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Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein: Chapters 15–27

An eleven-year-old Iraqi boy and his family endure turmoil and violence during the 1991 Gulf War.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–27, Chapter 28–Epilogue
30 words 45 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. peruse
    examine or consider with attention and in detail
    “Chickpeas, lentils, salt, coffee...” Shirzad peruses the contents.
    I open the other box inside the bigger one to see what’s inside.
  2. unison
    the act of occurring together or simultaneously
    “Yes, Mama,” all three boys say in unison. I take a quick look back and instead of attackers, I see chastened sons. Another win for Pitfall Harry!
  3. chasten
    censure severely
    “Yes, Mama,” all three boys say in unison. I take a quick look back and instead of attackers, I see chastened sons. Another win for Pitfall Harry!
  4. execution
    putting a condemned person to death
    I realize what this is. It’s a public execution.
  5. feisty
    showing spirit and courage
    She is feisty, like Shireen.
  6. amend
    make revisions to
    “Baba and his unit are missing,” Shirzad says softly.
    “What?” I say.
    “Not officially,” Shirzad amends.
  7. gaunt
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
    Gilad doesn’t look the way I remember him. First, he’s in a soldier’s uniform. Second, he’s thin, almost gaunt, and he has a shaved head.
  8. nemesis
    a personal foe or rival that cannot be easily defeated
    It is Lex Luthor, my nemesis, who has destroyed the bridge, but somehow his face is that of Saddam Hussein!
  9. minion
    a servile or fawning dependent
    I fly around, capturing Saddam’s minions and avoiding the kryptonite Saddam has released. I succeed! I capture Saddam Hussein and put him in a prison.
  10. savor
    derive or receive pleasure from
    I chew slowly to savor the flavors, and it seems that the next bite is even more delicious.
  11. suppress
    control and refrain from showing
    My mother covers her mouth, suppressing a small cry.
  12. disperse
    move away from each other
    Everyone disperses—Mama and Shireen-the-shin-kicker to the kitchen to clean up, and Ahmed and Shirzad up the stairs.
  13. latitude
    an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
    I put my finger on tiny Basra and Baghdad and start to turn the globe again. I trace a path along the same latitude. Straight across...just above the 30 degrees latitude mark.
  14. knead
    use the hands to mix and work something into a uniform mass
    I stand in awkward silence as my mother pounds and kneads a small mound of dough. She places it on a baking sheet and opens the oven.
  15. idealist
    someone not guided by practical considerations
    We were all idealists back then, wanting to make Iraq a better place not only for ourselves and our families, but for everyone.
  16. extravagant
    recklessly wasteful
    It was New Year’s Eve. To celebrate the start of 1991, the governor of Iraq held a ball. A glamorous, extravagant party at the Governor’s Mansion.
  17. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    A woman appeared and beckoned us to follow her.
  18. trill
    pronounce with a flutter of the tongue
    “Boys, you come too!” trilled Miss Happy.
  19. comply
    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
    Z stood up slowly, as if he was in no hurry to comply with his father’s request.
  20. objective
    the goal intended to be attained
    I imagine myself in a video game, Yar’s Revenge. The objective is to destroy the evil Quotile, which exists on the other side of a barrier.
  21. cringe
    draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
    I kick it back and it flies right over Mustafa’s head.
    “Sorry!” I cringe. “I’m out of practice.”
  22. tyrant
    any person who exercises power in a cruel way
    “I’m done,” I say. “This air is killing me.” Then I add, “Not literally. My brother the tyrant wants me back to help him in the yard.”
  23. classify
    declare unavailable, as for security reasons
    “We’re leaving!” says Umar.
    Yes! I think.
    “For good?” I say at the same time Mustafa says, “Where to?”
    “It’s classified.” Omar smirks.
  24. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “Trash pile,” Mustafa muses. “I miss the garbage truck. I miss all trucks.”
  25. bawl
    cry loudly
    I can’t help it. I burst into tears. I sink down onto the floor and bawl.
  26. ragged
    worn out from stress or strain
    I feel like I want to give up. I want to die. Finally I stop and take a deep, ragged breath.
  27. imposed
    set forth authoritatively as obligatory
    “Iraq has accepted the cease-fire conditions imposed by America’s President Bush,” the voice says. “Iraqi troops will lay down their arms and pull out of Kuwait in full compliance with all United Nations Security Council resolutions...."
  28. resolution
    a formal expression by a meeting, agreed to by a vote
    “Iraq has accepted the cease-fire conditions imposed by America’s President Bush,” the voice says. “Iraqi troops will lay down their arms and pull out of Kuwait in full compliance with all United Nations Security Council resolutions...."
  29. convert
    change the nature, purpose, or function of something
    Shirzad grabs my shirt to tag me, and something inside me just snaps. Pent-up energy converts to sudden rage. I whirl around and punch him in the stomach.
  30. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    I lean over, pick it up, and hobble over to my bed.
Created on Tue Apr 21 15:09:58 EDT 2020 (updated Mon Apr 27 14:22:20 EDT 2020)

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