Coop Knows the Scoop: Chapters 14–20

by Taryn Souders
In a small Georgia town, thirteen-year-old Cooper Goodman tries to clear his family's name by solving the mystery behind a skeleton discovered in a playground.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–13, Chapters 14–20, Chapters 21–28, Chapters 29–38
40 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. clavicle
    bone linking the scapula and sternum
    Dead Fred’s hand was raised in greeting, and he had a name tag stuck to his bony clavicle.
  2. rabid
    infected by an acute viral disease of the nervous system
    I attacked with the ferocity of a rabid raccoon, my fists pummeling into his sides.
  3. oblivious
    failing to keep in mind
    My classmates circled around us, not daring to say a word except for Liberty and Justice. That's because she was curious, and he was just oblivious as to when to keep his mouth shut.
  4. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    I trudged upstairs to my room after she and Gramps left and flung my backpack across the floor.
  5. anticipation
    an expectation
    What secrets did Gran’s journal hold? Did she write about just herself? Or did she add in some things about Gramps? She might’ve even written about Dad. My stomach tightened with anticipation as I opened to her first entry.
  6. obliterate
    do away with completely, without leaving a trace
    Someone had worked really hard to obliterate the image of the photo—the pieces were tiny.
  7. smithereens
    a collection of small fragments considered as a whole
    Something must have brought out the bear in him to rip their wedding photo to smithereens.
  8. grit
    clench together
    I gritted my teeth.
  9. convoluted
    highly complex or intricate
    “What are you playing at? Are you saying, in some convoluted way, that you have anger issues? Did you punch a wall or something?”
  10. acute
    experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
    “...cause of death was acute arsenic poisoning,” Tick was saying as I hunkered down under the kitchen window.
  11. hunker down
    crouch or squat into a low position
    “...cause of death was acute arsenic poisoning,” Tick was saying as I hunkered down under the kitchen window.
  12. marital
    of or relating to the state of marriage
    “Doc, were there marital problems?” Tick sounded like he wanted to melt into a puddle. “Fights? Money issues?”
  13. ailment
    an often persistent bodily disorder or disease
    “I was a doctor. For years, arsenic, in a highly diluted form, has been used to treat various ailments.”
  14. formality
    compliance with set rules
    We’ll get this straightened out. I’ll go with Keith and answer his questions. This is just a formality, right, Keith?
  15. warrant
    a judicial writ commanding police to perform specified acts
    “I can come back with a warrant if necessary,” Deputy Gomez said.
  16. gruff
    blunt and unfriendly or stern
    He’d been acting like a horse with a burr under its saddle ever since the discovery of Tabby’s ring. I could understand being shocked by the news, but edgy and gruff?
  17. frenzy
    state of violent mental agitation
    He spoke quietly, as if he was afraid his words would send me into a door-slamming frenzy like Gramps.
  18. undertaker
    one whose business is the management of funerals
    To top it off, a quick Google search showed undertakers used arsenic to embalm bodies...or at least used to.
  19. embalm
    preserve a dead body
    To top it off, a quick Google search showed undertakers used arsenic to embalm bodies...or at least used to.
  20. incriminating
    charging or suggestive of guilt or blame
    Sadly, hope of finding something incriminating in Gran’s journal was disappearing faster than fried chicken at a church picnic.
  21. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    I reached up and gingerly touched my eye. “Yeah—it’s pretty sore.”
  22. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    “You think?” I scoffed and followed. “Anyway, the police have hardly ‘figured things out.’ They’re trying to nail Gramps for the murder, which is totally screwed up. Or at least the DA is...according to Tick.”
  23. revival
    an evangelistic meeting to reawaken interest in religion
    Miss Ruth’s love for spicy mustards was as powerful as a Baptist preacher’s love for revival.
  24. ledger
    a record in which commercial accounts are recorded
    A ledger. So that’s what the books filled with columns and numbers were. Interesting. I read on but the article didn’t mention why someone would keep two different ledgers for the same year.
  25. embezzle
    appropriate fraudulently to one's own use
    “It means someone was embezzling. Stealing money from the”—I ran my finger up the description column of the ledger photo—“Memorial Fund.”
  26. contraption
    a small mechanical device or tool
    “The dishwasher hose at the bookstore needs replacing, Harley. Mr. Gordon said the dang thing leaked all day yesterday.”
    Gramps nodded. “I’ll handle it. I want that contraption in working order, since Coop will be all but married to it today.”
  27. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    Miss Velma and Mrs. Alcott were known to roll their hair at home and then spend the morning under Burma’s dryers shooting the breeze. And as long as a paying customer didn’t need to dry their hair, Burma was happy to oblige.
  28. snippet
    a small piece of anything
    Snippets of conversations rode the shampoo-and-perm-scented air onto the sidewalk to where I stood.
    “...heard poison was what done her in. And the police...”
  29. hogwash
    nonsensical or ridiculous speech or writing
    “—that’s a load of hogwash. Millie said...”
  30. wallop
    hit hard
    “I heard of all the people to wallop, you chose Beauregard Knapp.”
  31. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    He examined his wisps of hair in the mirror.
  32. sidle
    move unobtrusively or furtively
    Willy sidled up next to him. “Anything...uh...new?”
  33. pummel
    strike, usually with the fist
    “At least let me ask him about his hair before y’all start pummeling him with questions.”
  34. mite
    a slight but appreciable amount
    Mind you, I’m a mite curious myself.
  35. slew
    a large number or amount or extent
    “Based on the slew of swear words that flew from his mouth I wasn’t sure if he was even allowed to be a deacon at church anymore.”
  36. doozy
    someone or something excellent of its kind
    “It was the only fight Harley and I had, but it was a doozy. Almost destroyed our friendship.”
  37. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    “My sweet Ruth was in love with your gramps, much to my dismay. Nearly ruined our friendship.”
  38. smitten
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
    “The three of us became good friends, but I could tell she had a thing for your gramps. Harley was a looker, smart, and destined for big things. She was smitten with him.”
  39. jilt
    cast aside capriciously or unfeelingly
    Gramps had jilted Miss Ruth?!
  40. woo
    seek someone's favor
    ’Sides, I’ve had years to woo Ruth, and I think she’s finally beginning to see what a fine catch I am.
Created on Sun Oct 23 21:12:39 EDT 2022 (updated Sun Sep 10 12:28:12 EDT 2023)

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