Westfallen: Chapters 18–24

by Ann Brashares, Ben Brashares
What if you had a gizmo — like a radio — that connected you to the past; and what if, in connecting to the past, the course of history was greatly altered? Alice and her friends in 1944 and Henry and his friends in 2023 find themselves in just such a predicament — and the fate of America could depend on them!

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–8, Chapters 9–17, Chapters 18–24, Chapters 25–30, Chapters 31–36
15 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. elation
    a feeling of joy and pride
    By that afternoon, the elation of our success had worn off. Snyder’s was a smoking heap in the ground, and everyone at school was talking about it.
  2. prod
    push against gently
    “I’ll go get my phone,” Lukas said. “I can—”
    “Not necessary, son,” the taller man said. He seemed less patient, less smiley. He walked in, brushed past me, and prodded Lukas by the arm.
    Lukas went along, muttering in confusion as they went out the door.
  3. emblazon
    decorate, adorn, or inscribe with a design
    I stood watching the van pull out, wondering what it was we had done. There was writing on the back of the van. I only saw it as it drove away.
    I looked at the writing, but it was the symbol emblazoned underneath that filled my entire field of vision.
  4. unfathomable
    impossible to come to understand
    Overcooked green beans weren’t too high on my growing list of the “unbearable and unfathomable,” but my mom’s face when she apologized for them…somehow that was.
  5. snobby
    tending to associate only with people of a similar background
    Lawrence liked when he got the Birches on his delivery route, but I did not. Not just because they were snobby and because Alden Birch, their teenage son, was a big jerk, but also because it was the last place where my mom had worked.
  6. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    Frances looked incredulous. “Maybe they know something you don’t? You know since they’ve lived here for the last twelve years?”
  7. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    I paused long enough to see the truck stopped in front of the house, emptying its passengers.
    “Dogs?” Lukas asked warily. It was like we both knew what was coming. I nodded. “Two. German shepherds.”
  8. jimmy
    move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
    The latch was stuck, probably rusted. In a calm panic I took the paperweight from my pocket and whacked it against the metal. The glass of the paperweight chipped but didn’t break, and the latch gave way enough to jimmy open.
  9. imperiously
    in a manner showing arrogant superiority
    I bowed my head. “I’m Henry,” I mumbled. Somehow we both understood what was expected of us, what characters we were supposed to play. “Miss, uh…Miss…”
    “Moore!” she shouted imperiously. Frances was a little too good at this.
  10. drab
    lacking brightness or color; dull
    What did we have in this drab house that a fancy Nazi girl could want?
  11. curtly
    in an abrupt and discourteous manner
    I nodded curtly at Frances. “The rest will be ready tomorrow afternoon. Folded. You can send your driver.”
  12. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    I turned to the guards. “Anything else we can do for you?”
    They looked sheepish by this point, intimidated by Frances and embarrassed to be bothering my reticent and exhausted mom.
  13. intimidated
    made scared or fearful as by threats
    I turned to the guards. “Anything else we can do for you?”
    They looked sheepish by this point, intimidated by Frances and embarrassed to be bothering my reticent and exhausted mom.
  14. reticent
    not inclined to talk or provide information
    I turned to the guards. “Anything else we can do for you?”
    They looked sheepish by this point, intimidated by Frances and embarrassed to be bothering my reticent and exhausted mom.
  15. surreptitiously
    in a secretive manner
    As they shuffled toward the front door, I broke off pieces of moldy cheese from the shelf and surreptitiously gave a piece to each of the dogs. You never knew when you’d need a friend. “Bye, Bessie,” I whispered. “Your breath stinks and this won’t help.”
Created on Sun Aug 02 20:48:00 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Sep 01 11:56:24 EDT 2026)

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