Leah on the Offbeat: Chapters 12-16

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.
35 words 22 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
    Simon looks exasperated, but Nora just shrugs.
  2. foolproof
    not liable to failure
    It’s a foolproof question—Simon loves being needed.
  3. sage
    having wisdom that comes with experience
    “Diarrhea,” Simon says, nodding sagely. He glances down at the guitar case. “What do I do with this?”
  4. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    “We could drop it off in the music room,” I say with the most casual shrug I can muster.
  5. revelation
    an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
    And it’s a revelation. Abby and the guys wag their fingers and throw their arms up, letting them shimmy down slowly—while Bram flawlessly lip-synchs into the hairbrush, a single word centered boldly on his chest in black stick-on letters.
  6. corsage
    an arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a present
    And Nick and Abby are back to their obnoxiously happy normal, holding hands in English class and discussing corsages over lunch.
  7. loom
    hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    It’s like a looming apocalypse, but with formal wear.
  8. cliche
    a trite or obvious remark
    I’m an actual high school cliché.
  9. mortify
    cause to feel shame
    Mortifying...but at least it would clarify things.
  10. suspend
    stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it
    “It's this night where all the usual drama gets suspended. Everyone looks different. And everyone’s a little more generous with each other.”
  11. euphemism
    an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
    I remember she paused after she said that, and for one horrible moment, I thought that might be a euphemism.
  12. blase
    nonchalantly unconcerned
    But then Mom added softly, “I remember the feeling like it was okay to care. To not be so blasé. There’s something really earnest about school dances.”
  13. default
    an option that is selected automatically
    But maybe prom is romantic by default.
  14. attune
    adjust or accustom to; bring into harmony with
    I don’t think I’ve ever met a person so nervously attuned to conflict.
  15. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    Garrett, on the other hand, is perfectly oblivious.
  16. venue
    the scene of any event or action
    “Maybe something near the venue?”
  17. bodice
    part of a dress above the waist
    My hand grazes a dress—intricately beaded bodice, voluminous taffeta skirt.
  18. chiffon
    a sheer fabric of silk or rayon
    I’m already rolling my eyes as I wrestle myself into a purple chiffon nightmare.
  19. matron
    a married woman who is staid and dignified
    But the dress itself is a steaming piece of matronly garbage, and I’m not showing up at prom looking like someone’s grandma.
  20. tulle
    a fine fabric net used for veils, tutus, or gowns
    It's sort of fitted, with a sweetheart neckline, and I guess the skirt is really an A-line, but there’s a layer of white tulle underneath.
  21. moot
    of no legal significance, as having been previously decided
    “So, are you still going on your college tour, or is that kind of moot now?”
  22. daze
    overcome as with astonishment or disbelief
    I nod, feeling dazed.
  23. reclaim
    reassert one's right or title to
    Abby Suso is singlehandedly reclaiming eye crinkles for our generation.
  24. exemption
    immunity from an obligation or duty
    I should have gotten a doctor’s exemption.
  25. converse
    carry on a discussion
    Thank God this girl could converse with a rock, because my brain isn’t working.
  26. infuse
    fill, as with a certain quality
    They’re the classiest jellies I’ve ever seen—crosshatched, clear ballet flats, infused with silver glitter.
  27. rain check
    a promise that an offer will be renewed in the future
    “What do you want to do? Should we just take a rain check?”
  28. crestfallen
    brought low in spirit
    Taylor looks crestfallen.
  29. braggadocio
    vain and empty boasting
    He had that particular kind of nerdy-boy swagger, that back-and-forth between braggadocio and wonder.
  30. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
    “I mean, Abby’s like, oh, it’s amicable, we’re still friends, et cetera, you know,” Simon says.
  31. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
    I knew she would do that. Which is why I spent all weekend clearing piles of clothes and papers out of the living room, piling everything into my closet in one giant, precarious stack.
  32. crest
    in medieval times, an emblem used to decorate a helmet
    “I’m finally reading that,” Abby says, pointing to the Slytherin crest.
  33. immaculate
    completely neat and clean
    I always expect everyone else’s lives to be immaculate.
  34. banter
    light teasing repartee
    ...banter wasn’t even in the realm of possibility.
  35. tableau
    a group of people attractively arranged
    Now I’m picturing my own family as a sticker tableau.
Created on Wed May 23 15:00:16 EDT 2018 (updated Wed May 23 15:27:11 EDT 2018)

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