Tumble: Chapters 12–23

by Celia C. Pérez
In a small town in New Mexico, twelve-year-old Adela Ramírez wrestles with the decision to be adopted, especially when she finds out more about her biological father.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–11, Chapters 12–23, Chapters 24–39
35 words 11 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. wiry
    lean but strong
    They were identical twins and looked a little older than me, maybe thirteen or fourteen. They were small and wiry.
  2. canvas
    a heavy, closely woven fabric
    I always assumed the mat in a ring was like a trampoline, but it was hard, solid wood with a layer of canvas-covered padding.
  3. retainer
    an appliance that holds teeth in position after treatment
    Eva picked up the tooth and its pink plastic retainer.
  4. bunting
    a loosely woven fabric used for flags, etc.
    White curtains hung from the windows, and a bunting made from scraps of different fabrics was strung along the side of the camper.
  5. terra cotta
    clay fired for pottery and building material, or the finished object
    He had the same round face as Rosie, like a smiling terra-cotta sun.
  6. frenzied
    excessively agitated
    An old stereo sat on the counter, playing classical violin music that sounded like a swarm of frenzied bumblebees.
  7. leverage
    strategic advantage; power to act effectively
    I had played the match over and over, so many times that I knew exactly when John Addams would put his foot on the bottom rope for leverage—an illegal move—and when he would blow wig powder—an illegal substance—in Manny’s face.
  8. bicker
    argue over petty things
    Uncle Mateo and Pancho were at the grill, bickering over how to light it.
  9. quirky
    strikingly unconventional
    They were nice and welcoming and quirky and funny, and I wanted to share this with Alex and with Mom.
  10. taxonomy
    a classification of organisms based on similarities
    “It looks like a taxonomy chart,” I said.
  11. phylum
    the major taxonomic group of animals and plants
    “Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.”
  12. genus
    taxonomic group containing one or more species
    “Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.”
  13. mnemonic
    a device used to aid recall
    Science and mnemonics were cool, and I didn’t really need anyone else to get it.
  14. lineage
    the kinship relation between an individual and progenitors
    “When there’s a species that paleontologists think has gone extinct because there’s no fossil record, but then it reappears, they have to try to fill in the ghost lineage. Those are the gaps, the parts of the story that are missing.”
  15. modest
    humble in spirit or manner
    “You’re a natural leader and the most creative person I know. No one else in our class would do a better job.”
    “You’re right,” Cy agreed. "Obviously.”
    “You’re also very modest,” I joked.
  16. abominable
    unequivocally detestable
    “You could be Addie the Abominable Snowman, since you’re so tall and hairy.”
  17. rafter
    one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
    I imagined some of them still hanging from the rafters, preparing to swoop down on us.
  18. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    “I always pick the same kind of person for Marie. I’ve always thought of her the same way, year after year. Just my own subconscious bias, I suppose."
  19. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    I held the bag I’d packed for the weekend on my lap, hugging it tightly and listening intently.
  20. amends
    something done or paid to make up for a wrong
    “Maybe he’s matured and realizes that this is his chance to make amends, to know his daughter.”
  21. resigned
    accepting that something unpleasant cannot be changed
    “We knew what the adoption would mean, Lourdes. He has to be part of this process.”
    “I know,” Mom said, resigned.
  22. intrigue
    cause to be interested or curious
    I was intrigued and happy that Manny was confiding in me.
  23. upholster
    provide furniture with comfortable padding or covers
    He and Rosie had matching leather upholstered chairs.
  24. flashy
    (used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display
    There were photos of Manny and my uncles together, individual portraits of them in their wrestling attire and flashy jackets like the one Speedy once wore, photos of them goofing around and putting each other in headlocks and Bravo Back Breakers.
  25. arroyo
    a stream or brook
    From where I sat, I could see that he had scars on his forehead, some faint like rivulets and some deep and pronounced like dry arroyos.
  26. chronic
    long-lasting or characterized by long suffering
    I read about something called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which happened to people who played sports where concussions were common.
  27. contradiction
    opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
    "Maybe things are not always great, but they are good, no? Do I have regrets? Yes. Am I happy with my life? Also yes. Life is full of contradictions.”
  28. sliver
    (figurative) a small or narrow piece or slice
    The moon was a thin golden sliver like the little hoop earrings I wore.
  29. contender
    the contestant you hope to defeat
    "Besides, Abuelo, you have other contenders in the room,” Maggie said. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
  30. prompt
    urge, encourage, or motivate someone to act
    “And what else?" Eva prompted.
  31. lucid
    capable of thinking in a clear and consistent manner
    Pancho seemed lucid now; he recognized me.
  32. bearing
    (usually plural) a person's awareness of self
    “I’m still getting my bearings,” he said, driving up the path that led out of the property. “My plan isn’t to live with my parents and borrow my dad’s truck forever like some teenager, you know.”
  33. de rigueur
    required by etiquette, custom, or fashion
    Normally, Cy would never wear a baseball cap, but when she showed up at school that morning, she said it was de rigueur for a director to wear one.
  34. obligated
    caused by law or conscience to follow a certain course
    “I just don’t want you to feel trapped or obligated. Or like you owe it to anyone.”
  35. spiteful
    showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt
    She dipped a tot in salsa and gave Brandon a spiteful look.
Created on Fri Nov 24 08:57:48 EST 2023 (updated Fri Nov 24 14:44:35 EST 2023)

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