Amina's Voice: Chapters 6-10

by Hena Khan
Amina, a Pakistani-American girl, struggles to balance her commitment to her culture with her desire to fit in. When her mosque is vandalized, Amina must finally find her voice.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1-5, Chapters 6-10, Chapters 11-18, Chapters 19-25
30 words 210 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. snicker
    laugh quietly
    Baba scowls at the black-and-white-striped referee on the television screen, shaking his head while Mustafa snickers.
  2. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    “You too,” Baba glowers.
  3. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
    I watch the commotion, safe in my favorite leather armchair, where I’m curled up with a worn copy of Life on the Oregon Trail.
  4. glamorous
    having an air of allure, romance and excitement
    Just like Stella on The Voice, I could transform from a skinny, shy girl in a plaid shirt and jeans into a glamorous star in a sequined gown.
  5. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    “What do you want us to do?” Baba asks tentatively.
  6. tarnish
    discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
    I rummage through the china cabinet in the dining room and pull out green boxes of silver serving spoons blackened with tarnish.
  7. blunt
    not sharp (used of a knife or other blade)
    Polishing silver reminds me of preschool, where I did all these random chores like sorting, scrubbing, and sewing giant buttons with a blunt needle.
  8. mince
    cut into small pieces
    Mama is a blur of activity as she minces a huge pile of onions and garlic in a mini chopper and puts a jumbo pot on the stove.
  9. obnoxious
    causing disapproval or protest
    And then Luke, always the most obnoxious kid in the class, started calling me “Hunan Express,” which Emily thought was hilarious and kept repeating over and over again.
  10. exasperation
    a feeling of annoyance
    Mustafa waves his half-eaten apple in exasperation.
  11. ferment
    cause to undergo the breakdown of sugar into alcohol
    The extra fridge is reserved for making kimchi, fermented vegetables that sit in there for weeks.
  12. cardigan
    a knitted sweater that can be fastened up the front
    I hear a floorboard squeak and see an older man in a brown cardigan shuffling into the room with his arms held behind his back.
  13. tacky
    tastelessly showy
    Will she take down those frames and decorate with a tacky mug that says Melanie on it?
  14. uncharted
    not yet surveyed or investigated
    And like the Oregon Trail, I wouldn’t have to pioneer the uncharted territory of Soojin finding Emily “not so bad.”
  15. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    Her face is flushed with excitement.
  16. allegiance
    the loyalty that citizens owe to their country
    “October twentieth—just two weeks! Hundreds of people will be there, and I think we all pledge allegiance to the flag together. I get to miss school and everything.”
  17. terminal
    station where vehicles load or unload passengers or goods
    Baba strains his neck to peer through the security exit at the arrivals terminal of Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
  18. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    A stout Latino man in a black sport coat trudges through the automatic sliding doors.
  19. grudgingly
    in a reluctant manner
    At Mama’s insistence, I’m in a velvet party dress, and even Mustafa grudgingly agreed to put on an ironed shirt and some jeans without any holes.
  20. rumple
    become wrinkled or creased
    Thaya Jaan emerges in a rumpled shirt, a white kufi pressed over his thick gray-and-white hair.
  21. gruff
    blunt and unfriendly or stern
    His voice is deep and gruffer than on the telephone, and he speaks slowly in Urdu.
  22. full-fledged
    having gained complete status
    The spread looks like what Mama puts out for a full-fledged dinner party, even though the guests are missing.
  23. jolt
    a sudden jarring impact
    I bite into my gulab jamun and am instantly hit by a jolt of sweetness.
  24. paisley
    a fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes
    The crinkly paper holds a bright blue shalwar kameez with a tiny purple paisley pattern and gold buttons.
  25. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    I also unwrap delicate bangles made out of glass, covered in newspaper with Urdu lettering on it.
  26. token
    something of sentimental value
    “Nonsense. It is just tokens. Everyone misses you and wants you to visit.”
  27. pacify
    ease the anger, agitation, or strong emotion of
    Thaya Jaan appears somewhat pacified.
  28. reverberate
    be reflected as heat, sound, or light or shock waves
    The sound rings through the room, reverberating off the walls, and echoes inside me.
  29. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    As I listen intently, I wish I could recite Arabic just like him.
  30. wilt
    become limp
    Emily pokes her fork into a baked chicken nugget that sits next to wilted green beans and an apple on her lunch tray.
Created on Thu Feb 08 16:44:42 EST 2018 (updated Thu Feb 08 16:58:50 EST 2018)

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