The Queen Bees of Tybee County: Chapters 32–38

by Kyle Casey Chu
Derrick Chan just graduated high school as his school's basketball star — but that's not really who he is. Spending the summer with his grandmother Claudia, Derrick uncovers a long-hidden part of himself, which also helps him discover the legacy of courage in his family.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–11, Chapters 12–21, Chapters 22–31, Chapters 32–38
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. eyelet
    small hole in cloth or leather for passage of a cord or hook
    “Flower knots,” Claudia finishes.
    I sketch in those familiar corded bulbs and eyelets and feel a swipe of recognition.
  2. brocade
    thick expensive material with a raised pattern
    “Okay, we’ve got the royal blue satin...brocade...gold velvet...netting...”
  3. trill
    pronounce with a flutter of the tongue
    “And—Ro...Where is Ro? Has anyone seen Ro?” Ms. Andrews trills.
  4. curdle
    go bad or sour
    My stomach curdles and flips. I knew Ms. Andrews wasn’t sold on me taking Ro’s place. Here it comes.
  5. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    Imelda whispers something smug to Faye. But strangely, Faye doesn’t react. Her eyes are soft. Still fixed on me.
  6. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear
    Ms. Andrews blanches. Some girls trade whispers.
  7. bluster
    act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner
    “What are you talking about?” she blusters. “I didn’t even know it was you until . . . I had no idea you were planning this.”
  8. subdued
    softened in tone
    “I was...” she begins in a subdued voice. Then she takes a breath. For a heartbeat, I feel for her.
  9. legacy
    anything handed down by someone or something in the past
    I cast away the thought of running. Chans don’t run. Being daring is my family’s legacy.
  10. jowl
    a looseness of the flesh of the lower cheek and jaw
    Someone makes a startled noise. As I watch the ball thud against the stage, I can just make out the face of a judge: an older man with bulldog jowls. Glowering. A shudder shakes through me.
  11. lapel
    a fold of fabric below the collar of a coat or jacket
    I remove my wig and jersey and watch Claudia pluck my formalwear gown from its hanger. She brushes off the lapel and drops it to a puddle on the floor.
  12. tersely
    in a short and concise manner
    “That’s enough,” the bulldog judge says tersely. “You’re over your time limit.”
  13. bylaw
    a rule adopted by an organization
    “Even Faye’s mom couldn’t get in your way. Turns out that there’s nothing in the bylaws that says a boy can’t compete.”
  14. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    It feels something like an apology. Then Claudia’s wistful eyes fall on me.
  15. resolutely
    showing firm determination or purpose
    I stare resolutely at a point in the highway, unfurling like a ribbon into the horizon.
Created on Mon Jun 08 17:14:08 EDT 2026 (updated Fri Jun 19 19:16:26 EDT 2026)

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