Free Period: Chapters 12–14

by Ali Terese
In this novel, best friends Helen and Gracie fight to stay out of trouble, maintain their friendship, and help secure free access to menstrual hygiene products for students at their middle school.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1-2, Chapters 3-4, Chapters 5-6, Chapters 7-9, Chapters 10-11, Chapters 12-14, Chapters 15-18, Chapters 19-21, Chapters 22-25, Chapters 26-29.

25 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. destructive
    causing damage
    “Ones that aren’t destructive?” she shot back.
  2. indication
    something that serves to suggest
    I didn’t know how most people could ever be part of this if my parents were any indication.
  3. downside
    a negative aspect of something that is generally positive
    It was a direct solution with simplified logistics and no apparent downsides.
  4. encourage
    spur on
    “Picture it! We turn this cafeteria into a movie theater. Screen a really empowering film. Parents and kids are encouraged to come together. We provide snacks and a post-movie conversation. Everyone donates what they can, and we use that money to buy the pads.”
  5. jolt
    a sudden jarring impact
    The idea that any ten-year-old would care about “legacy giving” unless their parent told them to was the jolt I needed.
  6. clarity
    the quality of being coherent and easily understood
    Part of me was itching to destroy the mathematical basis for their pizza predictions, but they didn’t deserve that kind of life-changing clarity.
  7. opt
    select as an alternative over another
    I decided against going ballistic and opted to ask them to do their thing already.
  8. inclusivity
    the practice of promoting diversity and equal opportunity
    “I serve on the school’s equality and inclusivity committee.”
  9. titter
    laugh nervously
    There was a bunch of tittering, chuckling, and even a few guffaws.
  10. fluke
    a stroke of luck
    “Last night was a fluke. We’ll worry about that,” I said.
  11. delinquent
    a young offender
    “Oh great, just what we need, a juvenile delinquent Yoda. This will work because we will make it work. But you make sure Gracie doesn’t bake anything disgusting. We need these people paying, not puking.”
  12. banish
    send away from a place of residence, as for punishment
    “My moms have voluntarily banished themselves to moonlight yoga in the back. We have the kitchen to ourselves, with a rather polite request to not burn the house down. Who is ready to bake?”
  13. vis-a-vis
    a person or thing having the same characteristics as another
    “Gracie, can we talk about this menu, vis-à-vis the school board disaster?” Larisa said, chewing on her rice paper.
  14. ovation
    enthusiastic recognition
    Helen gave me a solo standing ovation.
  15. bonanza
    a sudden happening that brings good fortune
    “The First Annual Darlington Middle School Community Action Club Endo-TREAT-rium Bake Sale Bonanza,” I read.
  16. clot
    a lump of material formed from the content of a liquid
    “Was it about clots?”
  17. faze
    disturb the composure of
    She didn’t seem fazed by the silence at all, declaring, “Let’s. Get. Baking!”
  18. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
    You want to give the feeling of abundance, like someone is about to climb into a confectionery cornucopia by buying a treat in this ecstatic togetherness experience, rather than making it look like an exclusive opportunity.
  19. tiered
    having or arranged in layers or levels
    Which is why I brought shoeboxes as risers for the cookie sheets to create a tiered effect and made sure all the pastries were as close together as possible without touching.
  20. impeccable
    without error or flaw
    She bought one, took a bite, and immediately proved to have impeccable taste by saying, “This is the perfect combination of salty and sweet and crunchy and gooey. Genius.”
  21. convention
    a large formal assembly
    “No one told me there was an idiot convention today. Sign us up,” Ruth said, biting into an Adorable Absorbable and dangling a dollar in front of Madison.
  22. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    Mary looked more pensive than I’d ever seen her.
  23. corrupt
    debase morally
    “What is the point of opting a child out of health class if you’re going to corrupt them on the sidewalk?”
  24. discreet
    not easily noticeable
    “Use this to hold the pads. Very discreet. I think the girls’ room in the eighth-grade hallway would be best.
  25. dolly
    a wheeled handcart for moving heavy objects
    Helen tried to help, but I told her I had it and used my luggage dolly to drag everything to the car.
Created on Wed Mar 05 07:39:50 EST 2025 (updated Thu Mar 06 05:09:05 EST 2025)

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