The Color of Sound: Chapters 11–14

by Emily Barth Isler
Twelve-year-old musical prodigy Rosie sees music and sound in all the colors of the spectrum. This summer she has chosen to put aside playing her violin to explore new hobbies.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–10, Chapters 11–14, Chapters 15–Epilogue
15 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    Grandpa shoots Dad a look that I wish I could capture in a song; it’s admonishing and stern but also sympathetic—or maybe sort of wistful?
  2. meekly
    in a humble manner
    “And I walk to the library every other day,” I add meekly. I don’t want Dad to think I’m being lazy.
  3. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    I tentatively turn the album’s pages, staring at more photographs of Dahlia and her family.
  4. sotto voce
    in an undertone
    “Maybe,” I say, “we could look at it again sometime soon?”
    “Of course. And remember,” he says, sotto voce, from the door frame, “no secrets. Just a surprise for later, okay?”
  5. precarious
    affording no ease or reassurance
    I know in my gut that I’m never fully going to understand how this process works, in this precarious place where our time circles intersect.
  6. resolute
    firm in purpose or belief
    Shanna’s eyes dart toward the skylight and back toward me. “It’s not that complicated—lots of people at my school play instruments. It’s just one of those things people do.” Her words are orange and resolute.
    But she’s holding something back.
  7. timbre
    the distinctive property of a complex sound
    I know this tone, this mauve color. I know this timbre, and I can’t believe I’m hearing it now. It’s usually reserved for how he talks about my violin playing, my “career” in music.
  8. ploy
    a maneuver in a game, conversation, or situation
    “And it’s probably all just a ploy to make me play the violin again."
  9. myriad
    a large indefinite number
    But as I stare at image after image—the faces of my ancestors, and of the people they loved and would soon lose—I notice all the myriad shades of gray within the black and white.
  10. counterpoint
    an element, idea, or argument used to create a contrast
    Dahlia is the melody, and everyone she loves—the people around her in these pictures—are the harmonies, the variations, the counterpoint, the timbre, the tone.
  11. painstaking
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
    I know people do practice a lot for improv shows, but I can’t help feeling a little jealous, comparing that process with the painstaking hours I used to spend rehearsing for violin performances.
  12. diffuse
    spread through
    So I play Salut d’Amour, feeling the arches of longing and the ribbons of pastels flow out of my hands, into the viola, and diffuse like droplets into the air.
  13. reverence
    a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
    By the time I play the final note, my eyes are moist with the joy of seeing the music again.
    “Holy freaking smokes,” breathes Ryan when I lower the bow.
    “Good grief,” Sunita says, her hand over her chest in reverence.
  14. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    Vienna saunters over and curls up at my feet in solidarity.
  15. solidarity
    a union of interests or purposes among members of a group
    Vienna saunters over and curls up at my feet in solidarity.
Created on Tue Jun 16 18:29:18 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Jul 07 14:57:02 EDT 2026)

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