The Boy Who Met a Whale: Chapters 7–15

by Nizrana Farook
On the island of Serendib, twelve-year-old Razi has not been in the water since his father died in a fishing accident, but then he meets a young stranded sailor who needs his help.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–15, Chapters 16–24, Chapters 25–36
40 words 11 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. agog
    highly excited
    “Ooh,” said Shifa, all agog, reaching out for it.
  2. accommodation
    living quarters provided for public convenience
    I lived in accommodations close to the docks when we weren’t on the seas.
  3. reverence
    a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
    Zheng closed his eyes, speaking with a kind of reverence.
  4. saffron
    aromatic dried stigmas of a crocus flower, used as flavoring
    Great pots of pepper and saffron and cinnamon.
  5. appeal
    attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
    “Couldn’t see the appeal myself. It was all dull and old looking.”
  6. enrapture
    hold spellbound
    Shifa, in spite of her skepticism, was staring, enraptured. Here was Zheng, a total stranger from another world, with a wildly fascinating story that was creeping closer and closer to home with every word.
  7. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    She was transfixed, her hand over her mouth in horror.
  8. spare
    save or relieve from an experience or action
    “The boat was tossed around for hours by the storm. I couldn’t see anything, even the ship. In a way I’m glad I was spared the sight of it breaking up, and the debris, and...”
  9. distinctive
    of a feature that helps to identify a person or thing
    Razi strolled through the bustle wearing a ragged straw hat pulled low over his head to hide his distinctive curly hair.
  10. basin
    a bowl-shaped vessel used for holding food or liquids
    The traders came first, buying up big batches that they took away in carts, and then servants from the houses in town arrived, carrying away thickly sliced chunks of fish in brass basins to cook for lunch.
  11. haggle
    wrangle, as over a price or terms of an agreement
    Today, someone else was in it, haggling with a buyer over a mound of fat prawns.
  12. prawn
    shrimp-like crustacean often used as food
    Today, someone else was in it, haggling with a buyer over a mound of fat prawns.
  13. sear
    cause a burning or stinging pain
    Razi felt the heat sear into his heart even more.
  14. resounding
    characterized by loud, deep sound
    The fish hit the man on the cheek with a resounding smack, leaving an imprint of redness and fish scales behind.
  15. mangle
    destroy or injure severely
    Razi tossed the mangled fish aside and ran off like the wind, his heart pounding, his whole body shaking with rage.
  16. livelihood
    the financial means whereby one supports oneself
    He couldn’t be the son that his father would have been proud of. He had given up, and now the livelihood that they had built up was gone too.
  17. necessarily
    in an essential manner
    “I don’t distrust you! I just don’t necessarily trust you.”
  18. bureaucracy
    unnecessary procedures that obstruct action
    “If you’re going with him, I need to have an idea of where you’ll be. What if you get into trouble?”
    “So much bureaucracy,” said Zheng.
  19. brandish
    exhibit aggressively
    His eyes fell on Shifa brandishing the stick.
  20. veranda
    a porch along the outside of a building
    Over the man’s shoulder, Razi could see the beachfront, with children flying kites, and the town houses with wide verandas beginning where the more modest fishermen’s houses stopped.
  21. modest
    limited in size or scope
    Over the man’s shoulder, Razi could see the beachfront, with children flying kites, and the town houses with wide verandas beginning where the more modest fishermen’s houses stopped.
  22. fritter
    fried batter containing meat, vegetables, or fruit
    The smell of frying prawns came from the food cart selling freshly made fritters on the beach.
  23. stealthily
    in a manner marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    He ran stealthily after Marco, keeping his distance.
  24. contract
    squeeze or push together
    Razi’s insides contracted with pain.
  25. distraught
    deeply agitated especially from emotion
    Shifa looked distraught as she slid something out of her pocket.
  26. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
    Razi gawked at the map, with its intricate details and markings on the thick paper.
  27. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    Shifa cocked her head to one side and looked at him intently, her cheeks streaky with tears.
  28. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
    He sailed off apprehensively, keeping as close to the shore as he could.
  29. trepidation
    a feeling of alarm or dread
    This was the first time he’d been in a boat since the accident. Razi knew he had no choice but to do this, but his limbs were stiff and cold with trepidation.
  30. landlubber
    a person who is unfamiliar with sailing or the sea
    Shifa, for all her cleverness, was very much a landlubber and not much use at sea.
  31. clamber
    climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    He gave her a hand and she clambered into the boat.
  32. petrify
    cause to become stunned or immobile, as with fear or awe
    Shifa was staring at him petrified, like a seer caught on a line.
  33. myriad
    too numerous to be counted
    Underneath the surface, the coral on the seabed glinted with myriad colors, bony fingers of bright oranges, yellows, and pinks speckled by shoals of darting red-striped fish.
  34. shoal
    a large group of fish
    Underneath the surface, the coral on the seabed glinted with myriad colors, bony fingers of bright oranges, yellows, and pinks speckled by shoals of darting red-striped fish.
  35. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    Razi sat up and looked down at himself in dismay. “Yes, a bit wet, that’s all.”
  36. undulate
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
    The sea had deepened into a rolling, undulating green.
  37. ebb
    flow back or recede
    “The sea looks so beautiful, doesn’t it?” said Shifa, glancing around at the endless blue. Waves crested and ebbed gently and all else was still.
  38. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    Shifa scoffed as they changed places. “I hope you don’t believe Zheng’s nonsense about monsters. I wonder what that label actually said.”
  39. mullet
    freshwater or coastal food fish with a spindle-shaped body
    Terror hit Razi like a ton of mullet slapped on the beach.
  40. mottled
    having spots or patches of color
    The sea under them had gone gray and mottled.
Created on Thu Dec 07 16:13:41 EST 2023 (updated Sat Dec 09 12:38:03 EST 2023)

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