Blended: Chapters 16–27

by Sharon M. Draper
After her parents' divorce, eleven-year-old Isabella must shuttle back and forth between two separate households while trying to understand her biracial identity.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–15, Chapters 16–27, Chapters 28–45, Chapters 46–63, Chapters 64–76

Here are links to our lists for other books by Sharon M. Draper: Out of My Mind, Stella by Starlight, Copper Sun, Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. confrontation
    a hostile disagreement face-to-face
    I try to let any thoughts of weekly custody confrontations—Mom and Dad practically snarled at each other today!—swirl down the drain with the sudsy water.
  2. territorial
    defending a region from intruders
    It’s gotten worse since Dad moved back to Cincinnati—they’re, like, territorial!
  3. flail
    thrash about
    Mom paces as she talks, flails her arms for emphasis as if Dad can see her, clenching her cell phone like it’s a kitchen sponge after a messy spaghetti dinner.
  4. conservatory
    a schoolhouse with special facilities for fine arts
    Madame Rubenstein comes from the music conservatory at the University of Cincinnati.
  5. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    She wears a different ring on each finger—even her thumbs—and about fifty gold bangle bracelets on her arms; they rattle as she plays.
  6. supple
    moving and bending with ease
    But her fingers are long and supple—she has no problem with pieces that are written for two octaves, no problem at all.
  7. arpeggio
    a chord whose notes are played in rapid succession
    Still, I practice chords and arpeggios, scales and phrases, until finally, she takes me deeply into the lesson for the day—a Mozart concerto this time.
  8. concerto
    a composition for orchestra and a soloist
    Still, I practice chords and arpeggios, scales and phrases, until finally, she takes me deeply into the lesson for the day—a Mozart concerto this time.
  9. deliberately
    in a careful unhurried manner
    I press deliberately at the keys, head down, fingers connecting.
  10. demonstration
    a public display of group feelings
    Then he asks, “What kinds of things in the past have led to demonstrations that have led to change?”
  11. lynch
    kill without legal sanction
    “What’s ‘lynched’?” I ask. I’ve heard the word before, but I’m not sure exactly what it means.
    “Good question, Isabella. It’s when people decide to be judge, jury, and executioner without following any laws. People were hanged or shot or imprisoned, without ever getting a proper hearing!”
  12. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
    Logan starts to protest, but a stern look from Mr. K. shuts him down.
  13. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    “Do you know any teachers who show racial bias?”
  14. emphatic
    forceful and definite in expression or action
    “No, I want to go,” I tell Mom emphatically.
  15. rustle
    forage food
    “I’ll see if I can rustle up a gourmet breakfast for us,” she says, leaving her warm spot by my side.
  16. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    “What did you do?” I ask.
    “Nothing,” he admits, sounding sheepish.
  17. ruddy
    inclined to a healthy reddish color
    So John Mark, the ruddy-faced, black-leather-jacket-wearing, muscle-bound, tattooed white guy, gets out, walks around the front of the truck, and opens the passenger door.
  18. stupendous
    so great in size, force, or extent as to elicit awe
    Mr. Kazilly is wearing a sharply creased white shirt, a red velvet vest, and maroon slacks. He looks stupendous, to use one of his words.
  19. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    “But...aren’t they racists? The people who do stuff like this?” asks Otis, looking incredulous.
  20. prompt
    urge, encourage, or motivate someone to act
    “Hmm. Only Black people?” Mr. K. prompts.
  21. assumption
    the act of taking something for granted
    “You see what just happened?” he asks us. “In just a thirty-second discussion, look how easy it is to jump to anger and assumptions. Now let’s take our time and dig a little deeper.”
  22. bound
    move forward by leaping
    She sorta reminded me of a deer—watchful, waiting to bound away at any moment.
  23. turmoil
    disturbance usually in protest
    “How are things at school these days, Izzy?” she asks me tonight. “All this racial turmoil has got to be upsetting.”
  24. grouse
    complain
    “I’m not even sure what that means,” I grouse.
  25. tinge
    a slight but appreciable amount
    “Well, I don’t answer ‘other,’ because that’s like being nothing, like maybe I could be Martian or something. I’m not nothing. I am something. I am somebody.” I hear the tinge of sass in my voice, but I don’t care.
Created on Mon Apr 01 15:05:59 EDT 2019 (updated Mon Apr 01 17:03:50 EDT 2019)

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