Compound Fracture: Chapters 8-10

by Andrew Joseph White
In this novel, trans teen Miles Abernathy survives an attempted murder and finds himself caught up in a century-old blood feud while also being haunted by his own ancestor.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapter 1-7, Chapter 8-10, Chapter 11-14, Chapter 15-22, Chapter 23-26, Chapter 27-30, Chapter 31-35, Chapter 36-39, Chapter 40-46, Chapter 47-61
25 words 33 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. wince
    make a face indicating disgust or dislike
    The nurse winces as the doctor leaves.
  2. diagnostic
    concerned with identifying the nature or cause of something
    When I compare him to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in the DSM-5 which I’ve done at least twice, he hits all the beats.
  3. haggard
    showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
    He thinks I can’t see it when he scrubs a hand over his face, looking as haggard as he did the day after the accident.
  4. consent
    permission to do something
    Mom waves her consent.
  5. contusion
    an injury in which the skin is not broken
    “Plus a hundred little contusions and more bruises than you can shake a stick at. What a way to start summer vacation.”
  6. deftly
    with dexterity; in a dexterous manner
    Amanda nods, changing the topic as deftly as a nurse is trained to.
  7. stoic
    seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
    There are bags under her eyes, and her nose is bright red despite the stoic set to her mouth.
  8. decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
    When I think about it for too long, I want to collapse into a heap of tears and panic, but my sense of decorum constantly outweighs what I actually want.
  9. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    Mom makes a forcibly nonchalant noise.
  10. hyperlink
    a bit of text on a web site that takes you to another site
    A good one, if you ask me, with a curated list of hyperlinks and an extensive FAQ section.
  11. pathetic
    inspiring mixed contempt and pity
    It feels pathetic now.
  12. lodge
    put, fix, force, or implant
    Like there’s something lodged in his throat he can’t get out.
  13. condemn
    declare or judge unfit for use or habitation
    Maybe he’ll get Mom fired from the nursing home or find an excuse to condemn our rental.
  14. eyesore
    something very ugly and offensive
    There’s been a few movements to try and get it demolished — saying it’s an eyesore, someone’s gonna get themselves hurt — but they always fail.
  15. extent
    the distance or area or volume over which something extends
    “What — ?” Papaw starts, eyeing the extent of my injuries.
  16. queasy
    causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
    I’m taking painkillers like clockwork, even though the sight of the pills makes me queasy: God this is expensive and Please don’t let my nervous system get used to this.
  17. absolve
    excuse or free from blame
    Absolves me of the guilt, you know.
  18. next of kin
    the person who is most closely related to a given person
    “We don’t like sending nobody off with someone who ain’t next of kin,” Amanda muses, “but we can make an exception. Linda, you fine with that?”
  19. figurine
    a small carved or molded figure
    Cooper’s truck is a fifteen-year-old shitbox gas-guzzler he inherited from a cousin who died in Iraq, complete with a bald eagle figurine hanging from the rearview mirror.
  20. antiseptic
    a substance that destroys harmful microorganisms
    I close my eyes and take a long, deep breath of air that ain’t contaminated with bleach and antiseptic smell, that’s just the rustle of trees instead of electronic beeping and churning HVAC.
  21. fathom
    come to understand
    It was supposed to come out a question, but I can’t fathom the effort to make the word curl up at the end.
  22. technicality
    a detail that is considered insignificant
    Even though they’re only cities on a technicality.
  23. swerve
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
    I swerve to another topic, like Mom walking out of the hospital room.
  24. fumble
    handle clumsily
    I fumble with the door but refuse to let him help me, yanking it open and hopping down to the ground.
  25. rickety
    inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
    “Lady!” I call, forgetting Squishy Pillow in Cooper’s truck as I stumble up the rickety stairs.
Created on Wed Jun 04 08:32:12 EDT 2025 (updated Tue Jun 10 18:22:20 EDT 2025)

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