Clarice the Brave: List 1

by Lisa McMann
Clarice and Charles Sebastian are sister and brother mice who are fearfully huddling together on a ship, until a mutiny separates them and forces them to fight to survive.

This list covers "Mutiny"–"A Small Voice."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
40 words 39 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. galley
    the area for food preparation on a ship
    Our crate was filled with burlap sacks of coffee beans slowly going stale in the locked pantry off the galley.
  2. maw
    the mouth, jaws, or throat
    She spent most of her time in the galley near the cook, awaiting a lurch that might cause a scrap of food to fall into her gaping maw.
  3. reminisce
    recall the past
    She stared off into the dark pantry, reminiscing. “I can still hear my father’s voice...”
  4. buoy
    uplift or give encouragement to
    I already knew that I made good decisions most of the time, but her words buoyed my confidence in a way I hadn’t realized I needed.
  5. rogue
    unusually large, unpredictable, and destructive
    We’d never know the answer, though, for on that trip Mother was doused by a rogue wave and swept overboard.
  6. component
    an abstract part of something
    Gnawing was essential for mice. It got us into places...and out of them. A key component to survival.
  7. dissipate
    go away, scatter, or disappear
    His trembling had dissipated to a slight but constant shiver.
  8. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
    Mother once fancied the idea that Charles Sebastian had the gift of future sight—she was very romantic that way, much like with her dreams of seeing the world. I was more pragmatic. And it was clear Charles Sebastian possessed no such gift.
  9. coddle
    treat with excessive indulgence
    Perhaps that was what led to his constant state of fear. I’m sure our coddling didn’t do him any favors.
  10. raucous
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
    Shouts rang out uncomfortably nearby, and the floorboards shook, making our crate buzz. Then came the zing of metal weapons and a raucous clatter.
  11. mutiny
    open rebellion against constituted authority
    “Mutiny—it means a terrible thing for us. I wish Mother were here. She’d know what to do. Where to run to.”
  12. tenuously
    in a weak, uncertain, or insubstantial manner
    “Shh,” I said, stepping tenuously into Mother’s protective role, like I imagined she’d want me to do for our littlest bean.
  13. inadequacy
    a lack of competence
    Inadequacy filled my mind. I was not prepared for any of this.
  14. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
    “I—I—” said Heyu, bewildered by the question and holding his smarting cheek.
  15. falter
    speak haltingly
    “I’m only learning. This is my first...” He faltered, overwhelmed.
  16. coarse
    rough to the touch
    Her long hair was worthy of the finest nest. It hung in coarse brown waves under her hat, with a few loose strands sticking to her face.
  17. ration
    the food allowance for one day
    She leaned over our crate, and I caught a whiff of the rotten stench that spewed out of her mouth with every word. Not much turned my stomach, but her salted-cod rations had been recent, and there was no getting away from it.
  18. hierarchy
    organization of different ranks in an administrative body
    Mother had taught us enough about ship hierarchy to know he shouldn’t speak to an officer like that.
  19. emanate
    proceed or issue forth, as from a source
    We could feel her anger emanating in waves.
  20. provisions
    a stock or supply of foods
    “Do you wish to be charged with murder on top of treason?” Lucía snarled over her shoulder. “You have to give them provisions.”
  21. withstand
    resist or confront with resistance
    In a ship-to-shore boat with a single worn sail that won’t withstand the first storm!
  22. treason
    a crime that undermines the offender's government
    “This is treason! You’ll be hanged! Mark my words!”
  23. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    She eyed the man with contempt, but then turned and declared loudly to the rest, “I remain loyal to the captain.”
  24. disdainful
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    The captain, disdainful and defiant, waited to see who else was loyal to him.
  25. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    He cast his bloody eye upon each sailor as if memorizing their faces and decisions. Listening intently to their shouts and jeers.
  26. racket
    a loud and disturbing noise
    Creeping toward us in the shadow of the ship rail, weaving between crates and ignoring the racket, was Special Lady.
  27. precariously
    in a manner affording no ease or reassurance
    The coffee beans and the bloody tooth and I went airborne, then tipped precariously.
  28. overwhelm
    overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
    Dazed and overwhelmed, I burrowed under the burlap sack to hide.
  29. hull
    the frame or body of a ship
    Sputtering and choking, I swam for the first time in my life and hoped never to have to do it again. I reached the side of the hull and half clawed my way back up with what remained at the tips of my paws.
  30. succumb
    be fatally overwhelmed
    Charles Sebastian—where was he? Had he survived? Or had he succumbed to the jaws of the brutal Lady?
  31. fruitless
    unproductive of success
    I peered upward and scanned the ship’s rail, fruitlessly searching for any sign of my brother, knowing full well he wouldn’t be standing on the railing but hoping for it anyway.
  32. in earnest
    in a serious manner
    A small strip of sea appeared between the vessels, but neither one was moving in earnest yet.
  33. gallows
    an instrument from which a person is executed by hanging
    “This mutiny will haunt you until the day you die, Mr. Thomas,” he bellowed, facing the ship. “I won’t rest until I see you all hanging in the gallows!”
  34. ostracize
    expel from a community or group
    To those sailors laughing in the ship above us, celebrating their independence from the captain, mutiny meant freedom, and perhaps peace. To the ones with me in this boat, it meant betrayal and shock and fear. It meant being ostracized, abandoned.
  35. imminent
    close in time; about to occur
    To me, mutiny meant imminent death.
  36. delusion
    deception by creating illusory ideas
    Had shock or delusion set in? Was his voice in my head part of my new nightmare?
  37. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    “Charles Sebastian!” I squeaked in the din.
  38. sheer
    very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
    No way I could climb the sheer, slimy side of the ship even if I made it that far without drowning.
  39. impulsive
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
    “Stay where you are!” I screamed before it was too late—if my impulsive brother jumped now, he’d never survive.
  40. wretched
    very unhappy; full of misery
    Just then the captain shouted again, his voice wretched and desperate, his wrists freed from the ropes and his fist pounding air.
Created on Tue Oct 18 20:33:12 EDT 2022 (updated Mon Sep 11 16:56:45 EDT 2023)

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