Maizy Chen's Last Chance: Chapters 28–55

by Lisa Yee
After her grandfather becomes sick, eleven-year-old Maizy moves from Los Angeles to Last Chance, Minnesota, where she struggles to fit in as her family's Chinese restaurant is targeted with racist attacks.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–27, Chapters 28–55, Chapter 56–Epilogue
35 words 49 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    “Do you have any photos of the two of you when you were young?”
    Opa pretends to bristle. “What do you mean? I’m young now!”
  2. harbor
    secretly shelter, as a fugitive or criminal
    Maizy, our family didn’t harbor criminals. We gave people food and jobs.
  3. thesis
    a treatise advancing a point of view resulting from research
    A short article titled “Searching for the Chinese in Minnesota” catches my attention. It’s about a graduate student named Emmy Tsai who’s doing research for her thesis.
  4. curlicue
    a short twisting line or flourish
    In light brown ink, I can make out his name in curlicue handwriting at the bottom of the photo.
  5. custom
    made according to the specifications of an individual
    I’ve decided that what the Golden Palace needs is custom fortune cookies. Ever since Oma gave me Wite-Out to paint over mistakes, typing’s been easier. Our customers love my fortunes and have started asking for the special cookies.
  6. swoon
    be overwhelmed with ecstasy, especially when encountering something or someone you admire
    When he first walked in, I may have swooned slightly. He’s so cute!
  7. grizzled
    having gray or partially gray hair
    The grizzled old restaurant owner, nicknamed Happy, couldn't mask his enthusiasm.
  8. venture
    proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
    It took months before he ventured into the dining area, and when he did, the room went silent.
  9. prejudiced
    showing bias or bigotry or influenced by preconceived ideas
    You can forget that there are prejudiced people out there and think things are good. Then one comes along, you’re surprised all over again.
  10. posse
    a temporary police force
    Just when he'd almost given up hope, Sheriff Swain arrived, backed by a posse that included Happy and several locals.
  11. substantial
    having a firm basis in reality and therefore important
    “I used to write about weightier things than who carved the best cow out of butter at the state fair. My goal is to get back to more substantial work and win it again one day.”
  12. stellar
    distinguished from others in excellence
    Opa says that my bluffing skills are stellar, but I need to be more aggressive.
  13. speculate
    believe, especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
    Others speculated that he went to work for a Chinese businessman who had opened a store in Saint Paul.
  14. flushed
    reddened as if with blood from emotion or exertion
    “Really? You think so?” Daisy’s face is flushed.
  15. repeal
    cancel officially
    During WWII, China and America were on the same side. It would have been awkward if the US was banning Chinese immigrants, so in 1943 the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed.
  16. quota
    a prescribed number
    But even then, only about a hundred Chinese were allowed into the country each year. In 1965 all quota systems were abolished.
  17. rhetoric
    loud and confused and empty talk
    I know that anti-immigrant rhetoric and anti-Asian crimes are scary.
  18. pomp
    ceremonial elegance and splendor
    “I adore the royal family, all that pomp,” she tells Riley even though Logan is still talking.
  19. compassion
    the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others
    “Your compassion for baby animals does not go unnoticed,” Mrs. Fisk commends Riley.
  20. commend
    express approval of
    “Your compassion for baby animals does not go unnoticed,” Mrs. Fisk commends Riley.
  21. partial
    having a strong preference or liking for
    Werner is partial to the Golden Palace’s savory dishes. “I’ve never met a chili pepper that I didn’t like,'' he says.
  22. blanch
    cook (vegetables) briefly
    In the kitchen, Daisy blanches baby bok choy to stir-fry with oyster sauce.
  23. garner
    acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
    Emmy says that she posted a “Last Chance Paper Sons” inquiry online and it’s garnering some interest.
  24. bicker
    argue over petty things
    Oma and Opa bicker all the time, but you can tell they love each other.
  25. wistfully
    in a pensively sad manner
    “I loved college,” she adds wistfully.
  26. snooty
    overly conceited or arrogant
    “This face is irresistible! Once your grandmother got her snooty nose out of the air to get a good look at my handsome mug, she started chasing me.”
  27. enact
    order by virtue of superior authority; decree
    He came to America before the exclusion law was enacted.
  28. arson
    malicious burning to destroy property
    "Arson." Sheriff Swain shook his head as he looked at the Golden Palace's charred walls and burnt furniture the next morning.
  29. smolder
    burn slowly and without a flame
    Lucky motioned to a smoldering pile of wood.
  30. vintage
    old but having enduring appeal or importance; classic
    Principal Holmes shows up in a vintage Surf's Up T-shirt, and Lady Macbeth’s dress has a festive flower pattern on it.
  31. serenade
    sing and play for somebody
    Then I slowly whirl my grandparents around as Oma sits on Opa’s lap and Don Ho serenades them with “Hawaiian Wedding Song.”
  32. meringue
    sweet dessert or topping made of beaten egg whites and sugar
    And the meringue so sweet I want to marry it!
  33. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    The durian has such a pungent smell that it’s banned on public transportation in Singapore.
  34. adrenaline
    hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress
    I’m flooded with relief, but then seconds later a surge of adrenaline hits me so hard I almost lose my balance. “Who was it?” I grab Mom’s arm. “Come on, let’s go! They can’t be too far away—”
  35. solvent
    a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
    Principal Holmes shows up with solvent to remove the paint.
Created on Mon Oct 31 12:56:23 EDT 2022 (updated Fri Nov 18 17:34:27 EST 2022)

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