Grounded: Chapters 19–35

by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, S.K. Ali
Stuck at an airport during a thunderstorm, four tweens (Taufeek Stiles, Hanna Chen, Sami Iqbal, and Nora Najjar) recognize each other from the Muslims of North America conference and bond over the search for a lost sister and cat.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–8, Chapters 9–18, Chapters 19–35, Chapter 36–Epilogue
40 words 12 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. nook
    a secluded place, corner, or recessed area
    Once we get there, we’ll turn right and find the one that opens into the Zoomi store—where, tucked into some cozy nook, Snickerdoodle may be dreaming of her rescuers bursting in at any moment.
  2. bonanza
    a sudden happening that brings good fortune
    Bonanza. I point ahead. “Snickerdoodle is probably behind one of those doors.”
  3. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    Suddenly, wisps of something I’d read somewhere comes to me: something about hospitals and animals and an airport in California.
  4. personnel
    group of people willing to obey orders
    I step forward quietly, and as the door the person in scrubs left from is about to shut—a door that says AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY in big red writing—I fold my fingers on the handle.
  5. sidle
    move unobtrusively or furtively
    Then, like a ghost, I sidle inside.
  6. array
    lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line
    When I see the needle-disposal container with a huge red skull sticker and the rows of medical equipment neatly arrayed on the shelf inside the small closet-like space, it all comes back to me—what I couldn’t put my finger on before.
  7. restraint
    a device that hinders something's motion
    Long medical tools (For what? Surgery?) lie out on a little table. Are those restraints around the narrow bed? To strap someone down?
  8. squeamish
    easily disturbed or disgusted by unpleasant things
    “Alfred’s squeamish about the articles. Lost cats make for bad press.”
  9. conspiracy
    a group banded together to achieve some harmful purpose
    This is even bigger than Snickerdoodle. It’s a conspiracy! They’re getting rid of them? And squashing whoever gets in their way?
  10. usher
    accompany or escort
    By now we’ve made it to the door with the guard at our backs. She ushers us out and then points rather emphatically to the obvious sign for the men’s and women’s bathrooms.
  11. legitimate
    in accordance with accepted standards or principles
    I search for some legitimate reason why we went in the wrong door, but it’s as if my mind has lost all its words.
  12. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    Sami is already at the train, leaning against the door frame, holding it open. Ruqi is still clinging to Feek’s neck when they cross the threshold.
  13. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    I’m about to type the ominous phrase “Get Rid of Them” as the title for my notes when I catch a glimpse of Ruqi’s eyes.
  14. tranquilize
    cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to
    “In the San Marzino Airport, they were tranquilizing flying pets without their owners’ permission.”
  15. administration
    the group of people who manage or direct an institution
    “Yeah,” Sami says, “and I bet your mom knows someone in charge of airports who can help us. You know, someone in the Federal Aviation Administration.”
  16. snarky
    rudely sarcastic and mocking in tone or manner
    I turn to Feek and say, “See, I told you.”
    I hear my snarky tone and add in a more mature voice, “Everyone thinks NokNok is about getting attention for yourself, but when used well, it’s really about reaching people. This is kind of like my job. I’m actually working here.”
  17. ploy
    a maneuver in a game, conversation, or situation
    My team and I think we may have spotted her inside this sky lounge, so I’m going to use a missing-earring ploy to sneak in and have a look around.
  18. escort
    accompany
    With Carol escorting me to the bathroom, it’s going to be up to them to get inside and look around.
  19. prone
    having a tendency
    She laughs and says she has a daughter my age and that, yes, she’s prone to misplacing things too.
  20. wilt
    become limp
    “Four kids walking into a sky lounge is the distraction. There’s no way these people won’t notice us,” Sami says. His shoulders wilt.
  21. plush
    characterized by extravagance and softness
    I look around the carpeted, high-ceilinged room, with plush leather chairs shaped like fancy boxes—boxes filled with people.
  22. policy
    a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
    “Hey, I don’t think you’re allowed to do this in here,” a man in a three-piece suit says. “This is the sky lounge.”
    I make sure my voice is calm when I say, “It’s a new policy, for entertainment purposes.”
  23. dubious
    not convinced
    “I should step inside to be sure. The gold kind of blends in with this tile.”
    She gives me a dubious look, and I wonder if I’ve taken things too far.
  24. tentative
    hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
    Because she’d sort of danced like Sami. Though her dancing was not tentative like his, but prouder, with more energy in her pendulum movements.
  25. refrain
    part of a song or poem that recurs at regular intervals
    “E-I-E-I-OOOOOOOOO!” I sing along to the refrain of Feek’s pretty awful yodeling-rap.
  26. snobby
    tending to associate only with people of a similar background
    It takes my all to continue sticking my cup out like I really mean for these snobby people to fork over cash for this “talent”—though no one has put even a penny in.
  27. sliver
    (figurative) a small or narrow piece or slice
    His adult looks up at me for a sliver of a moment and then goes back to her phone.
  28. allocate
    distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose
    There’s a sticker that says ONBOARD: SEAT ALLOCATED on top of Michelangelo’s carrier.
  29. privileged
    blessed with special advantages
    Why can’t all animals be treated so preciously?
    Why are only some privileged to be privileged?
    Why can’t every being be treasured for being?
  30. petrified
    struck with fear and unable to move
    I need to do something. I need to break out of the petrified state I find myself in and get a broom. Clean up. Fix this.
  31. dignified
    formal or stately in bearing or appearance
    It does say the sky lounge is meant to be dignified and businesslike.
  32. survey
    look over carefully or inspect
    The attendant gasps as she surveys the chaos.
  33. tendril
    something long, light, slender, and often curling
    Her ponytail has come loose; stray tendrils of hair frame her face as she looks around frantically.
  34. brink
    the limit beyond which something happens or changes
    Even though I was terrified inside, it was like I was on the brink of saving the world.
  35. blare
    make a loud noise
    And the next minute, the announcement blares through the speakers overhead, stating in no uncertain terms that we are wanted.
  36. fugitive
    someone who is sought by law officers
    That’s what all of us are. Fugitives. We are on the run.
  37. stifle
    smother or suppress
    I glance at Ruqi and stifle a sob.
  38. stooge
    an obedient follower who works for someone else's advantage
    “It’s like this hadeeth my dad likes to say,” I tell her, saying it loud enough for these four stooges to hear. “If you see evil, change it with your hand, and if you can’t, do it with your tongue, and if you can’t, hate it in your heart, but that’s the weakest. We can’t let them get away with this.”
  39. garbled
    lacking orderly continuity
    Nora pulls out her phone and turns up the volume. But there’s only muffled sounds, garbled voices, thundering footsteps, and a video that is too blurry and shaky to make out anything.
  40. tabloid
    sensationalist newspaper with half-size pages
    “The San Marzino Airport was a made-up story fueled by a tabloid that is currently in court being sued for fanning untruths.”
Created on Fri Aug 02 09:43:04 EDT 2024 (updated Fri Aug 02 17:58:03 EDT 2024)

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