Love, Ruby Lavender: Chapters 9–17

by Deborah Wiles
When her grandmother Miss Eula leaves Mississippi for the summer, nine-year-old Ruby Lavender misses their adventures, so they write letters to continue sharing their lives.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 8, Chapters 9–17, Chapters 18–27
30 words 25 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    She was licked to a gloss in a poofy scarlet dress, shiny black shoes, and enough bangle bracelets on her wrists to sound like a tiny band.
  2. sashay
    walk with a lofty proud gait, often to impress others
    Melba sashayed to the porch, sweetly smiling, and put a gloved hand to her cheek.
  3. sweltering
    excessively hot and humid; marked by sweating and faintness
    We were just enjoying root-beer floats on this sweltering day.
  4. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Ruby sat cross-legged on a porch rocker and watched Dove, whose blue eyes were transfixed, mesmerized by Melba Jane, the walking beauty shop.
  5. mesmerized
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Ruby sat cross-legged on a porch rocker and watched Dove, whose blue eyes were transfixed, mesmerized by Melba Jane, the walking beauty shop.
  6. poised
    marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
    Dove had her notebook out, her pencil poised.
  7. dainty
    affectedly refined
    She arranged herself daintily in the chair and with her pinky finger pointed to Dove’s tape recorder.
  8. suitable
    meant or adapted for an occasion or use
    “This is turning out to be quite the day. I don’t think a story like this is suitable for Tot, in her delicate condition.”
  9. delicate
    exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing
    Melba cleared her throat delicately.
  10. resolve
    the trait of being firm in purpose or belief
    Melba’s voice was even and strong, like she had rehearsed these sentences a thousand times, and in spite of her resolve to leave, Ruby listened.
  11. vague
    not clearly understood or expressed
    She heard a vague echoing from the porch.
  12. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    Dove held out her plate and spoke in a coaxing voice. “Here. These are from Aunt Tot. They’re cookies. She was worried about you. Me, too.”
  13. tussle
    fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
    Bemmie and Bess tussled over the corn. They sounded like two old women screaming at each other.
  14. beeline
    the most direct route
    Bemmie made a beeline for Ivy’s nest.
  15. gorge
    overeat or eat immodestly
    Bemmie squawked and Bess gorged.
  16. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    Ruby bristled and stalked into the Pink Palace, leaving the plate of cookies on the porch.
  17. sensitive
    responsive to physical stimuli
    “Get that stuff off your face!” I told her. “You’ll scare Ivy. She’s sensitive.”
  18. liberate
    grant freedom to; free from confinement
    You are not a chicken thief! You are a Chicken Liberator of the Highest Order. If I am ever a chicken and need liberating, I know just who to call.
  19. slat
    a thin strip of wood or metal
    Bemmie wore a bandanna collar with a ribbon tied to it and looped around the wagon slats.
  20. notion
    a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
    She hadn’t the first notion how to go about looking for a runaway chicken.
  21. hysterical
    characterized by a state of violent mental agitation
    “It’s okay! It’s only a chicken! A chicken!” But Melba wasn’t okay. She was hysterical.
  22. scrabble
    grope, scratch, or feel searchingly
    Ruby lunged for Bemmie, but Bemmie scrabbled across Melba’s back.
  23. veer
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
    Miss Mattie tried to swat her with her clipboard, but Bemmie veered and raced for the open back door of the schoolhouse and ran out.
  24. canteen
    a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
    I have a lantern with batteries, a big flashlight, a canteen of water, two Moon Pies (lucky number), and the dictionary, so I can read calming words to Ivy while the chicks hatch.
  25. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
    “Moreover...moron...morose…” Ruby had opened the dictionary on the counter, propped her elbows on either side of it, and read randomly on the page.
  26. glare
    look at with a fixed or angry gaze
    Ruby glared at Dove. “You just want to record your gossipy old stories—that’s all you want to do. You’re just as nosy as Miss Phoebe and her column.”
  27. in earnest
    in a serious manner
    Ivy began clucking in earnest and moving on the nest, a little left, a little right, then settling again.
  28. bale
    a large bundle bound for storage or transport
    Dove lunged for the bucket, kicking it and wedging it between bales of straw.
  29. triumphant
    joyful and proud especially because of success
    “Here’s an egg!” Dove sounded triumphant, then suddenly defeated. “It’s broken to pieces.”
  30. brandish
    move or swing back and forth
    Ruby brandished the crumpled note and waved it in front of Miss Mattie, but she wouldn’t give it up.
Created on Wed Feb 08 12:03:02 EST 2023 (updated Wed Feb 08 17:01:41 EST 2023)

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