Goodbye Stranger: Part Four

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 20 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. persuade
    cause somebody to adopt a certain position or belief
    Tab wasn’t coming; the Human Rights Club met on Tuesdays at lunch, and even a cupcake couldn’t persuade her to miss quality time with the Berperson.
  2. ensure
    make certain of
    The purpose of this dress code is to ensure that all students dress appropriately for school and school activities.
  3. prohibited
    forbidden by law
    Tank tops and shirts with spaghetti straps or other types of straps are prohibited.
  4. corrupt
    debase morally
    “I think they wish I would just go away and not corrupt good girls like you.”
  5. fetch
    go or come after and bring or take back
    Sherm had volunteered to bring in an American flag, and when Mr. Partridge asked if Sherm could “by any chance fetch it today,” Bridge volunteered to go with him.
  6. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    Celeste patted her sister on the head condescendingly.
  7. drawl
    speak in a slow and drawn out way
    “Well,” Alex drawled, “I probably don’t have to tell you that your brother owns very little of value.”
  8. voluntary
    of your own free will or design
    This is all purely voluntary, you know, Bridge.
  9. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    “Patrick’s mom made him erase his account, and then she made him watch a documentary with her about cyber-bullying,” Em said, her breath billowing white in the cold air and then disappearing.
  10. alibi
    a defense of some offensive behavior
    “He says he believes me. And I do have a pretty good alibi.”
  11. profile
    an outline of something, especially a face from the side
    Bridge could just make out his profile.
  12. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Tab had opened a bag of chips and was eating them one at a time, looking weirdly solemn, as if she felt sorry for them.
  13. legible
    capable of being read or deciphered
    Bridge hadn’t managed to crunch them very well, and they were mostly legible.
  14. petition
    a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
    I’m gonna start a petition against it.
  15. frustration
    a feeling of annoyance at being hindered or criticized
    Bridge felt a surge of frustration.
  16. jagged
    having a sharply uneven surface or outline
    When they got home, Jamie showed up in Bridge’s room holding a large gray rock with jagged edges.
  17. recite
    repeat aloud from memory
    Bridge made her face serious, put her hand over her heart, and recited her number-one favorite Rudolph line: “Goodbye, Hermey."
  18. elaborate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    The Talentine-show plan felt elaborate, but it wasn’t.
  19. wince
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    A circle of light broke over Emily, who winced and shaded her eyes with one hand.
  20. surrender
    give up; agree to stop fighting or resisting
    In the moonlight, Sherm looked sad, as if he were the one surrendering.
  21. wring
    twist and press out of shape
    He said that the heart wrings itself out. It twists in two different directions, like you’d do to squeeze the water out of a wet towel.
  22. fraudulent
    intended to deceive
    The fraudulent flower for Marco.
  23. personify
    represent, as of a character on stage
    “Better than telling my deepest secret to a girl who is basically evil personified?"
  24. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    She said he seemed like the regular Marco, beautiful and funny and completely oblivious to her feelings.
Created on Tue Jul 12 15:14:38 EDT 2016 (updated Mon Sep 24 13:37:28 EDT 2018)

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