Leah on the Offbeat: Chapters 1-5

by Becky Albertalli
In this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda, Leah Burke navigates difficulties during her senior year: her mom's new relationship, college admissions, tensions among her friends, and a painful crush.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1-5, Chapters 6-11, Chapters 12-16, Chapters 17-26, Chapters 27-35

Here is a link to our lists for Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. snare
    a small drum with wires stretched across the lower head
    I give a little tap on the snare for emphasis.
  2. implausible
    having a quality that provokes disbelief
    “It’s not about whether they’re hopeful. It’s about the gross implausibility of a midnight train going, quote unquote, anywhere.”
  3. concede
    admit or acknowledge, often reluctantly
    “I guess we shouldn’t add anything new until Taylor and Nora are back,” Morgan concedes.
  4. lurch
    move haltingly and unsteadily
    The boys are lurching. I don’t know any other way to describe it.
  5. sidle
    move sideways
    Nora sidles up to me.
  6. guffaw
    laugh boisterously
    At one point, Ms. Albright actually guffaws.
  7. unsolicited
    not asked for
    There’s no Wi-Fi in here, so I’m stuck listening to Ms. Albright’s notes, followed by an unsolicited ten-minute monologue from Taylor Metternich about losing yourself and becoming your character.
  8. audacious
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
    Honestly, it’s pretty hard to piss Abby off, but Martin does it just by existing. And by going out of his way to talk to Simon, like last year didn’t happen. It’s so...audacious.
  9. dictate
    determine, order, or control how something is done
    Not that I get to dictate who Simon talks to.
  10. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    Maybe I look kind of surly.
  11. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    Nick looks a little wistful, and I really do get it.
  12. dapper
    marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
    It was a dapper tie, Bram writes.
  13. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
    No joke: Simon once called her the quintessential sexy mom.
  14. aback
    by surprise
    Bram looks taken aback.
  15. snippet
    a small piece of anything
    She whips out these little snippets of random information, just to show off what an Involved Mom she is.
  16. pathological
    caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition
    I mean, I do sort of tell my mom everything, to a degree that’s almost pathological.
  17. clerical
    of or relating to clerks
    We are writing to notify you that your acceptance to the University of Georgia Honors Program was, in fact, a clerical error.
  18. incredulously
    in a disbelieving manner
    “I really do think you should sign up for this, though. Let me just sort things out with work, and we can make a whole day of it. And actually, Wells has family in Athens, so—”
    I laugh incredulously.
  19. heckle
    challenge aggressively
    I want to get there early to claim a seat in the front, where I can heckle Simon and Nick.
  20. rake
    move through with or as if with a a long-handled tool
    She rakes a hand through her curls.
  21. brisk
    quick and energetic
    She starts walking, briskly, which is so unlike her.
  22. appraise
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
    She stops short, appraising me.
  23. earnest
    devout or heartfelt
    I don’t exactly walk around giving little earnest speeches about how deeply and sincerely I appreciate my friends.
  24. overture
    orchestral music at the beginning of an opera or musical
    “Simeon,” he corrects. And the overture starts to rise.
  25. atrium
    the central area in a building, open to the sky
    By now, Simon and the rest of the cast are holed up in the dressing rooms, so I say good-bye to Nora and follow Bram out through the atrium.
  26. emphatic
    forceful and definite in expression or action
    Anna’s sitting on the ledge by the carpool circle, and Garrett's gesturing emphatically to Morgan.
  27. endearing
    lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
    But it’s cute and surprising and weirdly endearing, and now I’m thinking about the fact that Garrett plays piano.
  28. dub
    provide (movies) with translated dialogue and narration
    Morgan likes dubbed anime, which is basically blasphemy, and Anna once described Chiba Mamoru as “barely attractive.”
  29. blasphemy
    the act of depriving something of its sacred character
    Morgan likes dubbed anime, which is basically blasphemy, and Anna once described Chiba Mamoru as “barely attractive.”
  30. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
    And when Simon and Nick disappear into boyfriend-and girlfriend-land, Morgan and Anna are there to be cynical...
  31. squeamish
    easily disturbed or disgusted by unpleasant things
    But I’m sort of squeamish about the idea of getting in trouble.
  32. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    I glance back at Bram, and he smiles sheepishly.
  33. quirk
    twist or curve abruptly
    Bram blushes, mouth quirking upward.
  34. wrangle
    herd or round up
    Only Bram could wrangle a giant puffed-up marshmallow so neatly.
  35. acute
    experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
    RIP Leah Burke. She died of acute awkwardosis.
Created on Wed May 23 14:59:03 EDT 2018 (updated Wed May 23 15:18:31 EDT 2018)

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