P.S. Be Eleven: List 3

by Rita Williams-Garcia
This sequel to One Crazy Summer focuses on Delphine, the eldest Gaither sister, as she begins sixth grade and navigates unexpected changes in her family.

This list covers Doves–Half-moons and Squiggles.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5

Here are links to our lists for other books by Rita Williams-Garcia: One Crazy Summer, Gone Crazy in Alabama, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
30 words 15 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. giddy
    lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
    I would have felt a little giddy if Miss Marva Hendrix hadn’t soured the day by making me out to be my sisters’ oppressor.
  2. clamor
    make loud demands
    My sisters tried to clamor around Big Ma but she wanted no part of them.
  3. ease
    move gently or carefully
    I tried to ease myself back into normal breathing, but I imagined all the things that could have happened to him at war.
  4. hawk
    an advocate of an aggressive policy on foreign relations
    Last year Mrs. Peterson asked our class if we were for the war or against it, or like the evening news anchor said, “hawks” or “doves.” I said I was a hawk for my uncle Darnell and the soldiers he slept in foxholes and trampled through jungles with.
  5. foxhole
    a small dugout or pit to shelter soldiers from enemy fire
    Last year Mrs. Peterson asked our class if we were for the war or against it, or like the evening news anchor said, “hawks” or “doves.” I said I was a hawk for my uncle Darnell and the soldiers he slept in foxholes and trampled through jungles with.
  6. comeback
    a quick reply to a question or remark
    There was no comeback from the other side.
  7. decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
    “Decorum, class,” Mr. Mwila said sternly.
  8. stern
    strict and demanding
    “Decorum, class,” Mr. Mwila said sternly.
  9. gangly
    tall, thin, and awkward
    His arms and legs seemed extra gangly and he loped around like he didn’t know what to do with the extra inches he had grown.
  10. lope
    run easily
    His arms and legs seemed extra gangly and he loped around like he didn’t know what to do with the extra inches he had grown.
  11. meek
    humble in spirit or manner
    “Here. I guess,” Ellis said meekly enough to save him from walking the paddle mile to Principal Myers’s office.
  12. representative
    an advocate for someone else's policy or purpose
    "Your representative has spoken,” Mr. Mwila said.
  13. pastime
    an interest or pursuit that someone pursues regularly
    “Is another subject foot—” She stopped in the middle of her thought. “Is another subject the national pastimes in Zambia?”
  14. redemption
    the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
    “Boys,” Mr. Mwila said, “there is still an opportunity for redemption.”
    The boys shouted, “Redemption!” when I knew half of them didn’t know what redemption meant.
  15. dignity
    the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
    “Who will take up the call for the dignity and redemption of the boys?”
  16. outskirts
    area relatively far from the center, as of a city or town
    "The hospital is far if you live on the outskirts, so many children are born on the way. Nzila’s also popular if your parents travel. Some stories about the name are funnier than others.”
  17. percussion
    section of a band or orchestra that plays struck instruments
    All of us except for Fern waved furiously as the trumpets, trombones, tubas, flutes, and percussion instruments played the marching tune.
  18. cymbal
    a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk
    The booming drums and clashing cymbals frightened Fern, and she clung to me.
  19. cling
    hold on tightly or tenaciously
    The booming drums and clashing cymbals frightened Fern, and she clung to me.
  20. crisp
    (of something seen or heard) clearly defined
    They marched straight ahead and made crisp turns without looking over to family members, girlfriends, and even a high school football team that had come in team jackets to wave them off.
  21. discharge
    release from military service
    Pa showed the soldier at the guardhouse his driver’s license and asked for the “discharge site.”
  22. chaplain
    a member of the clergy ministering to some institution
    The army chaplain said a few words and a councilman from the mayor's office thanked the soldiers for their service.
  23. fife
    a small high-pitched flute similar to a piccolo
    The band played, and even though there were more fifes, clarinets, and flutes than booms and brass, Fern held on to Pa tighter.
  24. canteen
    a room with food sold to personnel at an institution
    We still sat around him, waiting to see what would come out of his bag. To our disappointment, he pulled out a canteen, a helmet, and a lot of army things.
  25. crane
    stretch, so as to see better
    I twisted and craned to catch an Excellent, Very Good, Good, or Satisfactory on someone’s paper.
  26. draft
    any of the various versions in the development of a work
    Mr. Mwila said, “You have submitted your first drafts to me and I have returned them.”
  27. slink
    move or walk stealthily
    Danny the K stood up without protest and slinked to the front of the room.
  28. encyclopedia
    a reference work containing articles on various topics
    “Delphine Gaither. I’m excusing you from chorus this period. Instead, you’ll go to the library and write an essay on Merriam-Webster. So, first, you’ll go to the encyclopedia for an overview. Then seek out other sources and begin your essay.”
  29. overview
    a general summary of a subject
    “Delphine Gaither. I’m excusing you from chorus this period. Instead, you’ll go to the library and write an essay on Merriam-Webster. So, first, you’ll go to the encyclopedia for an overview. Then seek out other sources and begin your essay.”
  30. reference
    a book from which you can seek authoritative facts
    I went straight to the reference section and found the Encyclopedia Britannicas.
Created on Thu Feb 07 21:07:47 EST 2019 (updated Thu Feb 28 15:25:17 EST 2019)

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