When Zachary Beaver Came to Town: Chapters 1–7

by Kimberly Willis Holt
In this coming-of-age story, a thirteen-year-old boy learns about loss and friendship over the course of one eventful summer.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–22
25 words 119 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. curlicue
    a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles
    They enter the Dairy Maid, place their orders, and exit with Coke floats, chocolate-dipped cones, or curlicue fries, then wander to the back of the line.
  2. barker
    a person who loudly advertises a show to attract customers
    "Welcome, fine folks," he yells like a carnival barker.
  3. revival
    an evangelistic meeting to reawaken interest in religion
    The line moves slowly, and when people exit the trailer, some come out all quiet like they've been shaken up at a revival. A few say things like, "Lord-a-mercy!"
  4. sterile
    free of pathological microorganisms
    There's no denying it—this place is clean with a capital C. And with the exception of a dusty bookcase filled with encyclopedias and other books, it's as sterile as a hospital.
  5. sparse
    not dense or plentiful
    Antler is off Highway 287, tucked between the railroad tracks and the breaks of Palo Duro Canyon. Because of the breaks, it's not as flat and sparse as most of the Panhandle.
  6. foreclose
    take away the right of mortgagors to redeem their mortgage
    Our town's population has been shrinking since the bank foreclosed on some of the farms.
  7. prune
    cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
    Cal's mom, Mrs. McKnight, is pruning her roses in their front yard while she hums a song.
  8. defy
    resist or confront with resistance
    Right now her black hair blows wildly in the breeze. It makes me think how Mom puts so much hair spray on hers it defies any Panhandle wind and teases it so high it could hide a Frisbee.
  9. senile
    mentally or physically infirm with age
    While Dad and I ate, she'd tell us something funny the Judge, Miss Myrtie Mae's senile brother, said that day at the cafe.
  10. correspondent
    a journalist who supplies stories for news media
    When the war correspondent comes on, the volume gets louder.
  11. gawk
    look with amazement
    What a sorry life Zachary Beaver must have, sitting every day in a cramped trailer while people come by to gawk at him.
  12. fringe
    serve as or form a border around
    I dodge the trees that fringe the lake, jump off my bike, and flop on the grass near the edge of the water.
  13. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    Just as I step into the water, I hear grass rustle and I decide maybe I'm not sold on seeing a snake after all.
  14. frantically
    in an uncontrolled manner
    Now she frantically looks from the rearview mirror to the side mirror, inching the car backward.
  15. straddle
    sit or stand astride of
    Watching from my driveway, Cal and I straddle our bikes and eat our dry muffins.
  16. resuscitate
    cause to regain consciousness
    I haven't been swimming at the town pool since last summer, when I swallowed a bunch of pool water and started choking. The lifeguard got excited and yanked me out of the pool and did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
  17. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    Billy sleeps on the couch, oblivious to the music and the growl of the machine.
  18. inflict
    impose something unpleasant
    The talk around town is his limp was a self- inflicted wound so he didn't have to serve in the Korean War.
  19. pennant
    a flag that is awarded to the winner or champion
    He cheered for the Boston Red Sox long before they won the American League pennant, in 67.
  20. fritter
    fried batter containing meat, vegetables, or fruit
    Today’s Special: Honey Fried Chicken, Corn Fritters, and Mustard Greens.
  21. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    Beneath the menu is the daily Bible verse. “It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” Proverbs 20:3.
  22. tinker
    do random, unplanned work or activities; spend time idly
    The Judge settles in the chair and starts tinkering with his gold pocket watch.
  23. emphysema
    a condition of decreased respiratory function of the lungs
    As if Wylie Womack doesn't have enough problems with his crooked body, he also has emphysema.
  24. blistering
    extremely hot
    Now, there’s something I don’t miss—hoeing that Johnson grass during the blistering heat.
  25. reckon
    expect, believe, or suppose
    "Toby, reckon you and Cal could accompany me to that sideshow trailer?"
Created on Fri Aug 06 11:49:10 EDT 2021 (updated Wed Aug 25 09:20:13 EDT 2021)

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