Goodbye Stranger: Part Two

by Rebecca Stead
Bridge, Emily, and Tab are best friends who make a promise never to fight – but when seventh grade arrives, keeping their promise is more difficult than they expected.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four

Here are links to our lists for other works by Rebecca Stead: When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy
24 words 38 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. awkward
    socially uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner
    There would be what Jamie called awkward silence.
  2. separate
    divide into parts or portions
    Separating the two sides of his toast, Sherm muttered, “You’re lucky I’m used to living with bossy women.”
  3. mutter
    talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
    Separating the two sides of his toast, Sherm muttered, “You’re lucky I’m used to living with bossy women.”
  4. universal
    of worldwide scope or applicability
    She reached her arms up over her head and wiggled her fingers as if this were universal proof of being fine.
  5. apocalypse
    a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the powers of evil
    After the apocalypse, there will be no more juice boxes.
  6. fragile
    easily broken or damaged or destroyed
    Every time the door swings open, your fragile world gets a little more broken.
  7. evaporate
    change into gas or steam
    First, the color-copier lady leaves without even saying goodbye to the blue-invitations man, and their three kids evaporate like mist.
  8. sheer
    so thin as to transmit light
    There were sheer ivory curtains under embroidered turquoise ones and small brass sculptures on the bookshelves.
  9. trace
    follow or ascertain the course of development of something
    You leave the copy store quickly, as if the police might have traced your email
  10. converge
    move or draw together at a certain location
    as if they’re throwing themselves into their squad cars and converging on your location.
  11. swarm
    move in large numbers
    They swarmed into the back of the minimart, opening and slamming fridge doors, grabbing Gatorades and bags of chips.
  12. execute
    carry out or perform an action
    He stopped and held up one clenched hand for a fist bump, which Em executed flawlessly.
  13. flawless
    without a weakness or defect or mistake
    He stopped and held up one clenched hand for a fist bump, which Em executed flawlessly.
  14. gruesome
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
    “That’s only one story—there are others. Less gruesome ones.”
  15. celebrate
    assign great social importance to
    Part of what Karva Chauth celebrates is friendship. Between women.
  16. sensitivity
    responsiveness to emotional feelings
    A bit of sensitivity, please!
  17. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
    She looks at you, dubious.
  18. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    She’d found it trembling under a car on 105th Street and spent an hour coaxing it out.
  19. scavenge
    collect discarded or refused material
    She and Bridge were alone in the bedroom Celeste shared with Tab, who was scavenging costume parts in her parents’ closet.
  20. mesmerized
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Bridge watched, mesmerized, as Celeste moved from one section of her hair to another, brushing it all the wrong way.
  21. hunch
    round one's back by bending forward
    Jamie was hunched over his math homework.
  22. confiscate
    take temporary possession of a security by legal authority
    She didn’t know yet whether Mr. Partridge was the type to confiscate a phone.
  23. informal
    not in accord with established conventions and requirements
    They were watching the soccer team’s “informal practice,” which was taking up most of the yard.
  24. mimic
    imitate, especially for satirical effect
    Em mimicked: “‘You know I love you, but I can’t be part of this.’”
Created on Mon Jul 11 09:34:21 EDT 2016 (updated Mon Sep 24 13:36:46 EDT 2018)

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