Home of the Brave: Part Three–Epilogue

by Katherine Applegate
In this verse novel, a young immigrant from Africa adjusts to life in the United States.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One–Part Two, Part Three–Epilogue

Here are links to our lists for other works by Katherine Applegate: Crenshaw, Wishtree, The One and Only Ivan
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. forego
    do without or cease to hold or adhere to
    One doesn’t forego sleeping because of the possibility of nightmares.
  2. plod
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    In my heavy coat I plod like an old donkey
    on market day.
  3. stall
    a compartment where an animal is confined and fed
    The work at Lou’s is simple:
    feed the animals, clean the stalls,
    shovel the front porch.
  4. nuzzle
    gently rub or push one's nose or face against something
    She nuzzles me and flicks her ears
    and chews her cud.
  5. dung
    fecal matter of animals
    When I bury my face in Gol’s old hide
    I smell hay and dung and life.
  6. flank
    the side between ribs and hipbone
    I stroke her flank while Ganwar watches.
  7. scrawny
    inferior in size or quality
    It’s just a tired flock
    of scrawny chickens
    and a cow with ribs trying to hide
    behind her muddy coat.
  8. rain cats and dogs
    rain heavily
    Field trip is another English trick,
    like raining cats and dogs
    and a barrel of laughs
    because there is no field
    and it’s not a far trip
    like the one I took from Africa.
  9. bound
    move forward by leaping
    I remember such animals bounding
    through tall grass,
    riding the air like
    wingless birds.
  10. prowl
    move about in or as if in a predatory manner
    Its lights cut the gloom
    like the eyes of a great cat
    prowling for food
    in the moonlight.
  11. sleek
    having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
    You can have your dogs and cats,
    your gerbils and hamsters
    and sleek sparkling fish.
  12. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    I trudge up the stairs.
  13. etch
    carve or cut a design or letters into
    The six lines
    etched in his forehead
    glisten.
  14. initiation
    a formal entry into an organization or position or office
    The initiation ceremony is
    part of another place—
    a place I may never return to.
  15. sprain
    twist suddenly so as to wrench
    Sprained the dang thing last night, she says.
  16. spite
    hurt the feelings of
    Hannah says I am
    cutting off my nose to spite my face.
  17. tender
    easy to cut or chew
    I think of Gol nosing the ground,
    grateful to find tender grass
    appearing at her feet.
  18. masses
    the common people generally
    Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
  19. yearn
    desire strongly or persistently
    Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
  20. wretched
    deserving or inciting pity
    Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
  21. teeming
    abundantly filled with especially living things
    Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
  22. twine
    spin, wind, or twist together
    We sleep on each other, legs and arms twined.
  23. uneasy
    causing or fraught with or showing anxiety
    There is moaning and snoring and muttering and drooling,
    but it’s a kind of uneasy peace.
  24. drone
    an unchanging intonation
    Mosquitoes buzz at the tent flaps,
    louder and louder still,
    and then I know it is the drone of a flying boat.
  25. confession
    an admission of misdeeds or faults
    CONFESSION
    I awake to no blood, no bodies,
    no Mama.
  26. clamber
    climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    I dash over and clamber up easily.
  27. thatch
    cover with roofing material made of plant stalks
    In the starlight I imagine that
    if I try hard enough,
    I can see my family’s thatched hut,
    my father’s sharp-horned cattle,
    the tree where I learned
    I’m not meant to be a bird.
  28. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
    I was Lual’s little brother,
    Ganwar’s troublesome cousin,
    my parents’ mischievous child.
  29. glint
    be shiny, as if wet
    Moonlight glints on her silver hair
    like ice on snow.
  30. hitch
    a connection between a vehicle and the load that it pulls
    I just wish my trailer hitch
    hadn’t rusted out, she says.
  31. grumble
    utter or emit low, dull sounds
    A huge truck grumbles past.
  32. frantic
    marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
    Cars come and go
    like frantic ants.
  33. blare
    make a loud noise
    A blue car zooms toward him,
    horn blaring.
  34. harness
    an arrangement of leather straps fitted to a draft animal
    She grazes happily
    while I yank on her harness.
  35. amble
    walk leisurely
    Then she ambles out into the road.
  36. custody
    guardianship over
    Custody, I correct myself.
    I pull out the piece of paper
    Lou gave me.
  37. requisition
    an official form on which a request is made
    This is a very kind offer,
    says another zoo boss man,
    but this isn’t how we do things usually, kids.
    There are meetings, and requisition forms,
    and veterinary exams—
  38. geriatric
    of or relating to the aged
    I was hoping for one a little less…
    geriatric, Harold replies.
  39. epilogue
    a short section at the end of a literary work
    EPILOGUE
    FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER
    A sandstorm passes; the stars remain.
  40. tend
    have care of or look after
    Now my wishes are bigger,
    the hopes of a man,
    and they take much tending,
    like seedlings in rough sun.
Created on Fri Jun 01 08:56:23 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Sep 06 14:50:16 EDT 2018)

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