The Red Car to Hollywood: Chapters 28–34

by Jennie Liu
The year is 1924, and 16-year-old Ruby Chan is struggling with the expectations placed on her as a young Chinese American woman. When her relationship with a young white man is revealed and Ruby's father decides to marry her to a Chinese man, Ruby decides to take her life into her own hands.

Here are links to our lists for the book:
Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–12, Chapters 13–17, Chapters 18–22, Chapters 23–27, Chapters 28–34.
15 words 11 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. reconcile
    come to terms
    I’d reconciled myself to our fashions being watered down and thoughtlessly mixed in with other Eastern styles.
  2. transgression
    the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle
    The risk of your transgressions coming to light will always follow you if you stay here.
  3. impropriety
    a wrong or indecent act
    “And I’m not just talking about the impropriety with Russell.”
  4. rave
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
    Russell had raved about that sign.
  5. mesmerized
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Mesmerized, I watched it puddle on the floor.
  6. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
    Being blinded by my own desire was bad enough, but then I had turned impetuous, reckless, vengeful.
  7. vengeful
    disposed to take action in return for a perceived wrong
    Being blinded by my own desire was bad enough, but then I had turned impetuous, reckless, vengeful.
  8. prospective
    of or concerned with or related to the future
    Prospective husbands needed to examine me more closely.
  9. mannequin
    a life-size dummy used to display clothes
    In the window display a female mannequin lounged on a tufted armchair while a little-girl mannequin fiddled with a Victrola.
  10. placard
    a sign posted in a public place
    I started to pull the door open when I noticed something else in the window—a placard on an easel.
  11. inducement
    a positive motivational influence
    A Special Inducement: One Dozen Beautiful Photographs $10.00.
  12. reprieve
    a relief from harm or discomfort
    I’d been given a reprieve.
  13. presumptuous
    going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
    “Well, maybe not exclusive, but at least throw us a little business?” I amended, worried I’d been too presumptuous.
  14. tenacity
    persistent determination
    But beneath the outward beauty, I saw the hard gloss of tenacity and the steely glint of determination.
  15. plummet
    drop sharply
    I spun around, my nerves jangling along with the bell. Then my stomach plummeted.
Created on Thu Feb 26 06:11:29 EST 2026 (updated Thu Feb 26 17:47:36 EST 2026)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.