to grab some dinner or whatever, all I get is an earful of what I should be doing differently with my life.
  37. spar
    a practice bout, as in boxing or fighting
    We sparred as we jogged up the lane.
  38. static
    crackling or hissing noise caused by electrical interference
    The static blipped and focused as the stations turned.
  39. jab
    a quick short straight punch
    Every punch, every jab, every time those gloves connected, it felt like we had thrown the punch ourselves.
  40. croon
    sing softly
    “I miss you, baby,” she croons.
Created on Thu Dec 07 19:50:39 EST 2017 (updated Thu Apr 25 10:08:27 EDT 2019)

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