The First Rule of Punk: Chapters 10–19

by Celia C. Pérez
Twelve-year-old Malú loves punk rock, but her mother and the strict principal at her new school definitely do not. With the help of her fellow "misfits," Malú fights to express who she truly is.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–19, Chapters 20–38
35 words 255 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. conspire
    act in agreement and in secret towards a deceitful purpose
    I made it my mission to avoid Selena as much as possible in the cafeteria, but it was like the fates conspired to bring us together in the worst possible place: Spanish class.
  2. orientation
    a course introducing a new situation or environment
    My language arts class had library orientation, and in the last few minutes we got to check out books from Mr. Baca, our school librarian.
  3. circulation
    (library science) the count of books that are loaned by a library over a specified period
    I stood in line at the circulation counter waiting my turn.
  4. activist
    a reformer who works to achieve social or political change
    “Doesn’t hurt to try,” Ellie said. “My grandma’s an old activist, and she always says to me that it’s important for us kids to have a voice. Plus, being involved in school looks good on college applications, right?”
  5. crochet
    make needlework by interlocking thread with a hooked needle
    Señora Oralia was crocheting something yellow and fluffy.
  6. urchin
    a poor and often mischievous city child
    Mom had told me I looked like a “penniless street urchin” before I left for school.
  7. frilly
    having decorative ruffles or similar ornamentation
    She held up what looked like a frilly Civil War-era skirt for me to see.
  8. taper
    diminish gradually
    Instead of legs, her torso tapered into what looked like a short baton.
  9. debutante
    a young woman making her formal entrance into society
    She twirled the doll and its frilly dress like it was a debutante.
  10. honorary
    given as an award without the normal duties
    “He’s an honorary Mexican because he’s so popular in Mexico.”
  11. scrawl
    write carelessly
    She pointed to a record sleeve with a black-and-white image of four guys and THE ZEROS scrawled across the top in hot pink.
  12. vigorously
    in an energetic manner
    “Yes,” I said, nodding vigorously. “I would love that.”
  13. authentic
    not counterfeit or copied
    “Anyway, she recommended a Mexican place that makes it, so this is as authentic as fake chorizo can be.”
  14. loom
    hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    It was looming over me, due tomorrow.
  15. prejudice
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    BRACEROS experienced...
    ● abuse
    ● prejudice
    ● unfair work conditions
    ● exposure to pesticides (including being fumigated)
    ● being cheated out of pay and benefits
  16. exposure
    the act of subjecting someone to an influencing experience
    BRACEROS experienced...
    ● abuse
    ● prejudice
    ● unfair work conditions
    ● exposure to pesticides (including being fumigated)
    ● being cheated out of pay and benefits
  17. fumigate
    treat with smoke, especially with the aim of disinfecting
    BRACEROS experienced...
    ● abuse
    ● prejudice
    ● unfair work conditions
    ● exposure to pesticides (including being fumigated)
    ● being cheated out of pay and benefits
  18. callus
    a skin area that is thick or hard from continual pressure
    HANDS
    calluses
    ink stains
    paper cuts
    dry glue
    dirt under nails
  19. corduroy
    thick cotton fabric with vertical ribs
    I wore a red corduroy miniskirt, which Principal Rivera subjected to the fingertip test as I hurried to history class, striped tights, my Doc Martens, and a T-shirt Dad had given me.
  20. twine
    a lightweight cord
    As we came in, he handed us each a clothespin and our graded family trees to hang on twine that had been strung across the back of the room.
  21. superimpose
    place on top of
    There was a printout of a tree image with photos of family members superimposed on branches.
  22. mesmerize
    attract strongly, as if with a magnet
    The slapping and dripping of food was so mesmerizing that I didn’t notice the pile of cilantro the lunch lady dumped on my serving of guacamole until I slid out of line.
  23. dilute
    reduced in strength or concentration or quality or purity
    Mom jokes that it’s my diluted Mexican genes that make it taste soapy to me.
  24. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
    “By next week?” Ellie looked dubious.
  25. subversive
    in opposition to an established system or government
    “That’s pretty clever,” Dad said. “And subversive. It works.”
  26. embrace
    take up the cause of someone and use it as one's own
    “You can’t let what other people think about you bother you; you’ll never be happy if you do. Turning an insult into something you embrace is a good way of empowering yourself.”
  27. objectionable
    causing offense or disapproval
    My job was to rewrite some of the lyrics to “Blitzkrieg Bop” and get rid of “objectionable content,” as Mrs. Hidalgo had suggested.
  28. flail
    thrash about
    He flailed his arms in an exaggerated air drumming motion.
  29. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
    “Be very careful with those,” Joe said. He looked over at Mrs. Hidalgo, who was wrapping up a guitar cord, and whispered menacingly, “Or she’ll kill you.”
  30. staccato
    marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds
    It began with a reggae rhythm on guitar, those bouncy, staccato sounds that made me think of being at the beach.
  31. curtsy
    a gesture involving bending the knees to show respect
    “I’m wearing a dress,” I said, and gave her a curtsy.
  32. cackle
    emit a loud, unpleasant kind of laughing
    Selena cackled like the Wicked Witch of the West.
  33. sashay
    move sideways
    I looked over at Mom, who was laughing as she sashayed and stomped like it was the happiest day of her life.
  34. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    Her face was flushed, and strands of hair had come loose from her bun.
  35. console
    give moral or emotional strength to
    She patted me on the shoulder in a consoling manner.
Created on Tue Jul 24 14:11:36 EDT 2018 (updated Tue Jul 24 16:30:59 EDT 2018)

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