Merci Suárez Changes Gears: Chapters 12–21

by Meg Medina
For Merci Suárez, sixth grade is a year of change. A scholarship student at the posh Seaward Pines Academy, Merci must juggle extra community service and family responsibilities, all while coping with a nasty classmate and her beloved grandfather's declining health.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–11, Chapters 12–21, Chapters 22–28
35 words 133 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. awning
    a canvas canopy to shelter people or things from rain or sun
    Now it’s just a nice building with green-and-white awnings that the mayor calls a sign of “our city’s commitment to destination tourism.”
  2. killjoy
    someone who spoils the pleasure of others
    What a killjoy. Lolo’s idea is much better.
  3. veranda
    a porch along the outside of a building
    “He went out to rest on the veranda a while ago. You know how he likes to look at the ocean.”
  4. catamaran
    a sailboat with two parallel hulls held together by a deck
    Beyond them, a catamaran and some parasailing boats bob in the distance, anchored and bright like candies.
  5. angler
    a fisherman who uses a hook and line
    Instead, he leans over the edge with the others, watching as an angler works his line.
  6. barracuda
    a predatory marine fish with large, strong teeth
    “It’s a barracuda,” he whispers.
  7. writhing
    moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
    The men cheer as it’s pulled slowly over the wooden railing, writhing for breath.
  8. apparently
    seemingly; as far as one can tell
    Seventh and eighth graders are too old for grandparents, apparently.
  9. huffy
    quick to take offense
    When she found out that I texted him the assignment, she got all huffy.
  10. instinctive
    unthinking
    Instinctively, I crouch in my best batting position and lift my bat over my right shoulder.
  11. jolt
    an abrupt spasmodic movement
    My arms tingle with an electric jolt.
  12. ricochet
    spring back; spring away from an impact
    Unfortunately, the ball doesn’t arc. Instead, it ricochets off my bat like a bullet.
  13. sermon
    a moralistic rebuke
    It’s a full-on sermon, and everyone is giving me dirty looks for bringing this upon us.
  14. values
    beliefs of a group in which they have emotional investment
    I am sincerely sorry that my reckless behavior did not reflect the values of Seaward Pines Academy, where we respect rules always.
  15. ethics
    motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
    As a Sunshine Buddy, I should have known better, especially since betting that includes monetary exchange violates school ethics.
  16. shabby
    showing signs of wear and tear
    It’s not her car that’s waiting, though. Instead, it’s Papi’s van, looking especially shabby in the loop.
  17. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    He gives me a solemn look as I buckle in, and then he drives extra slow—even worse than Roli.
  18. decal
    a design that can be transferred from paper to some surface
    I shrug, glancing at the few remaining cars in the parking lot, all shiny with tinted windows and decals of smiling stick families on the back windows.
  19. trellis
    latticework used to support climbing plants
    The streets are narrow and lined with Spanish-style houses, where purple vines climb up trellises to end at balconies.
  20. ottoman
    a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
    "¿Qué te pasa?” Tía Inés looks down at me from Abuela’s ottoman. “You’ve been moping all day.”
  21. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    “Well, we’re busy this week,” Abuela says, seething.
  22. welt
    a raised mark on the skin
    Instead, I swat at mosquitos buzzing near my legs and notice several welts on Lolo’s neck and arms where the bugs have been feasting.
  23. flit
    move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
    “I’ll go.” His eyes flit to Axel and Tomás. “Start cleaning up, men,” he calls to them.
  24. papyrus
    paper made from a plant by cutting it and pressing it flat
    She points to the stack of curly “papyrus,” markers, and colored pencils near her desk and hands us a copy of the codes to use like a Rosetta stone.
  25. incarcerate
    lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
    “Writing a letter, like most incarcerated people.”
  26. embalm
    preserve a dead body
    He stays quiet for a while, but then he props himself up on his elbows. “Remember when I was the embalmer in Ms. Tannenbaum’s class?”
  27. placard
    a sign posted in a public place
    An aide steps out from the room across the hall and startles me. She’s wearing blue rubber gloves, and she’s holding bed linens and towels. The door behind her has a placard that says MRS. ETHEL BLAIR.
  28. impede
    be a hindrance or obstacle to
    He’s not much for fun and holidays, which he says “impede student concentration and force him into the role of babysitter.”
  29. deity
    a supernatural being worshipped as controlling the world
    “Be prepared to tell us about the deity of your choice.”
  30. sidle
    move sideways
    “What are you going as, Michael?” Edna says, sidling up to him, which makes Rachel’s eyes bulge.
  31. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    I’m flushed, like I’ve done something wrong, again, but I realize helping Michael will get me some points with Miss McDaniels, especially after the baseball incident.
  32. haunch
    the upper part of the leg of an animal, often used for food
    Tía studies the picture and points at the haunches.
  33. charter
    a contract to hire or lease transportation
    “We like renting charters a lot better,” I say quickly.
    Roli looks up at me in his rearview mirror. I’m stretching the truth and he knows it. We’ve only ever rented a boat once.
  34. biomass
    the total amount of living matter in a given unit area
    Before I can stop him, Roli starts in about fertilizer that runs off into the lake and how that eventually leads to the toxic algae in the ocean that closed the beaches a few years ago. “It’s a green slime that smells like farts and can double its biomass in a day.” He actually says this.
  35. stifle
    smother or suppress
    “You’re next, mi vida,” she says, stifling a yawn.
Created on Thu Nov 01 15:17:21 EDT 2018 (updated Fri Nov 02 09:08:34 EDT 2018)

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