Warrior Girl Unearthed: Week One

by Angeline Boulley
Also a Firekeeper's Daughter, sixteen-year-old Pearl (Perry) Mary Firekeeper-Birch would rather be fishing on Sugar Island, but as a summer intern, she becomes involved in a database of missing and murdered Indigenous women throughout Michigan.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Week One, Week Two, Weeks Three–Four, Weeks Five–Seven, Week Eight–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    The narrow dirt road is an obstacle course of curves, dips, and bumps that continues for a half mile. It ends in a loop at a dilapidated log building where our tribe used to hold camps for learning stuff, like how to smoke whitefish or make maple syrup.
  2. condemn
    declare or judge unfit for use or habitation
    “Why’s the Tribe having the summer interns come here for orientation instead of the bougie new camp in town? Isn’t this place condemned?”
  3. immerse
    devote fully to
    “To immerse us in culture without distractions.”
    “More like immersed in mosquitoes.”
  4. trill
    sing or play alternating with the half note above or below
    I trill a fierce, high-pitched lee-lee to begin the Perry Firekeeper-Birch 2014 Summer of Slack.
  5. deploy
    use or distribute systematically or strategically
    The deployed airbag blocks my view.
  6. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
    Her messy brunette topknot adds three inches to her already considerable height. And with the stacked heels on her black ankle boots, she is halfway between six and seven feet.
  7. glower
    an angry stare
    Her slash of red lipstick is pressed in a disapproving glower.
  8. dividend
    earnings of a corporation distributed to its shareholders
    Zack said he’d accept an IOU with two years of interest for when I turn eighteen and start getting per cap, the profit-sharing dividends that our tribal citizens receive from the Superior Shores Casino.
  9. rationale
    an explanation of the fundamental reasons
    It remained empty for a year before Tribal Council decided it would be “forward thinking” to relocate the Cultural Learning Center here. Their rationale was that a downtown location would be convenient for everyone who wanted to learn about our history and culture.
  10. sprig
    a small branch or stem, usually with leaves or flowers
    I find a cedar bush behind a bench. I whisper a prayer and offer the semaa from my pocket before breaking off two flat sprigs from the bush.
  11. disengage
    release from something that holds fast or entangles
    A buzzer goes off, and I hear the tiny click of an electronic lock being disengaged.
  12. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    My sneakers interrupt a barely visible red laser light across the threshold.
  13. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    The column is actually an LED cylinder screen, now displaying a realistic-looking campfire surrounded by rocks and with wisps of smoke rising to the sky.
  14. reverberate
    ring or echo with sound
    A crisp drumbeat reverberates around the space.
  15. contemporary
    belonging to the present time
    Examples of contemporary art are next to older pieces to show the inspiration from previous generations.
  16. meander
    move or cause to move in a winding or curving course
    I dodge tourists meandering by the many gift shops across from the Soo Locks.
  17. tchotchke
    an inexpensive showy trinket
    Every surface of the store is covered with tchotchkes for tourists. Mugs, photo frames, and hand towels feature the Mackinac Bridge, freighters, bears, or fish.
  18. gritty
    composed of or covered with small particles
    “Would you like me to take down the sign from the window?” I offer in a syrupy voice that crystallizes into something gritty between my teeth.
  19. distinction
    an identifying difference
    Posing as my well-liked twin is not an option either. We may have started out identical, but, according to Mom and Pops, sixteen years of my living life “full throttle” has left visible distinctions. My left eyebrow is nicked by a scar.
  20. obscure
    make unclear or less visible
    I thought he was younger than me, though it’s hard to tell with light brown hair obscuring everything above his shoulders.
  21. tackle
    gear used in fishing
    My plans are to change clothes and grab my backpack, tackle box, and pole.
  22. amends
    something done or paid to make up for a wrong
    On the other hand, doing a favor for Auntie might help make amends for the Jeep.
  23. lineage
    the kinship relation between an individual and progenitors
    Junior, running next to the boy, nudges him back to the yard.
    Somewhere in my rez dog’s lineage is a sheepdog ancestor.
  24. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    Even hobbling over to the castle is an ordeal.
  25. squeamish
    easily disturbed or disgusted by unpleasant things
    Right now, I appreciate his willingness to bait his own hook. Pauline still gets squeamish and makes me do hers.
  26. reel
    wind onto or off a revolving spool
    “How did you get so good at fishing, Auntie Perry?” Waab asks as the fish I reel in spins like a ballerina.
  27. warp
    cause to become abnormal, unhealthy, or improper
    I’m known for saying exactly what’s on my mind. But when I’m talking with my little cousin, I choose my words carefully. He’s a deep thinker, and I don’t want to warp him.
  28. vintage
    old but having enduring appeal or importance; classic
    “Pearl Mary Firekeeper-Birch, right?” says a perky Nish kwe wearing vintage cat-eye frames.
  29. angler
    a fisherman who uses a hook and line
    Lucas greets me with “Hey, it’s the second-best angler on Sugar Island.”
  30. subsequent
    following in time or order
    I tune out subsequent introductions and play tic-tac-toe with Lucas.
  31. extravaganza
    any lavishly staged or spectacular entertainment
    I’m debating which highlight to share—Tuesday’s glass-display-case cleaning, Wednesday’s wood-surface-polishing extravaganza, or Thursday’s double feature of vacuuming every carpet in the museum and sweeping the scary basement that Cooper calls “the archives.”
  32. gauge
    judge tentatively or form an estimate of
    The lie flows like sweet sap from a sugar maple tree. I sit quickly, not bothering to gauge any reactions.
  33. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    Our cruise director’s smile falters as she walks away with a bit less pep in her step.
  34. nepotism
    favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power
    Shense’s name tag lists her placement in the surveillance office at the Superior Shores Casino and Resort. Her dad is the head of surveillance. There are hiring policies against nepotism, but it’s possible her dad requested an exemption since she’s an intern rather than a permanent employee.
  35. reconvene
    meet or cause to meet again
    After a bathroom break, we reconvene for the first team challenge.
  36. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    She gives us a wry smile revealing a canine tooth that juts forward.
  37. idle
    silly or trivial
    Claire reminds everyone this is a working lunch for brainstorming ideas, not idle chatter.
  38. tedious
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
    The tasks I’m doing are more tedious than horrible.
  39. unanimous
    in complete agreement
    A team could pick one or more persons to represent the team, but the decision needed to be unanimous.
  40. rousing
    capable of stirring enthusiasm or excitement
    The screen shows our quick huddle. The video captures Lucas’s rousing speech.
Created on Sun Jan 07 12:31:49 EST 2024 (updated Mon Jan 08 14:16:30 EST 2024)

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