The Next New Syrian Girl: Chapters 12–21

by Ream Shukairy
Khadija Shami, a Syrian American high school senior, and Leene Tahir, a Syrian refugee, must unravel a secret that leads them back to Jordan and challenges who they are.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–11, Chapters 12–21, Chapters 22–32, Chapter 33–Epilogue
15 words 3 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. traumatic
    psychologically painful
    “Don’t be lazy!”
    So much pep. As if we didn’t witness a traumatic episode yesterday.
  2. befall
    happen or be the case in the course of events or by chance
    Above the painting, in ornamental Arabic calligraphy, a verse from the Qur’an in light-beige paint: And be patient over what befalls you.
  3. halal
    conforming to dietary laws
    Jerr’s is also a buffer halal zone with plenty of people always around.
  4. grippe
    an acute, febrile, highly contagious viral disease
    “When we lived there, Mama would often get this grippe where she would get ill and not be able to leave bed for days.”
  5. brash
    offensively bold
    Out of everyone, she is the only one I could trust with this secret. Khadija the American, the stranger, the brash and bold girl who doesn’t care what anyone tells her.
  6. enrapture
    hold spellbound
    I’m enraptured by the attention he bestows upon her, but then again, she did skillfully coax him out of his shell.
  7. inherently
    in an essential manner
    Maybe I’m not inherently good like Leene is, and maybe I never will be.
  8. infuriated
    marked by extreme anger
    My car narrowly misses their truck door, and the two white middle-aged men, riled and infuriated, roll their windows down, their heavy breath immediately condensing in the frigid air.
  9. surreal
    resembling a dream
    “Get us out of here.” Her eyes bulge out of her head, the fear in her voice surreal. “Drive!”
  10. vulnerability
    susceptibility to injury or attack
    This time, I hear the vulnerability in her voice under the fake bravado.
  11. bravado
    a swaggering show of courage
    This time, I hear the vulnerability in her voice under the fake bravado.
  12. lethargic
    deficient in alertness or activity
    I catch up with her, sidling my lethargic body beside her.
  13. buttress
    a support usually of stone or brick
    Maroon-colored lockers line the hallways of RHHS, pressed up against stone walls supported by intricate buttresses.
  14. devolve
    grow worse
    Leene stares at me with wide eyes.
    She rapidly devolves. “What if they say they have him? What if they ask me to go get him? I don’t have money...."
  15. interject
    speak abruptly, especially as an interruption
    “I did some math and if I’m going to get Mustafa back—”
    “When you get him back,” she interjects.
Created on Fri Oct 16 22:36:40 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Oct 27 13:14:45 EDT 2026)

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