The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: Chapters 8–14

by Kate DiCamillo
The title character of this novel is a china rabbit that travels through many hands. Learn the words that award-winning author Kate DiCamillo used to bring Edward Tulane to life.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–21, Chapter 22–Coda

Here are links to our lists for other works by Kate DiCamillo: Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana's Way Home
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. callus
    form a thick or hard area of skin from pressure or friction
    The fisherman balanced him there, placing a callused hand at Edward’s back.
  2. dusk
    the time of day immediately following sunset
    Edward looked at the small town blanketed in dusk: a jumble of buildings huddled together, the ocean stretching out in front of it all; and he thought that he would like anything and anybody that was not at the bottom of the sea.
  3. consider
    think about carefully; weigh
    Edward considered the brightness of the small star.
  4. discerning
    having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
    “Have you ever in your life seen anything so fine?” she said.
    Edward felt immediately that Nellie was a very discerning woman.
  5. design
    create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner
    In addition, she remade his ears, stripping them of the few pieces of fur that remained and designing him a new pair.
  6. daft
    foolish or mentally irregular
    “I suppose you think I’m daft, talking to a toy. But it seems to me that you are listening, Susanna.”
  7. mortified
    made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride
    He sat in an old wooden highchair; and while at first he was mortified (a highchair, after all, was a chair designed for babies, not for elegant rabbits), he soon became used to it.
  8. soothe
    give moral or emotional strength to
    But Nellie, before she put him to bed each night, sang Edward a lullaby, a song about a mockingbird that did not sing and a diamond ring that would not shine, and the sound of Nellie’s voice soothed the rabbit and he forgot about Pellegrina.
  9. abiding
    unceasing
    Already, he had formed a deep and abiding hatred for Lolly.
  10. tremulous
    quivering as from weakness or fear
    “Oh,” came Nellie’s tremulous voice, “that’s wonderful, dear. Goodbye, then.”
  11. haul
    draw slowly or heavily
    Goodbye, thought Edward as Lolly hauled the garbage can out to the truck.
  12. rancid
    having an offensive smell or taste
    He lay on top of orange peels, coffee grounds, rancid bacon, and rubber tires.
  13. rubble
    the remains of something that has been destroyed
    In the morning, a short man came climbing through the trash and rubble.
  14. inclined
    having a preference, disposition, or tendency
    Edward was inclined to agree with Ernest’s assessment of the world being made of garbage, especially after his second day at the dump, when a load of trash was deposited directly on top of him.
  15. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
    Edward was inclined to agree with Ernest’s assessment of the world being made of garbage, especially after his second day at the dump, when a load of trash was deposited directly on top of him.
  16. revenge
    action taken in return for an injury or offense
    What kept Edward going, what gave him hope, was thinking of how he would find Lolly and exact his revenge.
  17. ritual
    any customary observance or practice
    Day after day passed, and Edward was aware of time passing only because every morning he could hear Ernest performing his dawn ritual, cackling and crowing about being king of the world.
  18. salvation
    rescuing or protecting someone or something from harm
    On his one hundred and eightieth day at the dump, salvation arrived for Edward in a most unusual form.
  19. frenzied
    excessively agitated
    The garbage around him shifted, and the rabbit heard the sniffing and panting of a dog. Then came the frenzied sound of digging.
  20. miraculous
    having the character of an amazing or wonderful occurrence
    The garbage shifted again, and suddenly, miraculously, the beautiful, buttery light of late afternoon shone on Edward’s face.
  21. savor
    derive or receive pleasure from
    Edward did not have much time to savor the light, for the dog suddenly appeared above him, dark and shaggy, blocking his view.
  22. exhilarate
    fill with sublime emotion
    The sun was shining and Edward felt exhilarated.
  23. existence
    the state or fact of being
    “Yes, yes, I know. Rabbit pie is a true delight, one of the pleasures of our existence.”
  24. gracious
    disposed to bestow favors
    “And what we have here, what you have so graciously delivered to me, is definitely a rabbit, but the best chef in the world would be hard-pressed to make him into a pie.”
  25. surmise
    infer from incomplete evidence
    My name is Bull. Lucy, as you may have surmised, is my dog. Would you care to join us?
  26. irony
    incongruity between what might be expected and what occurs
    They traveled on foot, they traveled in empty railcars. They were always on the move.
    “But in truth,” said Bull, “we are going nowhere. That, my friend, is the irony of our constant movement.”
  27. consumption
    the process of taking food into the body through the mouth
    Lucy, after her initial disappointment about Edward being unfit for consumption, took a liking to him and slept curled up beside him; sometimes, she even rested her muzzle on his china stomach, and then the noises she made in her sleep, whimpering and growling and chuffing, resonated inside Edward’s body.
  28. resonate
    produce a deep, clear sound
    Lucy, after her initial disappointment about Edward being unfit for consumption, took a liking to him and slept curled up beside him; sometimes, she even rested her muzzle on his china stomach, and then the noises she made in her sleep, whimpering and growling and chuffing, resonated inside Edward’s body.
  29. garb
    clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
    “Malone,” said Bull one night, “it’s not my desire to offend you or to comment negatively on your choice of garb, but I’m forced to tell you that you stick out like a sore thumb in that princess dress. And also, again, with no wish to offend you, the dress has seen better days.”
  30. subsequent
    following in time or order
    Nellie’s beautiful dress had not fared well at the dump or in its subsequent ramblings with Bull and Lucy.
  31. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    The pants Bull made himself, cutting up several red handkerchiefs and sewing them together so that they formed a makeshift covering for Edward’s long legs.
  32. surge
    a sudden forceful flow
    Edward, of course, felt a surge of anger at being referred to as a dolly.
  33. accustomed
    in the habit of or adapted to
    Soon, the men became accustomed to Edward, and word of his existence spread.
  34. unison
    the act of occurring together or simultaneously
    “Malone!” they shouted in unison.
    And Edward felt a warm rush of pleasure at being recognized, at being known.
  35. concentrate
    direct one's attention on something
    Whatever it was that had begun in Nellie’s kitchen, Edward’s new and strange ability to sit very still and concentrate the whole of his being on the stories of another, became invaluable around the hobo campfire.
  36. invaluable
    having incalculable monetary or intellectual worth
    Whatever it was that had begun in Nellie’s kitchen, Edward’s new and strange ability to sit very still and concentrate the whole of his being on the stories of another, became invaluable around the hobo campfire.
  37. tramp
    a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk
    Almost seven years passed, and in that time, Edward became an excellent tramp: happy to be on the road, restless when he was still. The sound of the wheels on the train tracks became a music that soothed him. He could have ridden the rails forever.
  38. lurch
    move abruptly
    The train suddenly lurched into motion.
  39. anguish
    suffer great pains or distress
    From far behind him, he heard Lucy’s anguished howl.
  40. alarming
    frightening because of an awareness of danger
    Edward landed with a most alarming thump, and then he tumbled and tumbled and tumbled down a long dirty hill.
Created on Tue Aug 22 16:35:23 EDT 2017 (updated Wed Mar 06 09:24:19 EST 2019)

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