The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle: Chapters 53–74

by Leslie Connor
Twelve-year-old Mason Buttle is struggling to cope with learning disabilities, bullies, and the sudden death of his friend Benny. When the investigation into Benny's death casts suspicion on Mason himself, he becomes even more determined to uncover the truth.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–20, Chapters 21–33, Chapters 34–52, Chapters 53–74
25 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. negligent
    characterized by undue lack of attention or concern
    The lieutenant says, “That seems pretty negligent to me, Drum.”
  2. jolt
    disturb (someone's) composure
    Then the phone rings. Jolts us all. Me, up out of my chair.
  3. sustain
    undergo, as of injuries and illnesses
    She tells us, “No broken bones. But he sustained a concussion.”
  4. concussion
    injury to the brain caused by a blow
    She tells us, “No broken bones. But he sustained a concussion.”
  5. condemn
    declare or judge unfit for use or habitation
    He said the root cellar was a condemnable hazard is what.
  6. remarkable
    unusual or striking
    Anyway the inspector said those walls are remarkable.
  7. tamper
    play around with, alter, or falsify, usually dishonestly
    He says, “Benny fell because somebody tampered with that top rung.”
  8. bandana
    a large and brightly colored handkerchief
    Shayleen says, “Here. I got you something.” She slaps down a package. Bandanas. Folded stack. Must be six. All colors.
  9. excessive
    beyond normal limits
    She says, “You sweat excessively. These will help.”
  10. swab
    wash with a mop
    She says, “Now swab that sweat.”
  11. skim
    read superficially
    She scrolls some more. She says, “Oh, here! Here!” Then she reads it. She does not skim.
  12. synesthesia
    a sensation that occurs when a different sense is stimulated
    She says, “Yes! Because it is uncommon but it is real. Real for you! It is called synesthesia." She makes bright eyes like I should like that a whole lot, that synesthesia. She says, “I had a student in another school who told me all the even numbers are yellow and the odd ones are blue. Some people say they can smell a color. Or hear one.”
  13. straightforward
    free from ambiguity
    She says, “I will if you really want me to. But I would much rather you leave everything just like it is. This is clean and straightforward.”
  14. thermostat
    a regulator for automatically regulating temperature
    Then Mrs. Drinker keeps thinking of one more thing to tell me. About the mail. About the thermostat.
  15. pact
    a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
    He says, “By the way, you weren’t stupid, Mason. We had a pact. And you didn’t break it until you had to.”
  16. nettle
    plant having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation
    I say, “He’s got a leg nerve all waking up. Says it hurts like fire and nettles. But he is tough.”
  17. incident
    a single distinct event
    She sighs. “That whole incident, though, it was a bit of a wake-up call.” She shakes her head.
  18. bittersweet
    tinged with sadness
    Monday evening comes. Bittersweet, is what it is.
  19. heft
    lift or elevate
    I get it to the edge of that shelf and heft it to my shoulder.
  20. pare
    strip the skin off
    So here we are. Uncle Drum. Shayleen with her box of vanilla wafers. Grandma and me. And Moonie settling down by the legs of my chair. Grandma hands around paring knives and peelers.
  21. generation
    all the people living at the same time or of the same age
    She says, “It is handed down to the next generation. We have had our share of losses. But we had two children. Drum and Mason’s mom, Amy. With Amy gone, her part of the farm goes to her boy. So here at this table we have the two people who will inherit this house and land.”
  22. wholly
    to the full or entire extent
    Grandma says, “So, my men, you’ll be partners in this place. But for now, it’s mine. And Drum, that means no more selling off this land. I appreciate that you were managing things as well as you could. I’m glad there has been money. But you cannot go on shrinking a pie that doesn’t belong wholly to you. That cannot be your job. And I can’t force you to be an orchard man.”
  23. serviceable
    ready to function or provide assistance
    Then he asks, “How do those joists look?”
    Andy says, “Still serviceable.”
  24. enchanting
    capturing interest as if by a spell
    She says, “I can imagine how the whole root cellar was. The roof. The shaft. It must have been an enchanting place to be. So old. So rare!”
  25. relic
    an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
    He says, “Actually, it’s a relic.”
Created on Thu Oct 11 13:55:28 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Oct 11 15:42:17 EDT 2018)

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