Be Prepared: "Be Prepared" by Vera Brosgol

by Vera Brosgol
In this graphic novel based on the author's own experiences, a young immigrant from Russia wants to go to summer camp like her American-born friends — but when her parents finally agree, she finds that camp is nothing like she expected.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. complicity
    guilt as a confederate in a crime or offense
    Last year Sarah got Complicity, one of those fancy historical dolls.
  2. historical
    of or relating to the study of recorded time
    Last year Sarah got complicity, one of those fancy historical dolls.
  3. discontinue
    put an end to a state or an activity
    She's discontinued.
  4. accountant
    someone who maintains and audits financial records
    That's great. I'm sure she'll be a great accountant.
  5. persuade
    cause somebody to adopt a certain position or belief
    It took some persuading, but my mom agreed to the sleepover.
  6. borscht
    a soup containing beet juice as a foundation
    Whoa, whoa, whoa! One thing at a time. First thing is first: eat your borscht.
  7. torte
    rich cake usually covered with cream, fruit, or nuts
    So it's...not an ice cream cake?
    No, it's a medovik tort.
  8. orthodox
    adhering to what is commonly accepted
    There's even orthodox church!
  9. deposit
    a partial payment made at the time of purchase
    Soon our deposit was in, and we were signed up for two weeks at ORRA.
  10. lanyard
    a cord worn around the neck to hold a whistle, badge, etc.
    WHISTLE ON LANYARD
  11. cutlery
    tableware implements for eating food
    DISHES, CUP, CUTLERY
  12. impartial
    free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
    I've visited many of them myself...and I can give my impartial opinion that this camp is the best!
  13. ablution
    the act of washing oneself, as for ritual purposes
    You could get water from a pump...
    ...but morning ablutions got done at the creek.
  14. marginal
    just barely adequate or within a lower limit
    Now that we were marginally cleaner, it was time to go back to camp.
  15. accent
    distinctive manner of oral expression
    My family left Russia when I was five. So I understood it, and my accent was perfect...but I had the reading skills of a five-year-old.
  16. parcel
    an extended area of land
    The– the camp is...s...situated...on a parcel of land...h-home...t-t-to...many cr...eatures...
  17. predator
    any animal that lives by preying on other animals
    Very good! But don't forget the predators: raccoons and bears.
  18. sacred
    made, declared, or believed to be holy
    Okay, ladies! For those of you who are new, let me give you the most sacred responsibility of your summer...your flag.
  19. icon
    a conventional religious painting in oil on a small panel
    They keep all the icons in a little house so they don't get wet.
  20. culprit
    someone or something responsible for harm or wrongdoing
    The Culprits
    HORSEFLY
    MOSQUITO
  21. technically
    according to the exact meaning; according to the facts
    Aren't you technically buying my friendship right now?!!
  22. canvas
    a heavy, closely woven fabric
    You know you can't have food in your tents, because canvas doesn't stop animals, and animals carry disease.
  23. foster
    promote the growth of
    Unfortunately, at a summer camp built around fostering Russian community...that was easier said than done.
  24. subdue
    hold within limits and control
    I wondered how many people I'd bite before they subdued me.
  25. liturgy
    a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
    The orthodox liturgy is a beautiful, melodic chant.
  26. melodic
    containing or characterized by a pleasing tune or sound
    The orthodox liturgy is a beautiful, melodic chant.
  27. gilded
    made from or covered with gold
    I loved the icons. The gilded script, the tiny pieces of saints' bones in jewel-encrusted frames...
  28. encrust
    decorate or cover lavishly (as with gems)
    I loved the icons. The gilded script, the tiny pieces of saints' bones in jewel-encrusted frames...
  29. revolution
    the overthrow of a government by those who are governed
    The Russian scouting organizations were banned in the motherland after the 1917 Revolution...but continued as scouts-in-exile in other countries.
  30. exile
    the act of expelling a person from their native land
    The Russian scouting organizations were banned in the motherland after the 1917 Revolution...but continued as scouts-in-exile in other countries.
  31. immigrant
    a person who comes to a country in order to settle there
    Trying to teach immigrant children about the culture their families had left behind.
  32. culture
    all the knowledge and values shared by a society
    Trying to teach immigrant children about the culture their families had left behind.
  33. heave
    the act of lifting something with great effort
    HEAVE
    SLUMP
  34. gulag
    a Russian prison camp for political prisoners
    At least I wasn't marching to a gulag in Siberia...I didn't think so, anyway.
  35. marshy
    (of soil) soft and watery
    It's a little marshy after that rain, so watch where you're going!
  36. traditional
    consisting of or derived from a practice of long standing
    Any time scouts marched or walked, everyone started singing. Sometimes it'd be a traditional Russian song...
  37. ointment
    skin cream that has a soothing, moisturizing effect
    Ivan! Help me find the ointment.
  38. purify
    distill or remove contaminants from
    We learned to set up camp from scratch.
    Putting up a tent...
    Purifying water...
  39. leech
    carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worm
    LEECHES!
  40. morsel
    a small amount of solid food; a mouthful
    Not only was he little, he was also quiet. So quiet nobody noticed him whispering in church or eating little morsels of food at dinner.
  41. latrine
    a public toilet in a military area
    Alexei! That's it, you get to bury the latrine tomorrow.
  42. apparently
    unmistakably
    Apparently so did everyone else.
  43. carnivorous
    relating to flesh-eating animals
    They're rodents, and it's mostly a carnivorous disease.
  44. represent
    serve as a means of expressing something
    Look, it's not the badge, it's what it represents.
  45. regret
    feel sorry for; be contrite about
    I suddenly regretted not at least learning the knots.
  46. revenge
    action taken in return for an injury or offense
    Oh ho, revenge.
  47. captor
    a person who entraps and holds someone else
    As the captor of the flag, I got to come up with the punishment for the boys.
  48. asthma
    respiratory disorder characterized by wheezing
    I was happy to hear that Gregor's dad had gotten him out of it, on account of his asthma.
  49. brooding
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    By the edge of brooding forest,
    And the river's quiet bank,
    Under shade of lush tree branches,
    We together made our camp!
  50. lush
    produced or growing in extreme abundance
    By the edge of brooding forest,
    And the river's quiet bank,
    Under shade of lush tree branches,
    We together made our camp!
Created on Tue Jul 10 10:36:59 EDT 2018 (updated Tue Jul 17 09:45:31 EDT 2018)

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