Forged by Fire: Chapters 1–4

by Sharon M. Draper
Gerald has faced many tough situations — the imprisonment of his mother, the death of his beloved aunt, and the abuse of his stepfather — but he is determined to make a better life for himself and his sister Angel. Learn these words from the second novel in the Hazelwood High trilogy.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–15, Chapters 16–24

Here are links to our lists for other books by Sharon M. Draper: Tears of a Tiger, Copper Sun, Out of My Mind, Stella by Starlight, Blended
30 words 1931 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. salve
    a preparation applied externally as a soothing remedy
    When she stopped, she had washed his hand with cool water and soothed him with warm hugs and wrapped with salve and bandages the place where the fire soldier had stabbed him.
  2. sentinel
    a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    Sometimes the cart would be a tank, as he passed cautiously through rows of armed cling peaches and silent sentinels that looked like boxes of Frosted Flakes.
  3. idle
    lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
    Finally Gerald started idly flicking the little red handle.
  4. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights
    The dancer was there, smiling at him and bowing for him, changing from splendid orange to icy green to iridescent purple.
  5. inspiration
    arousal of the mind to unusual activity or creativity
    With sudden inspiration, Gerald shouted, “Hey Joe, we got a torch!” as he and G.I. Joe marched around the kitchen table.
  6. dutiful
    willingly obedient out of a sense of respect
    Joe dutifully followed his general into combat.
  7. hysterical
    characterized by a state of violent mental agitation
    “Yeah, she showed up right as they were putting the kid in the ambulance—screaming hysterically about her precious baby. If that teenager from next door hadn’t rushed into the apartment when he did, there would have been nothing left of her ‘precious baby’ but a charred ember.”
  8. char
    burn to charcoal
    “Yeah, she showed up right as they were putting the kid in the ambulance—screaming hysterically about her precious baby. If that teenager from next door hadn’t rushed into the apartment when he did, there would have been nothing left of her ‘precious baby’ but a charred ember.”
  9. ember
    a hot, smoldering fragment of wood left from a fire
    “Yeah, she showed up right as they were putting the kid in the ambulance—screaming hysterically about her precious baby. If that teenager from next door hadn’t rushed into the apartment when he did, there would have been nothing left of her ‘precious baby’ but a charred ember.”
  10. regal
    belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
    She was dressed in bright red from the top of her elaborate turban to the tips of her polished fingernails, and an air of regal self-assurance seemed to travel with her.
  11. irate
    feeling or showing extreme anger
    Doctor Orangehair, probably better known as Dr. McFall, was used to irate or worried relatives, and was not intimidated by Aunt Queen’s dramatic entrance.
  12. ward
    block forming a division of a hospital shared by patients
    Without a word, Aunt Queen rolled out of the ward, past the nursing station, and through the large wooden doors into the hall.
  13. resignation
    acceptance of an unpleasant but inevitable situation
    Aunt Queen’s shoulders drooped a bit then, and she said with resignation, “But unfortunately, this ain’t one of them. I don’t know where the boy’s daddy is. I just didn’t want you to assume. You coulda been wrong, you know?”
  14. raspy
    unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
    She listened for a moment to his slightly raspy breathing, then softly touched his cheek.
  15. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
    “We won’t tell her!” Aunt Queen smiled with a mischievous grin.
  16. utter
    complete
    The flames, the fear, the feeling of utter desolation were too much for him to handle.
  17. desolation
    sadness resulting from being forsaken or abandoned
    The flames, the fear, the feeling of utter desolation were too much for him to handle.
  18. deftly
    in an agile manner
    Queen positioned her chair close to his bed, deftly lifted him up, and cuddled him in her ample lap.
  19. ample
    fairly large
    Queen positioned her chair close to his bed, deftly lifted him up, and cuddled him in her ample lap.
  20. croon
    sing softly
    She rocked and crooned while he wept for all the pain he had known in his short life, and for all the pain yet to come.
  21. hectic
    marked by intense activity or agitation
    Life at Aunt Queen’s was sometimes hectic, but somehow always comforting and reassuring.
  22. indulge
    enjoy to excess
    She thrived on Christmas carols, delighted in decorations, and indulged in special treats and goodies.
  23. fanfare
    a gaudy outward display
    The tree went up, with a great deal of traditional fanfare (like making popcorn to string for garlands and making ornaments of soap and old Christmas cards) during the first week in December and stayed up until New Year’s Day.
  24. garland
    a circular band of flowers or other foliage
    The tree went up, with a great deal of traditional fanfare (like making popcorn to string for garlands and making ornaments of soap and old Christmas cards) during the first week in December and stayed up until New Year’s Day.
  25. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
    His gifts were never frivolous or the result of Saturday morning cartoon advertising, but thoughtful and delightful.
  26. brittle
    having little elasticity
    He knew that she had been born with brittle bones, and that she got fractures easily, and that two of her six children and two of her grandchildren also had the condition.
  27. tame
    flat and uninspiring
    He had soon grown tired of the tameness of the ramp, which had a gradual slope, and he looked with interest at the driveway of the house next door, which was steep and sloped right down to the street.
  28. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
    He rolled off the go-cart and into the garbage cans, knocking them over with a terrible commotion.
  29. blare
    make a loud noise
    The go-cart sped into the street, where it was first crushed by the Cadillac, then demolished entirely by the Ford, which blared its horn loudly and screeched to a stop.
  30. dread
    be afraid or scared of
    “No, child. It’s nothing like that. This is something I’ve been dreading for six years.”
Created on Wed Oct 24 14:52:46 EDT 2018 (updated Mon Apr 04 09:40:05 EDT 2022)

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