The Last Last-Day-of-Summer: Chapters 1–9

by Lamar Giles
Cousins Otto and Sheed, also known as the Legendary Alston Boys, are used to dealing with unusual happenings in the town of Fry, Virginia. When a mysterious stranger freezes time on the last day of summer vacation, the young sleuths embark on their strangest and most dangerous adventure yet.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–17, Chapters 18–25, Chapters 26–35, Chapters 36–41

Here is a link to our lists for Spin by Lamar Giles.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. acronym
    a word formed from the initial letters of several words
    Inside that circle, equally red and in Grandma’s handwriting, were the letters BTSFOASTG!
    When they asked about it, Grandma said, “It’s an acronym. It means ‘back to school for Otto and Sheed, thank goodness!”’
  2. haphazardly
    without care; in a slapdash manner
    All around, on haphazardly aligned shelves the boys had fastened to the walls themselves, amidst the model cars and their made-up superhero drawings, were souvenirs from all the adventures they’d experienced throughout the season.
  3. banshee
    a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death
    A lock of banshee hair that sang them to sleep whenever the moon was full.
  4. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
    “They broke the tie,” Otto said, his gaze flicking to their meager pair of keys; they somehow seemed duller in this morning’s light.
  5. protrude
    extend out or project in space
    Sheed ceased his grooming, wedged his pick tight into his thick hair, so only the handle protruded, and dug into a bowl of Frosty Loops.
  6. triptych
    art consisting of a painting or carving on three panels
    Ignoring that nonsense, Otto tried to determine which Awesome Adventure represented the best opportunity for another Key to the City. “We can look for the Triptych Treasure in Bosch Cave.”
  7. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
    Other points of interest included Sunshine Cemetery, the FISHto’s, and the many other things, mundane and strange, that made up Logan County.
  8. gravitate
    move toward
    Otto, shorter and wider than his cousin, gravitated to Sheed’s side.
  9. flank
    the side of military or naval formation
    Both of them angled slightly away from each other for a better view of their flanks, in case something dangerous tried to sneak up on them. Maneuver #24.
  10. maneuver
    a move made to gain a tactical end
    Both of them angled slightly away from each other for a better view of their flanks, in case something dangerous tried to sneak up on them. Maneuver #24.
  11. killjoy
    someone who spoils the pleasure of others
    Sheed, always a killjoy, said, “You’re not from Logan County.”
  12. bearing
    the direction or path along which something moves or lies
    He was brown, like the boys, wore dark goggles cinched tight through a mane of coiled dreadlocks that whipped about as he got his bearings.
  13. portal
    a grand and imposing entrance
    The portal the stranger had come through blinked away, leaving undisturbed air and sky in its place.
  14. ailment
    an often persistent bodily disorder or disease
    Sheed knew Grandma had “ailments,” and his stomach twisted thinking she must be having a spell to be standing so stiff and talking so low.
  15. ventriloquist
    a performer who projects the voice into a wooden dummy
    “Grandma, why are you talking like a ventriloquist?”
  16. deduction
    something that is inferred
    DEDUCTION: This can’t be coincidence...but HOW does it all relate?
  17. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    He almost said, Like we always do, but couldn’t muster the confidence.
  18. wrangle
    herd or round up
    After a few false starts, the spokes spun, and the chains whizzed, and they began their ride into town like they did when it was time to buy new comic books, or when the mayor called them to wrangle a peeved-off jackalope.
  19. pry
    move or force in an effort to get something open
    All held cell phones to their ears or extended in front of them while they tapped at some app or another. Sheed pried one from a guy who said, “Hey!”
  20. nether
    dwelling beneath the surface of the earth
    “What did I say after the were-bear in the Gnarled Forest?” Sheed barked. “Or when we had to walk that tightrope over that nether whirlpool?”
  21. chimera
    a grotesque product of the imagination
    “We used the spring snare to snag that chimera last month. I don’t really like repeating ourselves. Makes us look less innovative than—” He stopped himself.
    The word chimera can also refer specifically to a fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology.
  22. dour
    showing a brooding ill humor
    This was a third voice, more dour than the Archies’, but just as familiar.
  23. dingy
    thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
    One particularly creepy lady had dingy dark hair and sharp fangs, and instead of running appeared to be riding a bed of fog that zoomed around all the others like a hoverboard.
  24. precariously
    in a manner affording no ease or reassurance
    He pointed to tilted (not fallen) trash cans, tipped (and angled precariously) newspaper boxes, and benches, and merchant signs, and other small messes.
  25. notation
    a comment or instruction (usually added)
    Otto continued his notation.
  26. emporium
    a large shop organized into sections
    Still low and quiet, the boys crept past the mirror emporium’s display window, catching glimpses of their own reflections dozens of times over in mirrors of various sizes, shapes, and mounts.
  27. complement
    make perfect or supply what is wanting
    While the other wore a mustard skirt, her blouse was like a fresh egg’s yolk, and a big floppy hat the shade of sunflowers complemented her gold hoop earrings.
  28. sheen
    the visual property of something that shines
    Their skin was coppery, the shade and sheen of new pennies.
  29. frill
    a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
    She fluffed the garment’s yellow lacy frills.
  30. interject
    speak abruptly, especially as an interruption
    “We’re responsible for that special time of the day—”
    “Just around sunrise and sunset—” the woman interjected.
  31. complexion
    the coloring of a person's face
    “What the heck’s a Time Suck?”
    “Extremely dangerous creatures,” said P.M., his complexion dimming.
  32. quirky
    strikingly unconventional
    Otto had forgotten about the camera dangling from his neck. Had grown comfortable with the weight of the device that had messed up the town. That bothered him, but not as much as these quirky strangers noticing it.
  33. tentacle
    a flexible appendage adapted for grasping or feeling
    The mirror flipped like a tossed coin, and where cracked glass should’ve been there was a fat green tentacle, tapering down to a tip the width of a carrot and whipping about.
  34. taper
    give a point to
    The mirror flipped like a tossed coin, and where cracked glass should’ve been there was a fat green tentacle, tapering down to a tip the width of a carrot and whipping about.
  35. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    There were ten or twelve of the thick, octopus-like arms uncoiling from the ornate bronze, and silver, and gold mirror frames.
Created on Fri Apr 12 16:30:25 EDT 2019 (updated Wed May 22 20:49:37 EDT 2019)

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