Turtle in Paradise: Chapters 10–13

by Jennifer L. Holm
During the Great Depression, an eleven-year-old girl tackles challenges and finds adventure when she moves in with relatives in Key West, Florida.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–18
25 words 66 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. mocking
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    Their mocking cries fill the lane: “Killie the Horse! Killie the Horse!”
  2. peal
    a deep prolonged sound
    The boys erupt into peals of laughter.
  3. snicker
    laugh quietly
    The boys mouth a few halfhearted “Yes, ma’am’s and come sauntering back, snickering under their breath.
  4. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    Killie the Horse stands up and climbs gingerly back onto the wagon, gives a whistle, and starts off.
  5. patent
    obtain a document granting sole rights to an invention
    “You ought to patent that formula,” I say. “You’d be the Rockefeller of diaper rash.”
  6. matinee
    a theatrical performance held during the daytime
    We’re walking out the front door to go to the matinee when Aunt Minnie calls to us from where she’s ironing in the parlor.
  7. sturdy
    substantially made or constructed
    Did she sit at the piano? I hope not. That stool doesn’t look too sturdy.
  8. caviar
    salted fish eggs eaten as a delicacy
    You wouldn't even know people were standing in breadlines if you walked in and saw what they were eating: iced cantaloupe, shrimp aspic, caviar sandwiches with cream cheese, hearts of lettuce with French dressing, meringue cookies.
  9. meringue
    sweet dessert or topping made of beaten egg whites and sugar
    You wouldn't even know people were standing in breadlines if you walked in and saw what they were eating: iced cantaloupe, shrimp aspic, caviar sandwiches with cream cheese, hearts of lettuce with French dressing, meringue cookies.
  10. grits
    coarsely ground corn that is boiled
    Grunts are little fish and grits are like porridge.
  11. beady
    small, round, and shiny
    She reminds me of a lobster, with her beady eyes peeking out at me from under her red hat.
  12. grit
    clench together
    “Your cat made a mess in my clean laundry,” she says through gritted teeth.
  13. despicable
    morally reprehensible
    Sure enough, some cat has done something despicable on a lady’s pale blue silk slip.
  14. deckhand
    a member of a ship's crew who performs manual labor
    Slow Poke’s sitting outside at a little table with another fella.
    “Well, if it ain’t my favorite deckhand,” he says.
  15. piercing
    having or emitting a high-pitched tone or tones
    A piercing scream rings through the tiny house.
  16. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    “She is going crazy!” Kermit says in dismay. “She is going crazy!”
  17. wail
    emit long loud cries
    “Mama’s dead!” Buddy wails, and starts bawling.
  18. glaze
    become glassy or take on a glass-like appearance
    When I return to the room, Aunt Minnie’s awake. Her eyes are glazed with pain. “Sadiebelle?” she whimpers.
  19. whimper
    cry weakly or softly
    When I return to the room, Aunt Minnie’s awake. Her eyes are glazed with pain. “Sadiebelle?” she whimpers.
  20. wince
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    It’s late in the day when Aunt Minnie staggers out to the kitchen, wincing with every step.
  21. hoarse
    deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness
    “Who cleaned?” she asks, her voice hoarse.
  22. pitiful
    deserving or inciting compassion
    Smokey’s fallen through the top of the crumbling, termite-eaten piano and she can’t get out. I hear her meowing pitifully inside, her paws scrambling.
  23. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    Ollie looks sheepish. “He’s doing an errand for Johnny Cakes. Didn’t need any extra help.”
  24. wiry
    lean but strong
    "Honestly," she says, and grabs him up and carries him into the house, his wiry body wiggling the whole way.
  25. sap
    a person who lacks good judgment or is easily tricked
    "Don’t be a sap. It’s fake," Pork Chop says, but there’s something in his voice, as if he’s trying to talk himself out of it.
Created on Thu Sep 09 20:49:04 EDT 2021 (updated Mon Sep 20 13:17:21 EDT 2021)

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.