The House That Lou Built: Chapters 14–19

by Mae Respicio
Living in her grandmother's cramped home, thirteen-year-old Lou longs for a private space. But her plans to build a tiny house of her own are jeopardized when she must fight to save the land she inherited from her father.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–19, Chapters 20–26
35 words 54 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. savory
    having an agreeably pungent taste
    Trinkets in large baskets line the sidewalks, and stores show off rows of yummy things like savory buns and whole fried ducks.
  2. ceramic
    relating to or made from clay baked at a high temperature
    I pick up a ceramic fortune cookie with a slip of paper sticking out: Your strength is your own belief.
  3. sprig
    a small branch or stem, usually with leaves or flowers
    I rub a sprig of rosemary and bring its clean, strong scent to my nose the way she taught me.
  4. tend
    have care of or look after
    Lolo and I built these planters—my first time using a handsaw. Lola said I was too young, but Lolo said not to worry since in the Philippines I'd be tending the farm, so what was the harm?
  5. harmonize
    bring into consonance, harmony, or accord while making music or singing
    It reminds me of nights I loved, Lola and Mom singing me to sleep together. They would try to harmonize but always sounded kind of awful.
  6. auction
    the public sale of something to the highest bidder
    "It’s from the county,” Mom says. “A notice of public auction.”
  7. settlement
    a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it
    "I worked out a settlement plan a while back, but between the taxes and late fees and paying for school...it's been impossible to keep up.”
  8. redeem
    pay off (loans or promissory notes)
    “‘We have the right to redeem the property by the close of business on the last business day prior to the sale....The auction is planned for twenty-one days from now.’”
  9. scrawl
    write carelessly
    I dig into my jeans pocket and the slip of paper’s still there. I dial the number scrawled on it, and a voice answers.
  10. survey
    look over carefully or inspect
    He jumped right in with questions about what plans I made or tools I had, then said, “How about we survey things together, if your mom's okay with that?”
  11. blueprint
    something intended as a guide for making something else
    With Jack filming, I show them what's in the shed, the trailer bed, and finally, my blueprint.
  12. generator
    engine that converts mechanical energy into electricity
    He nods. “For the miter saw. I brought a generator, too, so we can get power to these tools. Given any thought yet to electricity for your house?”
  13. legacy
    a gift of personal property by will
    "This land is a lovely legacy for you, Lucinda,” Mr. Keller says.
  14. flustered
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    Is that good or bad? I’m flustered, but say, "I’ll take that as a compliment.”
  15. flub
    blunder; make a mess of something
    “You mean Team Trip?” one of the kids says, and they snicker. It’s because I keep flubbing.
  16. distracted
    having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
    I’m too distracted.
  17. deja vu
    the experience of thinking a new situation already occurred
    Miss Jovy sighs. “Again, please.”
    The music starts, the poles clap, but déjà vu. I trip.
  18. pucker
    become wrinkled or drawn together
    We head next door to the Asian grocery store for a bag of shrimp chips to share—delicious, crispy, salty, French fry-looking crackers that make my mouth pucker.
  19. gawk
    look with amazement
    I gawk at them. They’re abandoning me? They’re supposed to be my friends.
  20. wince
    make a face indicating disgust or dislike
    Sheryl takes a step but then winces and lowers herself to the ground.
  21. buoy
    an anchored float that marks locations in a body of water
    It’s dusk at the beach, and the drizzle has cleared. Couples make out and surfers on the water bob up and down like buoys, waiting for waves.
  22. pendulum
    an apparatus in which an object is mounted to swing freely
    I slip off my shoes and walk the ocean’s edge, the way I used to with Lolo. He’d swing me like a pendulum while the water lapped at our ankles.
  23. lap
    wash or flow against
    I slip off my shoes and walk the ocean’s edge, the way I used to with Lolo. He’d swing me like a pendulum while the water lapped at our ankles.
  24. frail
    physically weak
    My grandma might look skinny and frail, but I know her grip is strong.
  25. rosary
    a series of prayers counted using a string of beads
    A rosary of dark wooden beads hangs on a wall.
  26. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    I feel my face flush—not because of the giant bamboo utensils and huge painting of Jesus’s Last Supper hanging in the dining room, but because Lola’s grinning at him.
  27. ritual
    any customary observance or practice
    As a little kid, one of the first things I ever learned to do with my hands was the ritual of rice—washing it, cooking it.
  28. resilience
    an occurrence of rebounding or springing back
    “How’s Manang doing?” I ask.
    “She’s a little upset that she can’t perform, but she’ll be fine. This is what your lolo would have called a lesson in resilience.”
  29. inquire
    have a wish or desire to know something
    “So, Lou, inquiring minds want to know. Why go through all this trouble just for dirt and trees?” Maribel says.
  30. represent
    be a delegate or spokesperson for
    “Is there an adult here with you?” the woman asks.
    “No, I'm here representing my own property. I’d like to speak with the person in charge.”
  31. tandem
    an arrangement of objects or persons one behind another
    There’s a gigantic black-and-orange San Francisco Giants flag on the wall, and pictures of fun stuff like him tandem skydiving with two thumbs up.
  32. underestimate
    make too low an approximation of
    “Totally. Lou has the brainpower—” Gracie says.
    “—and the muscle power,” Sheryl adds. "Sometimes people underestimate kids, but Lou can do this. More than anyone we know.”
  33. collage
    a paste-up of pieces to form an artistic image
    I swipe through pictures of my heart collage and blueprint, and of women I admire who create things.
  34. unconventional
    not conforming to standards
    “Lucinda, this is very unconventional. I can tell you’re a smart young lady, but this matter is something I would need to discuss with your mother since she has guardianship of the property. She should contact my office.”
  35. stall
    deliberately delay an event or action
    I hear their shouts:
    "Hurry Lou!”
    “We tried to stall!”
Created on Wed Mar 13 21:48:25 EDT 2019 (updated Wed Mar 20 11:46:01 EDT 2019)

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