Watch Us Rise: Chapters 30–37

by Renée Watson, Ellen Hagan
Told in alternating perspectives, this novel follows the ups and downs of Jasmine and Chelsea, two girls who start a club to give young women at their school a voice.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–15, Chapters 16–22, Chapters 23–29, Chapters 30–37

Here are links to our lists for other works by Renée Watson: Piecing Me Together, Betty Before X
30 words 132 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. receptacle
    a container that is used to put or keep things in
    I’m so giddy when I get home that I text Jasmine right away: A woman is not a receptacle.
  2. earful
    an outpouring of gossip
    My mother spoke up tonight, and I knew, and the waiter knew, and the guy in back of us who we said was getting a real earful knew.
  3. patronize
    treat condescendingly
    “Don’t. Don’t say sorry to me. Instead of an empty apology, you could try to be a better person and actually stop being judgmental and stop patronizing me because I’m big.”
  4. validate
    show or confirm the effectiveness or worthiness of something
    The blog Chelsea and I started is about us being seen and validated, and you disrespected us. You mocked it.
  5. entrepreneur
    someone who organizes a business venture
    Someone says, “I mean, if I’m the one who has the vision for the store and am taking the risk to even be an entrepreneur, I should be able to decide where my company builds.”
  6. systemic
    affecting an entire structure, network, or complex of parts
    Systemic, syste-
    matic. Manic—panic pleads
    conform proportion.
  7. manic
    affected with or marked by frenzy uncontrolled by reason
    Systemic, syste-
    matic. Manic—panic pleads
    conform proportion.
  8. conform
    adapt oneself to new or different conditions
    Systemic, syste-
    matic. Manic—panic pleads
    conform proportion.
  9. solidarity
    a union of interests or purposes among members of a group
    This event will be a grand celebration and is open to the public. We hope you and your family will join us in celebrating.
    With gratitude and in solidarity,
    Principal Hayes
  10. distinguished
    standing above others in character or attainment
    “Welcome to the distinguished Chancellor’s Award Night,” Principal Hayes begins.
  11. slick
    marked by skill in deception
    “You girls better be careful. He’s a slick one.” He laughs again, so amused at himself.
  12. honorary
    given as an award without the normal duties
    “You’ve been our honorary feminist since middle school.”
    Isaac gives a laugh that sounds more like a duty than a genuine reaction.
    “What? You don’t like it when we call you our honorary feminist?”
  13. flustered
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    Mom is clearly not fine. Besides the obvious—her sitting here crying—I know she is not okay because she never uses words like “stupid” and she doesn’t get flustered this easily.
  14. infusion
    the act of introducing a modifying element or quality
    As in: An infusion of cherry bomb, red balm
    lemon-lime explosion sea of honey bun clip-on
    bubble-gum soda pop purple rainbow eye shadow lip
    gloss blush brush unicorn tie-dye diamond-crusted
    necklaces scarves that shimmer shine.
  15. coquettish
    like a flirtatious woman
    The whole
    outrageous girlish coquettish.
  16. froth
    become bubbly or foaming
    Watch the way we—wind wild, burst forth.
    Froth & glow.
  17. palette
    range of color characteristic of a painting, artist, etc.
    A palette of gold wings
    or what it means to fly.
  18. flourish
    make steady progress
    Don’t we blind the competition
    when we want. Don’t we bless
    and flourish, pray & sing. Don’t we crave.
    Don’t we show off, show up, show out,
    stay late, wake early, rock when we want.
  19. renegade
    someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw
    Executive directing renegades, graffiti
    artists, waitresses, mystics, healers, cleaners.
  20. wield
    handle effectively
    Can’t we wield knives. Strut. Stunt.
  21. strut
    walk in a proud, confident way
    Can’t we wield knives. Strut. Stunt.
  22. defiant
    boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
    Don’t we dip when we want,
    post up or dance, deliver. Don’t we crack gold
    if you try to break us. Defiant.
  23. slight
    a deliberate discourteous act
    We sleep on your criticisms, choke back jealousies.
    Not one slight can crack code our brilliant skulls.
  24. disdain
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    Don’t make my fatness your fetish,
    Don’t tell me my fatness is your disdain.
  25. inclusive
    encompassing much or everything
    We demand an inclusive curriculum that honors and includes the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) and LGBTQIA+ communities.
  26. indigenous
    originating where it is found
    We demand an inclusive curriculum that honors and includes the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) and LGBTQIA+ communities.
  27. activist
    a reformer who works to achieve social or political change
    We’re all wearing our favorite activist shirts, and we make our way past security and toward our classrooms.
  28. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    “People start living healthier lives after a health scare. Laws change because the people demand it and add pressure to our leaders. Most times the things that change happen after a lot of pain or strife.”
  29. reinstate
    bring back into original existence, function, or position
    After much consideration and after a lot of soul searching and reevaluating our protocols with our staff and key members from our Parent-Teacher Association, I have decided to reinstate the women’s rights club and the Write Like a Girl blog, effective next fall.
  30. scaffold
    a temporary arrangement erected around a building
    We walk under scaffolding while our city is under repair—always. Maybe we are all like that, always a work in progress, always complete and lacking at the same time.
Created on Wed Mar 06 11:31:05 EST 2019 (updated Tue Mar 19 14:19:33 EDT 2019)

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