Fish in a Tree: Chapters 1-9

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
In this novel, a dedicated teacher and new friendships help Ally understand and come to terms with her dyslexia — and to realize that there's no shame in being different.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1-9, Chapters 10-16, Chapters 17-27, Chapters 28-38, Chapters 39-51
15 words 3963 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bulky
    of large size for its weight
    Near her, Albert, a bulky kid who’s worn the same thing every day—a dark T-shirt that reads Flint—sits up straight.
  2. inappropriate
    not in keeping with what is correct or proper
    “You’ve done other things that have been inappropriate, but this is just...well...different. It’s not like you.”
  3. absolute
    perfect or complete or pure
    But there are piles of reasons I can’t tell the absolute truth.
  4. coincidence
    an accidental event that seems to have been arranged
    So I figure it isn’t a coincidence that they’re here.
  5. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
    She makes that exasperated sound.
  6. deflate
    reduce or lessen the size or importance of
    But then his voice deflates.
  7. bandana
    a large and brightly colored handkerchief
    With a name like that, I give him a cowboy hat, a bandana, and a holster.
  8. humiliating
    causing embarrassment or awareness of your shortcomings
    Having to laugh at yourself along with everyone else is humiliating.
  9. gifted
    endowed with special talent or talents
    “Oh, All....you’re too smart for this. School is too important to joke about. I don’t want you working long hours on your feet for a bunch of tips like me. I want more for you. And you’re so smart. Good at math. A gifted artist. Don’t you think it’s time to stop clowning around?”
  10. impressive
    making a strong or vivid mental image
    In one way it is completely impressive, and in another, the grossest thing I’ve ever seen.
  11. expectation
    belief about the future
    When we get into the car, Travis says, “Did you see how that guy in there took me for a fool? Trying to rip me off. Remember, Ally. When people have low expectations of you, you can sometimes use it to your advantage.”
  12. medieval
    relating to or belonging to the Middle Ages
    “It’s the same water that the dinosaurs walked through a hundred million years ago and the cavemen drank. It’s the same water that polar bears swam in just last year and medieval knights guzzled after battle.”
  13. constructive
    emphasizing what is laudable or hopeful or to the good
    “Shay. Please keep your comments constructive,” Mr. Daniels says.
  14. imply
    express or state indirectly
    “The possibilities are not, in fact, infinite, as she would eventually run out of appropriate letter combinations, and the number of letters to be used in each cake would be limited as well. Also, you imply that the possibilities are all positive when it is probable that the possibilities would be equal in positive and negative outcomes.”
  15. optimist
    a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
    “But I am an optimist. What can I say?”
Created on Thu Jan 11 19:21:36 EST 2018 (updated Wed Jul 30 12:44:55 EDT 2025)

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