The Bean Trees: Chapters 9–12

by Barbara Kingsolver
Kingsolver's first novel tells the story of Taylor Greer, who leaves Kentucky and tries to make a life for herself and an orphaned Native American girl in Tucson, Arizona.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–8, Chapters 9–12, Chapters 13–17

Here is a link to our lists for The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. caste
    a social class separated by distinctions of hereditary rank
    "Yes,” he said. "In India they have something called the caste system. Members of different castes cannot marry or even eat together. The lowest caste is called the Untouchables.”
  2. conjecture
    believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
    “...I guess the ideal thing,” I conjectured, half dreaming, “would have been to get clothes with good, deep pockets.”
  3. frond
    compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad
    The walls were an antique-looking shade of light pink, completely bare except for a cross with two palm fronds stuck behind it, over one of the beds.
  4. propaganda
    information that is spread to promote some cause
    But Lou Ann had bought the company propaganda, hook, line, and sinker.
  5. mull
    reflect deeply on a subject
    She mulled it over and over, twisting her gold wedding band around her finger.
  6. poised
    marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
    The rattle was poised upright but did not shake.
  7. resilient
    recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
    I think you’ll find that your daughter can be a surprisingly resilient little person.
  8. croon
    sing softly
    Virgie moved toward the bird slowly, crooning, with her hand stretched out in front of her.
  9. catatonic
    characterized by unresponsiveness or lack of movement
    Turtle hadn’t spoken once in the days since the incident, and was back to her old ways. Now I knew a word for this condition: catatonic.
  10. perpetrator
    someone who commits wrongdoing
  11. deviant
    a person whose behavior does not conform to social norms
    Perpetrator. Deviant. Maleficent. I checked books out of the library but there weren’t any answers in there either, just more words.
  12. maleficent
    harmful or evil in intent or effect
    Perpetrator. Deviant. Maleficent. I checked books out of the library but there weren’t any answers in there either, just more words.
Created on Tue Dec 04 11:02:27 EST 2018 (updated Tue Aug 05 13:39:30 EDT 2025)

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