Wishtree: Chapters 43–51

by Katherine Applegate
The narrator of this novel is Red, an oak tree on which people hang their wishes every year. When Samar, a new girl in the neighborhood, faces bullying and intolerance, Red attempts to rally the local animals and intervene.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–18, Chapters 19–30, Chapters 31–42, Chapters 43–51

Here are links to our lists for other works by Katherine Applegate: Home of the Brave, Crenshaw, The One and Only Ivan
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. executioner
    an official who inflicts capital punishment
    That afternoon, I met my executioners.
  2. ominously
    in a manner suggesting something bad will happen
    When a truck carrying powerful chainsaws, along with something ominously called a stump grinder, shows up, well, you know you’re in trouble.
  3. prune
    cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
    We need our limbs trimmed just the way you need to cut your fingernails and hair, although for us it’s only once or twice a year, and it’s called pruning.
  4. elegant
    refined and tasteful in appearance, behavior, or style
    I always feel especially elegant after a good pruning.
  5. shear
    a large cutting tool with strong blades
    But pruning is usually done with special shears that look like giant scissors or with a small saw on a long pole.
  6. timber
    the wood of trees prepared for use as building material
    It didn’t help when three men wearing orange hard hats went to Francesca’s door and announced they were from Timber Terminators Tree Service.
  7. trait
    a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
    “Because,” Stephen said, panting, “it’s alive.''
    “I’m quite aware of that,” Francesca said. “It’s a common trait of trees.”
  8. addle
    mix up or confuse
    “Children,” she said, “perhaps those video games you like to play have addled your brains.”
  9. metaphorical
    expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another
    “You mean metaphorically of course. The tree seemed to talk to you. The leaves whispered and so on.”
  10. elude
    escape, either physically or mentally
    Unfortunately, that night rest eluded me.
  11. contemplation
    a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
    I wanted to indulge in some quiet contemplation about life and love and what it all meant.
  12. nuzzle
    gently rub or push one's nose or face against something
    One by one, they nuzzled me, whispering their good-byes.
  13. bitter
    expressive of severe grief or regret
    Bongo, for her part, insisted on staying with me to the bitter end.
  14. doom
    make certain of the failure or destruction of
    They also talked about me, the doomed wishtree.
    I didn’t like the word “doomed.”
    But I had to admit it was accurate reporting.
  15. accurate
    characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth
    They also talked about me, the doomed wishtree.
    I didn’t like the word “doomed.”
    But I had to admit it was accurate reporting.
  16. deluge
    an overwhelming number or amount
    At first, people came in small groups, or one by one. But then something changed. The trickle of people became a deluge.
  17. laden
    filled with a great quantity
    My boughs had never been more laden.
  18. megaphone
    a cone-shaped acoustic device to amplify the human voice
    Dave had a megaphone, and through it he reminded the crowd to stay behind the barriers that had been erected.
  19. erect
    construct or build
    Dave had a megaphone, and through it he reminded the crowd to stay behind the barriers that had been erected.
  20. urgent
    compelling immediate action
    “Please, Bongo,” I said, softly but urgently.
  21. intense
    possessing a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
    Instead, a small but intense sound filled the air, something like a puppy growl mixed with a kitten hiss.
  22. massive
    imposing in size or bulk or solidity
    Darting through the huge crowd, across the muddy lawn, past Dave and his crew, around the massive saw, beneath the stump grinder, and finally, triumphantly up my trunk, was none other than Flashlight.
  23. triumphant
    joyful and proud especially because of success
    Darting through the huge crowd, across the muddy lawn, past Dave and his crew, around the massive saw, beneath the stump grinder, and finally, triumphantly up my trunk, was none other than Flashlight.
  24. brood
    the young of an animal cared for at one time
    Agnes and the rest of her brood followed.
  25. clamber
    climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    They ran straight to me, clambering up my trunk to join the gang.
  26. various
    of many different kinds lacking any uniformity
    Seven opossums, four raccoons, five owls, and six skunks had waddled, scooted, dashed, and fluttered from their various homes, just to see me off.
  27. strain
    exert much effort or energy
    Francesca, straining to get a look, accidentally let go of the kittens’ leashes, allowing Lewis and Clark to escape.
  28. circumstance
    the set of facts that surround a situation or event
    “Should I be afraid of a cat?”
    “As a rule, yes,” said Agnes. “But this is a special circumstance.”
  29. fascinated
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    They gazed down calmly at the fascinated crowd below.
  30. barricade
    a barrier set up by police to stop traffic on a street
    Ignoring the barricades, the reporters dashed over, microphones extended, as if they were hoping to interview the animals.
  31. menagerie
    a collection of live animals for study or display
    “What is up with the menagerie, lady? How are we supposed to cut this tree down?”
  32. frayed
    worn away or tattered along the edges
    It was a strip of cloth made of blue-striped fabric, frayed and faded.
  33. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    But a couple of weeks ago, I saw him sauntering by.
  34. heritage
    that which is inherited
    Francesca applied to the city to make me a “heritage tree.” That means I’m protected forever.
  35. basis
    a relation that provides the foundation for something
    She’s also on a first-name basis with a local plumber, who’s learning to deal with my pushy roots.
Created on Sat Jun 23 17:32:20 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Sep 06 14:52:21 EDT 2018)

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