"Allegedly" by Tiffany D. Jackson, Chapters 15–18

When Mary Addison was nine years old, she allegedly killed a child in her mother's care. But is Mary really guilty of the crime of which she was convicted? Read this gritty, suspenseful novel to find out.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1, Chapters 2–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–14, Chapters 15–18
30 words 21 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bearing
    relevant relation or interconnection
    Producers say the outcome of the case will have no bearing on the adaptation.
  2. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    That’s when I notice his sneakers on the floor in the corner, hiding behind the sink. The new ones, under a black duffel bag next to a pile of sheets and blankets, a makeshift bed.
  3. upstanding
    meriting respect or esteem
    She's an upstanding citizen, member of her church, with an impeccable record.
  4. impeccable
    without error or flaw
    She's an upstanding citizen, member of her church, with an impeccable record.
  5. absolve
    excuse or free from blame
    She would like to be completely absolved from this matter once and for all.
  6. tangible
    perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
    “You know, that key piece of evidence, something that puts one hundred percent of the blame on your mother. Physical, tangible, direct, scientific evidence.”
  7. corroborate
    support with evidence or authority or make more certain
    “But I don’t want you to worry. Your story is key here. It corroborates the autopsy and evidence. So let’s not worry about that for now.”
  8. autopsy
    an examination and dissection of a dead body
    “But I don’t want you to worry. Your story is key here. It corroborates the autopsy and evidence. So let’s not worry about that for now.”
  9. dilate
    become wider
    A nurse wheels out the woman from 408. Eyes wide, pupils dilated, hunched over in her chair, drool slipping down her chin.
  10. dignity
    the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
    And this is what they do to her, make her a vegetable, taking away her dignity.
  11. relish
    derive or receive pleasure from
    I close my eyes, relishing the comfort he brings.
  12. hitch
    hook or entangle
    My breath hitches and I stumble back.
  13. groggy
    stunned or confused and slow to react
    When I wake up groggy in my nice soft fluffy hospital bed, I find my throat still sore from the screaming.
  14. appraise
    consider in a comprehensive way
    He walks over to my bed, appraising me like a car.
  15. fastidious
    giving careful attention to detail
    I claw at the newspaper beside me, opening to the first page. Winters watches like he wants to stop me, but doesn’t. I circle the word fastidious.
  16. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    “How much do you know?”
    She pauses for a moment, then puts her pen down to look at me.
    “As much as yuh told me,” she says plainly, face smooth and nonchalant.
  17. foyer
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    I hear China walk into the foyer.
  18. badger
    annoy persistently
    We ignore it until it becomes a badgering knock.
  19. layman
    someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
    “The prosecution is bringing up new evidence, which could, in layman’s terms, be a problem.”
  20. audacity
    aggressive or outright boldness
    Her head nods nonstop, as if it’s the best idea in the world, which makes me think this is what she had in mind all along. To take my baby, to start all over again. Another SAT word pops into my head: audacity.
  21. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    Momma straightens, bravely remembering who the parent and the child is. Or who she thinks the parent and the child is, because she was always too oblivious to be the parent.
  22. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
    This is where our assessments fail, as we may never know the dynamics of their relationship past what is reported and analyzed.
  23. perky
    characterized by liveliness and lightheartedness
    “Today, I want to talk to you guys about letting go and grief,” the perky little Staten Island trash says.
  24. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
    Forgiveness is the ability to let go of the pain, bitterness, and resentment of others, and most importantly ourselves.
  25. profound
    showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
    That is the most profound thing she has ever said, ever.
  26. bluff
    pretense that your position is stronger than it really is
    She looks right through me, like I was made of glass, and calls my bluff.
  27. grim
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    She knows our future is grim.
  28. accusatory
    containing or expressing blame
    Her tone is a bit accusatory, but it doesn’t bother me.
  29. manifest
    reveal its presence or make an appearance
    Her coping mechanism manifested into blackouts, periods of intense rage, and memory suppression.
  30. suppression
    the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or desires
    Her coping mechanism manifested into blackouts, periods of intense rage, and memory suppression.
Created on Tue Jun 19 15:45:58 EDT 2018 (updated Mon Aug 12 10:01:07 EDT 2019)

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