The Fourteenth Goldfish: Chapters 9–17

by Jennifer L. Holm
Ellie is struggling to adjust to middle school. When her scientist grandfather announces he has discovered a secret to reverse aging, she finds herself swept up in a scientific adventure that will help her discover her own place in the world.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–8, Chapters 9–17, Chapters 18–29
35 words 115 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. precision
    the quality of being exact
    He pours the steaming water into the mug with precision, adds two perfect spoonfuls of sugar, and methodically stirs the sugar like he’s making a formula.
  2. methodical
    characterized by orderliness
    He pours the steaming water into the mug with precision, adds two perfect spoonfuls of sugar, and methodically stirs the sugar like he’s making a formula.
  3. probe
    question or examine thoroughly and closely
    “Is the fruit alive or dead?” he probes.
  4. dormant
    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
    “This is trickier. They’re dormant, waiting. Bury them in soil. Give them water and sunlight and they’ll grow. In a way, they’re immortal. And they were inside the apple all along.”
  5. brooding
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    He stares broodingly into the camera like an old Hollywood actor.
  6. rave
    praise enthusiastically
    My mom is always raving about the theater program there.
  7. grill
    question or examine thoroughly
    My grandfather grills my mom with questions I can tell she finds annoying: Does she still have her college transcripts? Would she like to meet with a friend of his in the Stanford biology department to talk about the program? Would she like his help in applying?
  8. transcript
    a reproduction of a written record
    My grandfather grills my mom with questions I can tell she finds annoying: Does she still have her college transcripts? Would she like to meet with a friend of his in the Stanford biology department to talk about the program? Would she like his help in applying?
  9. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    “Dad,” she says, her tone placating. “What would happen if you got stopped? You don’t exactly look like your driver’s license.”
  10. premises
    land and the buildings on it
    “She won’t drive me to the lab,” he says. “That rent-a-cop told her he’d press charges if he saw me on the premises again.”
  11. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
    He shakes his head as if bewildered.
  12. lanyard
    a cord worn around the neck to hold a whistle, badge, etc.
    He hands me a plastic card attached to a lanyard ring.
  13. radiation
    energy transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles
    “Marie Curie won a Nobel for her work on radiation."
  14. execute
    carry out or perform an action
    “Idiot,” my grandfather comments when a skateboarder executes a neat flip.
  15. blunt
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
    There’s no need to try to figure out what he really means, the way there sometimes is with girls; he’s blunt.
  16. flourish
    a showy gesture
    “Dinner is served!” she announces, and places our plates in front of us with a flourish.
  17. singe
    burn superficially or lightly
    There’s a breaded, fried, patty-like thing lying in the middle of each plate. Next to it is some singed asparagus.
  18. decisive
    characterized by resoluteness and firmness
    His answer is decisive. “Nope. Don’t like it.”
  19. expectant
    marked by eager anticipation
    But maybe there’s also a little magic in cooking, taking all the plain old ingredients and turning them into comfort and memory. Because when my mom walks in the door, she sniffs the air expectantly.
  20. foyer
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    He walks into our foyer and looks around the hallway.
  21. dumbfounded
    as if rendered speechless with astonishment and surprise
    I’m dumbfounded. “You told him?” I ask my grandfather.
  22. preen
    pride or congratulate oneself for an achievement
    “By the way, did you know you have a fan club in Finland?”
    My grandfather preens. “They have T-shirts now.”
  23. diversion
    an attack that draws an enemy's attention away
    Raj will ring the front bell to create a diversion. While the security guard is distracted, my grandfather will use his key card to get in the back door and grab the T. melvinus.
  24. aptitude
    inherent ability
    “Your daughter’s interested in science. She shows great aptitude. You should encourage her.”
  25. periodical
    a publication that appears at fixed intervals
    There are piles of scientific periodicals and little china figurines of fat-faced children that belonged to my grandmother.
  26. sheen
    the visual property of something that shines
    The bedspread is flowery and quilted and has a sheen to it.
  27. classic
    a creation of the highest excellence
    “You don’t need to,” my grandfather says. “You should be reading the classics.”
  28. drivel
    a worthless message
    “Please. I highly doubt Newton wasted his time on this drivel.”
  29. hurtle
    move with or as if with a rushing sound
    Were we two objects in motion, hurtling through space, and then an external force—middle school, volleyball, life?—hit us?
  30. drone
    talk in a monotonous voice
    As my grandfather drones on, I wonder: shouldn’t there be a “law of friendship,” that if you’re friends with someone practically your whole life, you can’t just suddenly stop and change directions without the other person?
  31. in a nutshell
    summed up briefly
    “And that is Newton’s laws of motion in a nutshell,” he finishes.
  32. assess
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
    My grandfather gives Raj an assessing look. “Do you know any underworld types who could help us break into building twenty-four?”
  33. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
    “I just assumed,” he says, waving a hand at Raj’s black clothes, the metal piercings.
  34. flashy
    (used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display
    My grandfather fumes. “I bet it was that Terrence character, the one in the flashy suit. He kept telling me to move my stuff out of the lab. Little upstart. Who does he think he is? I have years of experience on him! Decades!”
  35. upstart
    an arrogant or presumptuous person
    My grandfather fumes. “I bet it was that Terrence character, the one in the flashy suit. He kept telling me to move my stuff out of the lab. Little upstart. Who does he think he is? I have years of experience on him! Decades!”
Created on Wed Dec 19 14:01:55 EST 2018 (updated Wed Dec 19 15:34:30 EST 2018)

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