"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, List 8

In the summer of 1968, three sisters travel to California to visit their estranged mother. While there, they learn about the fight for equality and civil rights.

This list covers "Itsy Bitsy Spider"–"San Francisco Treat."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7, List 8, List 9, List 10

Here are links to our lists for other other books by Rita Williams-Garcia: P.S. Be Eleven, Gone Crazy in Alabama, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
24 words 21 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. applause
    a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together
    Since there was no applause from Fern and me the first time around, she started up again, as zombielike as she could, to imitate the toughs standing around outside the pool hall.
  2. imitate
    reproduce someone's behavior or looks
    Since there was no applause from Fern and me the first time around, she started up again, as zombielike as she could, to imitate the toughs standing around outside the pool hall.
  3. groove
    a settled and monotonous routine that is hard to escape
    Vonetta was into a groove and couldn’t be stopped.
  4. perfectionist
    one displeased by anything that does not meet high standards
    Vonetta was a perfectionist, but only about certain things.
  5. earn
    acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
    Things that would get her noticed or earn her applause.
  6. recall
    bring to mind
    I didn’t need a flash of memory to recall Vonetta’s crying.
  7. genius
    someone who has exceptional intellectual ability
    You’d think Gwen Brooks was some sort of genius.
  8. sulk
    be in a huff and display one's displeasure
    Vonetta sulked something pitiful when Cecile told her to cut it out.
  9. solo
    any activity that is performed alone without assistance
    She fell on her fanny in the middle of her solo and was miserable for days.
  10. miserable
    very unhappy
    She fell on her fanny in the middle of her solo and was miserable for days.
  11. praise
    an expression of approval and commendation
    Usually Fd pick up Vonetta’s broken spirits until she was once again crowy and showy, but now I let her sulk after she received no praise from Cecile.
  12. insult
    a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
    Just to be evil, I rubbed it in with an insult.
  13. precious
    characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
    But your precious little girl—
  14. exaggerate
    enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
    I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said I was born knowing what to do when I sat with Cecile: Don’t cry.
  15. mute
    unable to speak
    Cecile wouldn’t have minded if I had been born deaf and mute, but Cecile was gone.
  16. crooked
    irregular in shape or outline
    If it’s crooked, it’s a waste of paper.
  17. knotty
    tangled in snarls
    When we’d come back to her house smelling like chlorine, I’d asked Cecile if I could use her hot comb to press our hair, seeing how knotty it got.
  18. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
    I told my sisters, “We’re going on an excursion.”
  19. giddy
    having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
    I was so giddy about having all of that money, I just dumped it in my shoulder bag.
  20. ramble
    move about aimlessly or without any destination
    Hirohito came rambling up to us on his homemade go-kart.
  21. budge
    move very slightly
    Vonetta and Fern folded their arms and wouldn’t budge.
  22. swerve
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
    I couldn’t say it was thrilling, how he jumped on that board thing and rolled down the hill, twisting the T left and right and then swerving it around.
  23. admire
    feel high regard for
    I couldn’t say how I admired him for not crying about his father being in prison and for trying to be a normal kid.
  24. agog
    highly excited
    She said it again, and had gone from agog to being pleased with herself.
Created on Tue Mar 05 16:32:33 EST 2013 (updated Thu Feb 28 09:03:33 EST 2019)

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