Amina's Voice: Chapters 11-18

by Hena Khan
Amina, a Pakistani-American girl, struggles to balance her commitment to her culture with her desire to fit in. When her mosque is vandalized, Amina must finally find her voice.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1-5, Chapters 6-10, Chapters 11-18, Chapters 19-25
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. fumble
    handle clumsily
    Emily pauses and fumbles with her napkin. “...she died a few years ago. My mom and grandma didn’t get along, so my mom never wanted to learn how to cook like her. Now we never get to eat those kinds of things anymore.”
  2. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    Soojin’s eyebrows furrow.
  3. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    Soojin is nonchalant.
  4. prod
    urge on; cause to act
    “Go on,” she prods.
  5. suppress
    control and refrain from showing
    I work hard to suppress a groan.
  6. prompt
    assist by suggesting the next words of something
    “And?” Soojin prompts.
  7. retort
    answer back
    “No I don’t,” I retorted in a small voice.
  8. tousle
    disarrange or rumple; dishevel
    I picture his tousled dirty-blond hair, dark blue eyes, and very long neck.
  9. bombard
    address continuously, as if with a barrage
    Imam Malik looks helpless as our class bombards him with questions.
  10. topple
    cause to tumble by pushing
    The pain was worth it, though, because all the kids won and toppled the grown-ups.
  11. anticipation
    an expectation
    My stomach growls in anticipation of the jumbo samosas I saw someone carry into the school earlier.
  12. alcove
    a small recess opening off a large room or garden
    But as I walk through the bright hallway with colorful posters that read “Arabic Alphabet” and “The 99 Attributes of Allah,” I spot Imam Malik and Mustafa standing in an empty alcove near the bookshelves.
  13. stricken
    affected by something overwhelming
    His face is red and stricken.
  14. earnestly
    in a sincere and serious manner
    Mustafa nods earnestly.
  15. synagogue
    the place of worship for a Jewish congregation
    Baba was filling Thaya Jaan in on plans for the carnival and how he was inviting local churches, synagogues, temples, and interfaith organizations to attend.
  16. hunch
    round one's back by bending forward
    Hunched over his books in his sweatshirt and cap, he looks younger, like the old Mustafa I’ve always known.
  17. compilation
    something that is gathered together
    I open up the piano cabinet and start to play a compilation of pop songs from the 1960s that Ms. Holly gave me to practice on Friday during music class.
  18. consolation
    the comfort you feel when soothed in times of disappointment
    My only consolation is that at least I don’t get nervous playing the piano in front of an audience.
  19. wince
    make a face indicating disgust or dislike
    I wince as Mustafa’s tone grows rude.
  20. slump
    assume a drooping posture or carriage
    I watch my father slump in his chair in his striped bathrobe, with his bed head and black-and-white stubble on his chin.
  21. jab
    poke or thrust abruptly
    He jabs me in the side with his elbow.
  22. desperation
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
    “Listen, I don’t know who she likes or doesn’t. It was just a guess...isn’t Justin really popular? A lot of girls like him,” I say with growing desperation.
  23. sneer
    a facial expression of contempt or scorn
    It’s Luke, wearing an ugly sneer.
  24. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    Sheepishly, he mouths the word “oops” to me.
  25. thrash
    move or stir about violently
    My heart thrashes wildly in my chest.
  26. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    I shut my mouth and stand there like an idiot, looking back and forth at Emily, seething with anger, and Soojin, whose unshakable faith in me makes me feel like the most horrible person in the world.
  27. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
    Soojin sounds indignant.
  28. wrath
    intense anger
    “This surah is a harsh warning from Allah to those who do backbiting of their brothers. God tells us that nothing, not even all of a person’s wealth, will save them from his wrath.”
  29. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
    “This surah is just a reminder for all of us to watch what we say and not to be arrogant.”
  30. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Mama is solemn as she gives me the simple advice.
Created on Thu Feb 08 16:45:14 EST 2018 (updated Thu Feb 08 16:59:01 EST 2018)

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