Beast Rider: Chapters 7–15

by Tony Johnston, María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
Twelve-year-old Manuel attempts to make a difficult and dangerous journey from Mexico to Los Angeles to reunite with his older brother.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–15, Chapters 16–28
35 words 69 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bristle
    have or be thickly covered with or as if with stiff fibers
    This poli has no big-tooth dog, but alone he is scary enough. A bulk bristling with weapons. His huge fists keep bunching and unbunching, as if getting set to hit me.
  2. consequence
    the state of having important effects or influence
    So I do not go home, but to a nearby village of no consequence. I have no idea where I am.
  3. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    “Do you have a little food? A little water?” I ask humbly at one place.
  4. noble
    having high or elevated character
    Truly I hope that God will bless always this kind and noble man—and me.
  5. wily
    marked by skill in deception
    I am older now. Tougher. Wilier.
  6. blare
    make a loud noise
    I know them right off, by their black T-shirts that blare, LOS BANDIDOS.
  7. snare
    catch in or as if in a trap
    I twist from the filthy grasp of one, only to be snared by his comrade, his grip as fierce as my dog Guapo’s jaws.
  8. comrade
    a friend who is frequently in the company of another
    I twist from the filthy grasp of one, only to be snared by his comrade, his grip as fierce as my dog Guapo’s jaws.
  9. quaver
    give off unsteady sounds
    Inside I quaver like a crouched rabbit, but, as before on The Beast, I do not show it.
  10. bravado
    a swaggering show of courage
    “Good idea,” one snarls with evil bravado.
  11. bleat
    cry plaintively like a sheep or goat
    I will not whine for mercy. I will not bleat out my fear. I will not scream.
  12. mangy
    affected with a skin disease causing itching and hair loss
    “With this brand, you will be of a gang too. The mangy, scraggy, sorry gang of Beast Riders.”
  13. relish
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    But no matter my wild thrashings, with relish the loco leader slowly presses the brand into my hand.
  14. sear
    burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
    I do not cry out, though there is searing pain. Pain beyond pain.
  15. befall
    become of; happen to
    When finally I wake up I am in a daze and wonder what has befallen me.
  16. insensible
    unresponsive to stimulation
    The gang of brutes, they beat me insensible, till nearly my whole body turned blue.
  17. crude
    not carefully or expertly made
    In the palm of one hand they branded me with a crude horned B. A B that stands for their gang name, LOS BANDIDOS.
  18. potent
    having a strong physiological or chemical effect
    My Abue, she will for certain share with Serafina her remedies—which herbs are the most useful, the most potent, the most prized for this work before them.
  19. vigilance
    the process of paying close and continuous attention
    But after nearly one year by Serafina’s calendar and the vigilance of Dios—and uncountable pots of soup—I am recovered.
  20. cringe
    draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
    From imagined blows I cringe.
  21. scuffle
    fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
    At last the train begins pulling away and I dash for it. Then, in a big confusion of scuffling and shouting, I am atop The Beast again.
  22. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
    I look up at the olden face, luminous and holy. I feel a sound lift in my throat. Like a wolf I howl at the moon.
  23. obsidian
    glass formed by the cooling of lava without crystallization
    He wears a worn-out cap—who knows what color?—silver now. Beneath the bill his eyes spark like obsidian chips. Cejas, eyebrows, go swooping across his small brow.
  24. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    This small wolf with the cap, he pulls it off, and hair billows from beneath.
  25. plucky
    showing courage
    She is like a sparrow, a small brown bird with sparking eyes always hopping hopping seeking crumbs. A plucky little bird of complete mischief that steals your tortilla from your very hand if you are not watchful.
  26. grit
    fortitude and determination
    At these times Cejas speaks with such grit, such fervor, such fire, I believe she might just do this.
  27. fervor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    At these times Cejas speaks with such grit, such fervor, such fire, I believe she might just do this.
  28. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    “Come on.” She beckons with her little hand. And of course, under her spell, I cannot say no.
  29. yearn
    desire strongly or persistently
    This gray day in late January, among perfect strangers all looking across the river with yearning eyes to a glittering place for a glittering future, quietly I become older—fifteen.
  30. gouge
    force with the thumb
    To complete the picture, El Alacrán wears an eye patch, from when the eyeball was gouged out.
  31. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    Toño warned me to be wary, for when The Scorpion is not snarling and slashing himself out of brawls, he drinks.
  32. frenzied
    excessively agitated
    Suddenly a voice shouts, “Over there! Grab him!” Others add to the noise. They are after some other poor soul. There come frenzied rustlings. Scramblings.
  33. squelch
    walk through mud or swampy land
    Squelching through the sucking mud, I make it.
  34. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    We run like the devil from the Border Patrol shouting shouting. Well, El Alacrán runs, I hobble.
  35. jostle
    make one's way by pushing or shoving
    Then, here in this bus station, standing still as stone among the many people pushing, jostling in slow and silent motion, is a person I know in my deep heart, without a signal, without a word, without a photo.
Created on Mon Dec 16 18:20:39 EST 2019 (updated Wed Dec 18 10:26:12 EST 2019)

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