Love Is a Revolution: Chapters 6–14

by Renée Watson
The summer before her high school senior year, Nala Robertson meets Tye Brown at a Harlem talent show, which inspires her to be more proactive in her relationships and community.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–14, Chapters 15–31
30 words 22 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. feat
    a notable achievement
    “Okay, so first—you need to fold it like this…,” and Sadie teaches me how to do a head wrap in three different ways, and I think she should do a tutorial for YouTube because she’s taught me how to do it and that is no small feat.
  2. clarification
    an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding
    “Um, do we know any other Tye?” I smile when I say this, but when I look at Imani, I realize her question wasn’t for clarification—it is the kind of question that asks, really?
  3. exquisite
    delicately beautiful
    and what the mirror whispers is:
    girl you are exquisite
  4. bodega
    small shop selling groceries, especially in a Hispanic area
    I think maybe I’ll take the bus, but instead I walk and stop at the bodega to get chips and something to drink.
  5. itinerary
    a proposed route of travel
    Ms. Norma says, “Girl, it’s not like it was when we were raising our children. These young folks have full itineraries. Places to be, people to see.”
  6. adorn
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
    She is adorned in pearls today and a sleeveless navy blue sundress.
  7. legacy
    anything handed down by someone or something in the past
    I type back, Planning a photo legacy project for the Open Studio at Sugar Hill.
  8. falafel
    fried croquette of mashed chickpeas and spices
    “I’ll have two falafel gyros, please.”
  9. serene
    not agitated
    Up top, things were serene, but down here the noise is piercing, especially the man with the bullhorn who is reading from a book, loud and passionate like a preacher on Sunday morning...
  10. piercing
    having or emitting a high-pitched tone or tones
    Up top, things were serene, but down here the noise is piercing, especially the man with the bullhorn who is reading from a book, loud and passionate like a preacher on Sunday morning...
  11. sham
    something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
    What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer...the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity.
  12. vanity
    feelings of excessive pride
    To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity.
  13. prospect
    someone who is considered for something
    “Okay, here’s the situation—when there’s someone to tell you about, I will. Until then, you can assume that there are no good prospects.”
  14. flashy
    tastelessly showy
    “Now, you know she hates surprises, so that’s out, and she’s not too flashy, so nothing over the top.”
  15. cue
    a reminder for some action or speech
    “This is my cue to exit stage left.”
  16. downplay
    understate the importance or quality of
    “You don’t have to do that,” Tye says.
    “Do what?”
    “Downplay how frustrated you are. Of course she loves you, but that’s not the point. And that goes for your mom too.”
  17. facility
    a building or place that provides a particular service
    This is the perfect time to tell him that my grandmother’s facility is just her home, not a place where I work.
  18. neutral
    lacking distinguishing quality or characteristics
    “Tan is not too bold or bright,” Tye says. “And it matches everything. I like neutral colors,” he tells me. “And I don’t look at neutral colors as bland or boring. I think they’re just laid back. Chill.”
  19. conceited
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
    I don’t mean to sound conceited or anything, but I mean, I’m handling my business, I’m doing the right thing.
  20. wallow
    devote oneself entirely to something
    “Tye, it’s okay. It’s okay to sit here and be sad. I mean, you don’t have to wallow in it all day, but you don’t always have to look on the bright side of things. Sometimes, you have to acknowledge what’s hurting you. How else will you ever heal?”
  21. tenet
    a basic principle or belief that is accepted as true
    “So, you know how our tenets for Inspire Harlem are Remember Harlem, Honor Harlem, Critique Harlem, and Love Harlem?”
  22. practical
    concerned with actual use
    My team is great, don’t get me wrong—Imani, Toya, and Asher have taken care of all the technical, practical things we need for the day. The flyers are printed, the brochures are ordered. The vendors are booked.
  23. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
    But yeah, we have some more thinking to do when it comes to the party aspect of things.
  24. stoop
    small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
    We walk the last few blocks to my house, and soon we are standing at my stoop.
  25. ebb
    fall away or decline
    The line ebbs and flows throughout the day. Every time we think we’re done, more little ones show up.
  26. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    I love that he is passionate, thoughtful, that he’s so respectful and just outright nice, but sometimes that passion and thoughtfulness is a bit clueless and can feel condescending.
  27. regal
    belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
    The majestic building is just as regal as Grandma, just as stoic.
  28. stoic
    seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
    The majestic building is just as regal as Grandma, just as stoic.
  29. rile
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    “That woman is really something else. I’ve been living here longer than she’s been alive.” JT is all riled up now.
  30. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
    But they need to put some respect on it. I’m their elder. I don’t like that chastising tone.
Created on Wed Dec 21 09:11:16 EST 2022 (updated Fri Jun 30 13:13:53 EDT 2023)

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.