Troublemaker: Chapter 7–Epilogue

by John Cho
When riots break out in Los Angeles, sixth-grader Jordan Park decides he must go to his family's store to protect his father.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapter 7–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. stoop
    carry oneself with head and shoulders bent forward
    A tall Black man walks out of the house, older than Appa with hair that looks a little gray, but a little younger than Harabeoji with shoulders that still look sturdy and not at all stooped.
  2. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    He struggles up to his feet and hobbles to where I’m standing under the tree.
  3. vandalize
    intentionally destroy or deface someone else's property
    First, you’re going to explain what you’re doing out here, vandalizing my property.
  4. twinge
    a sudden sharp feeling
    “Could you help me take my shoes off?” he asks.
    I do, and up close again, I can see that his ankle has gotten worse. I feel a twinge of guilt at how frustrated I was about him wanting to come inside for help.
  5. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    He crouches down next to Mike’s foot and takes a look, touching it gingerly.
    “Ow!” Mike cries.
  6. uprising
    organized opposition to authority
    “There’s an uprising. People are rioting. Looting stores, setting them on fire. It’s dangerous out there.”
  7. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
    “I hope someone knows where you are,” Mr. Gary says sternly.
  8. migraine
    a severe, recurring headache
    We find joy in joy. But it’s hard when they keep stealing it from you. In everyday ways while you’re trying to eat with your family, and in ways that make the news and give my wife a migraine that lasts for days.
  9. scuff
    walk without lifting the feet
    There’s a stretch of silence, the only sound our shoes scuffing against the cement as we walk.
  10. specifically
    in distinction from others
    I overheard Umma on the phone talking with one of her friends and it sounds like some of the looters are specifically targeting Korean-owned stores.
  11. appeal
    a legal proceeding to review a lower court decision
    “It could be because they’re mad about the light sentence Soon Ja Du got after killing Latasha Harlins. You remember how the news about the state court of appeal just came out last week.”
  12. stubborn
    refusing to change one's mind or ways; difficult to convince
    But the front of my mind is louder. The stubborn part, the part that’s angry that she’s here at all, the part that’s saying Let me do this my own way.
  13. stocky
    having a short and solid form or stature
    He’s a big, stocky guy wearing a tan work shirt, painter’s pants, and a Lakers cap.
  14. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    In the distance, I see clouds of smoke billowing into the air.
  15. ramble
    continue talking or writing in a purposeless manner
    My mind is whirring fast. “Actually, it’s probably more than a couple of blocks. We’ll have to go further south, so if you don’t want to drive there, we’ll just get out here. It’s really no problem.” I’m rambling.
  16. reel
    walk as if unable to control one's movements
    He punches me back, square in the nose. I reel backward, pain splitting my head.
  17. practically
    almost; nearly
    I watched, practically holding my breath, as he began writing WIZZ.
  18. acknowledge
    express recognition of the presence or existence of
    Heads turned to look at us, but Appa didn’t acknowledge any of them.
  19. cold shoulder
    a refusal to recognize someone you know
    As soon as we got home, though, the cold shoulder was over. Appa called me into the kitchen.
  20. loiter
    linger, remain, or wait around for no apparent reason
    “I mean, I don’t usually let people loiter...” Brian looks from Sarah to me. His eyes linger on my bruises and he sighs, taking pity on me. “But it’s a slow night. We only have one guy singing here. Just don’t bother me.”
  21. tinny
    thin, metallic, and displeasing in sound
    Tinny Korean voices, speaking through static. I recognize it instantly even though it’s turned down low. He’s got Radio Korea on.
  22. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
    “Our phone lines have been ringing all night with stories of the riots in South Central,” the man on the radio is saying. His voice is calm but somber.
  23. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    The relief from reuniting with Mike fades a bit and my smile falters.
  24. stealthy
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    “Yeah. Be stealthy, though,” Mike says. “Just remember Hae Dang’s three rules. Don’t waste time. Don’t get hurt.”
    “Don’t attract attention,” Sarah says.
  25. glare
    look at with a fixed or angry gaze
    I drag my feet back toward the others, passing by the houses I already checked, glaring at them like it’s their fault for emptying their mailboxes already.
  26. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
    “Does your mother know you’re here?” Appa asks, still bewildered. “And what happened to your faces?”
  27. courier
    a person who carries a message
    Back when I was in Korea, there was a time when I was a courier for the air force. It was during the Vietnam War. I always had a pistol on me when I was on duty because I was carrying official documents.
  28. spare
    save or relieve from an experience or action
    Maybe it was because Appa boarded up our shop early, but our liquor store was spared from the fires.
  29. stifle
    smother or suppress
    I stifle a laugh.
  30. acquittal
    a judgment of not guilty
    It’s a recap of the events leading up to the riots. As I watch Rodney King, the Latasha Harlins murder, and the acquittal of the four police officers, it hurts in a new way.
Created on Tue May 02 11:16:12 EDT 2023 (updated Thu May 18 12:52:16 EDT 2023)

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