The Summer of the Bone Horses: Chapters 4–12

by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Young Eddie of Lakota heritage spends the summer with his grandparents on the Rosebud Reservation. To ease the ache of missing his parents, Eddie befriends the dog Fritz and the horse Buck — and discovers bone horses.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–12
15 words 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. nicker
    make a soft sound characteristic of a horse
    Buck nickered as Eddie walked to the corral and poured the apple peels into Buck’s feedbox.
  2. storage
    the act of keeping something for future use
    He moved a wooden tub from the storage shed out into the yard while Grandma heated water in a big oval copper boiler on the stove.
  3. item
    a small part that can be treated separately from the whole
    Grandpa carried the heavy wet clothes to the lines at the back of the house. Eddie handed the items to Grandma, who pinned them on the line to dry in the wind and the sun.
  4. sputter
    make an explosive sound
    They got into Grandpa’s old car. He turned the key, saying, “Come on, old thing,” as the car coughed, sputtered, and finally started.
  5. chapel
    a place of worship that has its own altar
    Inside, the chapel was almost full, but Grandma led the way to an empty pew, and they sat.
  6. sermon
    an address of a religious nature
    Eddie couldn’t read a word—the hymnal was printed with Dakota words that everyone but him knew. It was the same with the prayers and the sermon the preacher gave.
  7. fidget
    move restlessly
    He fidgeted, restless and bored because he didn’t understand. He pulled out a bone horse and moved it like it was galloping over the hymnal.
  8. translate
    restate from one language into another language
    The ministers translated the English into Dakota so that the people would be comfortable with the language they knew.
  9. heritage
    practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
    “It is an important part of our heritage that we learned from our parents and grandparents.”
  10. halter
    rope or canvas headgear for a horse, with a rope for leading
    “Pat his neck,” Grandpa said. Eddie did, and then Grandpa said, “Now take ahold of his halter and lead him from the corral.”
  11. cinch
    pull, fasten, or tie something tightly
    After the saddle was cinched firmly on Buck’s back, Grandpa bent over and cupped his hands. Eddie placed a foot in, and Grandpa boosted him high up onto the saddle. Grandpa shortened the stirrups to fit Eddie’s legs.
  12. boost
    push or shove upward, as if from below or behind
    Eddie placed a foot in, and Grandpa boosted him high up onto the saddle.
  13. compose
    form the substance of
    They drove past two other houses, and the schoolhouse and the church that composed the small village of Okreek.
  14. wince
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    Grandpa winced in pain as he slid from the saddle.
  15. shrill
    having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
    Grandpa plucked a long blade of grass. He placed it between his thumbs, held it to his mouth, and blew. To Eddie’s surprise, a shrill sound came from the grass.
Created on Thu May 28 00:37:09 EDT 2026 (updated Wed Jun 17 18:03:55 EDT 2026)

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