Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish: Chapters 1–4

by Pablo Cartaya
After 14-year-old Marcus gets into a fight at school, his mom decides to take him to Puerto Rico, where Marcus searches for his absentee father.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–7, Chapters 8–11, Chapters 12–15, Chapters 16–22
30 words 1155 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. scramble
    move hurriedly
    Most kids clear out of the way when I walk down the hall. They’re like campers in a forest who spot a grizzly and scramble up a tree to hide.
  2. procure
    get by special effort
    "We’re wondering if we could procure your walking services, Mr. Marcus?”
  3. invoice
    an itemized statement of money owed for goods or services
    "Five bucks a week to walk each of you to school,” I say. “And five bucks to get you home. Your total invoice is ten per week.”
  4. chime in
    break into a conversation
    “I live on Maple and Vine,” one kid says.
    The other kid chimes in with, “I’m on Vine and North Cherry Hill Drive.”
  5. transaction
    conducting business within or between groups
    Most of my business transactions happen in the small cubicle located behind a shelf at the far end of the library.
  6. cubicle
    small individual study area in a library
    Most of my business transactions happen in the small cubicle located behind a shelf at the far end of the library.
  7. slack
    a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
    I check my CELL PHONE STORAGE tab before I close it. I need to pick up the slack on that. I’ve only collected two cell phones today.
  8. compromise
    an accommodation in which both sides make concessions
    In the end, a compromise was made.
  9. portfolio
    a large, thin case for loose papers or drawings or maps
    I look at another tab in my portfolio.
    GARBAGE TAX COLLECTION (YEAR TWO)
    WEEK 25 = $2
  10. circulation
    (library science) the count of books that are loaned by a library over a specified period
    I stood and peeked over the shelves to find a boy and girl had sneaked two sodas into the library. They finished, left the cans on a shelf, and took a few books to the circulation desk.
  11. bulge
    swell or protrude outwards
    Stephen drew her like a stick figure with a big round head, bulging eyes, short hair, and a tie.
  12. torment
    the act of harassing someone
    When school is over, my four regulars plus the two new kids are waiting anxiously by the school entrance. They see me coming and light up with excitement. They know walking with me is saving them from a lot of torment.
  13. scrawny
    being very thin
    He’s about a foot shorter than I am and as scrawny as a broomstick.
  14. occupational
    relating to an activity or job for which you are trained
    My brother is done with therapy at five. If I’m back later than five, he starts to get nervous. And his occupational therapist, Grace, has other patients to see.
  15. lisp
    a speech defect that involves mispronouncing "s" and "z"
    At lunch, I hear him make comments about a kid’s lisp, or say a boy will probably work in a gas station because he can’t spell, or make fun of a kid’s acne by calling her Crater Face.
  16. ridicule
    subject to laughter or mockery
    He doesn’t take their money and usually doesn’t shove them, but he ridicules them.
  17. snag
    obtain by acting quickly or smartly
    His brown top hat almost falls off his head. He snags it before it does, and places it carefully back on.
  18. replica
    copy that is not the original
    This hat is basically part of my brother’s school uniform. It’s a replica Willy Wonka hat from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The one starring Gene Wilder.
  19. syndrome
    a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
    There were parents who weren’t thrilled about having a kid with Down syndrome in classes with other kids.
  20. rickety
    inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
    The rest of the houses around here have a fence, but not our little brown house. Just a stone driveway that leads to a side entrance, where a rickety door always gives me trouble.
  21. mode
    how something is done or how it happens
    I grab his backpack and walk up to his room. When I open his door, he’s already in movie mode.
  22. emphasis
    special importance or significance
    Charlie kept his left hand in the air with his wrist bent for emphasis. He had just made a basket and he wanted the guy at the booth to know it.
  23. commute
    a regular journey to and from your place of work
    She works at the ticketing counter for a big airline at Philadelphia International Airport. Her commute is long, so I usually take care of the stuff at home.
  24. pounce
    move down on as if in an attack
    I walk toward the dinner table, knowing Charlie is under there and ready to pounce.
  25. relentless
    not willing or able to stop or yield
    He knows my tickle spot and digs his fingers in relentlessly.
  26. slump
    assume a drooping posture or carriage
    “All right, we can watch Wonka again, but you have to take a bath. Mom says.”
    Charlie slumps over and grunts his disapproval. “I get water in my ears.”
  27. rummage
    search haphazardly
    I hear my mom rummaging through the kitchen, saying something about peanut butter going bad.
  28. embroider
    decorate with needlework
    BIENVENIDOS A NUESTRA CASA is embroidered on the doormat.
  29. taunt
    harass with persistent criticism or carping
    “You’re such a waste of space, Gigantor,” Stephen taunts.
  30. ignoramus
    a person who lacks intelligence or sophistication
    “Puerto Rico is part of the United States, you ignoramus!” Danny blurts.
    “What did you call me?” Stephen angles himself toward Danny.
Created on Wed Dec 18 21:12:19 EST 2019 (updated Thu Jan 09 13:51:23 EST 2020)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.