We Deserve Monuments: List 2

by Jas Hammonds
When seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson moves from Washington, D.C. to a small town in Georgia, she encounters conflicts linked to painful family secrets.

This list covers "The Freshman"–Chapter 6.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
40 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. robust
    strong enough to withstand intellectual challenges
    Beckwith Academy had a sculpture studio, a robust study abroad program, and a history stretching back to 1971 when it was founded by white parents in response to school desegregation.
  2. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    She was accompanied by her mother, Carole, who warily read from the school brochure.
  3. revered
    profoundly honored
    She’d pass by this revered man who fought for his white children to be separated from her Black ancestors and brush her fingers over the bronze.
  4. counterintuitive
    contrary to what common sense would suggest
    No matter how many times I reminded myself that making new friends was counterintuitive to my plan—and it was a lot—I drifted closer to Simone and Jade every day.
  5. derelict
    worn and broken down by hard use
    “Behold!” Simone boomed, gesturing to a grocery store wedged in the middle of a derelict strip mall.
  6. humble
    low or inferior in station or quality
    The hotel was not a reflection of the tired, humble streets outside.
  7. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    She pointed past a gleaming white baby grand piano to three photos on the wall in ornate silver frames.
  8. deadpan
    deliberately impassive in manner
    She looked at me, deadpan. “I apologize in advance for my parents.”
  9. intimate
    having or fostering a friendly and informal atmosphere
    Elegant jazz played overhead, creating a cozy, intimate vibe.
  10. revamp
    patch up or renovate; repair or restore
    Tallulah was hired as the Draper’s interior designer during the revamp.
  11. ethereal
    of heaven or the spirit
    I thought of Amelia’s ethereal face gracing the bricks.
  12. venture
    a commercial undertaking that risks a loss
    The hotel was constructed in 1975 as a joint venture by Jade’s great-grandfather and grandfather.
  13. idyllic
    excellent and delightful in all respects
    “They wanted to be pampered. They wanted weddings on plantations. They wanted an idyllic Southern fantasy.”
  14. garbled
    lacking orderly continuity
    My name came out garbled.
  15. amenities
    things that make you comfortable and at ease
    Perfect mixture of Southern charm and world-class amenities. We’re thinking of expanding to Atlanta. Business is booming!
  16. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    My smile faltered, remembering the bullet-riddled welcome sign and the rumors of his dead wife.
  17. schmooze
    talk in a friendly way, especially to gain an advantage
    But Lucas was already off to the next table, ready to schmooze and delight more diners.
  18. revel
    take delight in
    It was a beautiful house, after all. It would be a shame to not revel in it.
  19. venue
    the scene of any event or action
    She transformed the grounds into an official wedding venue, where brides sobbed at their first sight of their grooms under weeping willow trees and music from live bands intertwined with crickets every summer Saturday.
  20. ebb
    the outward flow of the tide
    My heart panged at the relaxed ebb and flow of their friendship, how they could easily brush off their parents’ interactions like they had nothing to do with them.
  21. tantalizing
    very pleasantly inviting
    Music bumped from someone’s backyard, and the tantalizing aroma of barbecue permeated the air.
  22. permeate
    spread or diffuse through
    Music bumped from someone’s backyard, and the tantalizing aroma of barbecue permeated the air.
  23. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “Aren’t we all dying slowly?” Simone mused.
  24. gritty
    composed of or covered with small particles
    The weight of everything that had happened in the past few months—from Mom’s decision to uproot us to Georgia to the breakup to starting over in Bardell—suddenly felt as thick and gritty as wet cement.
  25. delve
    consider in detail in order to discover essential features
    I picked at the strands of my plaid skirt, and Jade and Simone delved into the shared pain of what it felt like to lose someone close.
  26. rehash
    discuss again; go back over
    “We’re here for a moment. Let’s enjoy it and not rehash old family drama.”
  27. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    She hesitated at the threshold, a faraway look in her soft brown eyes.
  28. in tandem
    with cooperation and interchange
    I’d been hearing Mom talk about Carl Sagan and his pale blue dot speech my entire life. And usually, it comforted me. It worked in tandem with her breathing exercises, reminding me what was truly important in life. Be kind to people, protect the planet, so on and so forth.
  29. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    Every few steps, Simone and Jade shared a shrewd grin, like they’d known all along I was going to change my mind.
  30. bounty
    the property of being richly abundant or plentiful
    We threw our bounty in the center of a splintered picnic table near the shore.
  31. insignia
    a distinguishing mark or symbol
    When I opened my eyes, Jade was rationing cider into three paper cups adorned with the Draper Hotel & Spa insignia.
  32. obscure
    difficult to find
    “How did you find this place?” I asked. It was an obscure location; Jade had to go off-road for the last quarter mile.
  33. resilient
    rebounding readily
    “J, you are obviously lavender,” Simone said. “Pretty, but useful. Resilient. And you smell good.”
  34. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    It burned going down my throat, a swampy, pungent aroma.
  35. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    They listened intently as I set the scene.
  36. domestic
    of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
    I hid my tears from them in the domestic slave trade exhibit.
  37. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    “Avery,” she said, “meet Tree.”
    It was the same one she pointed out earlier, the one that protruded over the river like a gnarled, leafy dock.
  38. subside
    wear off or die down
    My tears had subsided. Now, all I felt was warmth as I focused on the transcendent, steady rush of the river.
  39. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    “Do not judge me. I was fourteen.”
    I balked.
  40. dub
    give a nickname to
    Now that my eyes had fully adjusted to the dark, I could absolutely see why this nook between the trees had been dubbed the Perfect Spot.
Created on Thu Sep 21 16:20:38 EDT 2023 (updated Tue Oct 03 14:21:15 EDT 2023)

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