Towers Falling: List 2: Homeroom–Bogeyman Dreams

by Jewell Parker Rhodes
In this powerful novel, a Brooklyn fifth grader explores the effects of the September 11th terrorist attacks on her family, friends, city, and country.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1: New School–Principal's Office, List 2: Homeroom–Bogeyman Dreams, List 3: Sabeen–Pact, List 4: Field Trip–The End

Here are links to our lists for other books by Jewell Parker Rhodes: Ninth Ward, Ghost Boys
45 words 382 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. specific
    stated explicitly or in detail
    Over the weekend, I want you all to think about essay revisions, being more specific. Developing your ideas.
  2. clutch
    hold firmly, usually with one's hands
    “Family makes home. They’re all holding hands.” Sabeen clutches my hand. It feels good. Usually I’m the one clutching Ray’s or Leda’s hand.
  3. relationship
    a state of connectedness between people
    “Family is another word for relationships,” I say.
  4. society
    an extended group having a distinctive cultural organization
    “Social unit—‘a unit (such as an individual, a family, or a group) of a society.’”
  5. overlap
    extend over and cover a part of
    I draw a circle around my doll family. I draw another circle that overlaps my family and I write Ben, Sabeen, me. Then another circle overlaps my friends’ names, and I write Brooklyn Collective.
  6. beaming
    pleased and proud
    Miss Garcia is beaming like I’ve cracked some secret code.
  7. coordinate
    bring into common action, movement, or condition
    “Teachers like to coordinate.”
  8. gap
    an open or empty space in or between things
    I imagine the huge gap the vanished towers must’ve left.
  9. colleague
    an associate that one works with
    “Office mates,” says Michael. “Friends, colleagues, at work. My dad has friends at work.”
  10. ripple
    stir up so as to form small waves
    “One person dies and it ripples outward.”
  11. rigid
    fixed and unmoving
    Miss Garcia doesn’t like my question. Her face is rigid.
  12. dull
    lacking in liveliness or animation
    “Americans,” answers Ben. “We never stop being Americans.” He says it flat, dull, like he’s repeating something he’s heard before.
  13. massage
    knead and rub parts of the body
    Ray stands on the bed behind him, his little hands massaging Pop’s head.
  14. responsible
    worthy of or requiring trust; held accountable
    I’m tired of being responsible. It’s enough to take Ray and Leda to day care, watch after them, and put them to bed. When Leda gets startled, she wets herself; I have to clean her up.
  15. plead
    appeal or request earnestly
    Ma’s eyes are pleading again.
  16. anxious
    causing or fraught with or showing nervousness
    Anxious is the only word Ma ever says about Pop. He’s anxious on the subway. Anxious about closed spaces.
  17. embarrassed
    feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
    “Carpet,” I say, embarrassed. “She likes the carpet.”
  18. sleek
    having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
    Ben’s room is amazing. A bed just for him. A fluffy pillow. A desk with a computer, sleek and silver. A bookcase overflowing with books. There’s even a window with a view of sky and treetops.
  19. yearn
    have a desire for something or someone who is not present
    I touch the edge of one drawing—a close-up of a horse with long eyelashes and clear, yearning brown eyes.
  20. modesty
    freedom from vanity or conceit
    “Why’s your mom dressed in black?”
    “It’s a niqab. For modesty.”
    Modesty, what’s that mean? I look at my jeans and tee.
  21. intent
    giving or marked by complete attention to
    “You’re not new anymore,” says Sabeen, intent, fussing like a kitten. “It’s been three whole weeks. I like you because you’re Dèja. Ben, I welcomed you because it’s what Americans do.”
  22. sassy
    improperly forward or bold
    No matter how sassy I am, Ben and Sabeen don’t mind.
  23. wistfully
    in a pensively sad manner
    “All I know is Brooklyn. Wish I could go everywhere,” I say wistfully, looking at Ben’s drawings.
  24. assumption
    a hypothesis that is taken for granted
    “‘Challenge ideas, assumptions,’” we groan.
  25. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
    She has amazing focus, like a superwoman with X-ray eyes.
  26. ponder
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “Differences. Between Americans. In history,” ponders Ben.
  27. principle
    a basic truth or law or assumption
    American principles, freedom, democracy, and justice for all, withstand the test of time.
  28. withstand
    stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something
    American principles, freedom, democracy, and justice for all, withstand the test of time.
  29. hypnotize
    induce a state that resembles sleep in
    Not moving, Sabeen stares at the words. It’s like the screen has hypnotized her.
  30. wail
    emit long loud cries
    Sabeen cries harder; Leda wails.
  31. disappointed
    sadly unsuccessful
    She looks at me like she knows how disappointed I am. Like she knows kids get disappointed a lot.
  32. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    “I’ll make a bag of snacks to take home.”
    I bristle. Charity. Ben must’ve told her how poor we are.
  33. overwhelm
    overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
    I feel overwhelmed, confused. Ray and Leda are happy. Sabeen’s gone. Me, I’m sad.
  34. gleaming
    bright with a steady but subdued shining
    Two tall, gleaming silver-and-glass towers. Two tall towers touching the clouds, reflecting sunshine, shimmering rainbows and diamond-shaped light.
  35. frustrated
    disappointingly unsuccessful
    Frustrated, Ben sighs, double-clicks the mouse.
  36. ablaze
    lighted up by or as by fire or flame
    Images aren’t moving, but I can see one tower is ablaze.
  37. jagged
    having a sharply uneven surface or outline
    There’s a gaping hole, high up, like soaring, flying dragons had attacked the building, leaving a jagged tear of broken glass, bent metal, and concrete.
  38. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    Smoke—white, gray, and pure black—streams and billows.
  39. disaster
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
    I can tell it’s a disaster. A horrible disaster.
  40. gape
    be wide open
    How come I didn’t know?
    Right across from Brooklyn, something left a gaping hole in the tower.
  41. missile
    a rocket carrying a warhead of explosives
    What would it be like having a plane crush through like a missile?
  42. maneuver
    direct the course of or determine the direction of traveling
    I maneuver the stroller across the street, tilting Leda back to get the wheels onto the sidewalk.
  43. flicker
    move back and forth very rapidly
    Moving pictures flicker inside my brain.
  44. shatter
    break into many pieces
    Fire, smoke, crumbling walls, and shattering glass.
  45. dim
    lacking in light; not bright or harsh
    We live, sleep in a tiny, dim square. Dark shadows. Hidden feelings.
Created on Tue Sep 12 14:47:59 EDT 2017 (updated Mon Jun 25 16:36:27 EDT 2018)

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