Finding Langston: Chapters 1–7

by Lesa Cline-Ransome
After moving to Chicago from Alabama, an eleven-year-old boy finds solace and inspiration in the poetry of Langston Hughes.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–20
25 words 806 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. racket
    a loud and disturbing noise
    I miss the hot sun on the back of my neck and how now the racket of cicadas, seems like no sound at all.
  2. cicada
    stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings
    I miss the hot sun on the back of my neck and how now the racket of cicadas, seems like no sound at all.
  3. satchel
    luggage consisting of a small case with a flat bottom
    I grab my satchel and make my way fast down the stairs, through the school yard, past block after block of the cracked sidewalks of Chicago’s South Side.
  4. stoop
    small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
    At my building I sit on the stoop and catch my breath, waiting before I have to climb the broke-down stairs and walk hallways smelling like two-day-old garbage and fried onions.
  5. rickety
    inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
    Nothing here belongs to us, just whoever pays the rent. The two beds, two old rickety chairs, one table, the bureau missing a drawer—nothing.
  6. bureau
    furniture with drawers for keeping clothes
    Nothing here belongs to us, just whoever pays the rent. The two beds, two old rickety chairs, one table, the bureau missing a drawer—nothing.
  7. tenant
    someone who pays rent to use property owned by someone else
    And walls covered by the last tenant with old newspapers to hide the holes.
  8. wriggle
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    I pull the key to our apartment out of my shoe and wriggle it in the lock.
  9. tote
    carry with difficulty
    I don’t miss toting water from the well in a bucket for Mama to cook or clean with, or washing up from a basin in the corner of the room.
  10. wasteful
    inefficient in use of time and effort and materials
    Daddy found out and fussed nearly all day ’bout being wasteful.
  11. gospel
    the written body of teachings accepted by a religious group
    Lymon does the talkin’, they do the laughin’. Kinda like a preacher preaching the gospel and the congregation shoutin’ “Amen.”
  12. congregation
    group that habitually attends a particular place of worship
    Lymon does the talkin’, they do the laughin’. Kinda like a preacher preaching the gospel and the congregation shoutin’ “Amen.”
  13. hymn
    a song of praise, especially a religious song
    At her funeral, I stood at Mama’s grave holding Grandma’s hand and we sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and all her favorite hymns right along with the choir who came from church.
  14. depot
    a station for loading and unloading passengers or goods
    I guess that’s why barely one week later Daddy made me wear my itchy, hot Sunday clothes to the train depot.
  15. porter
    a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
    A curtain separated the colored car from the white, and only the porters and the conductor could pass through.
  16. drawl
    a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
    “What’d you say?” I ask. And then it starts. The amen choir repeats “What’d you say?” in a drawl sounds nothing like me.
  17. stuffy
    lacking fresh air
    Upstairs the apartment is hot and stuffy even with the windows open.
  18. stutter
    speak haltingly
    “Nothing sir, t-t-t-tired is all,” I stutter.
  19. grits
    coarsely ground corn that is boiled
    We both got up every morning to a hot breakfast of eggs and grits and sausage.
  20. prickle
    cause a stinging or tingling sensation
    My socks are soaked through, and by the time I stop, nothing looks familiar. Scared sweat prickles my skin.
  21. reckon
    expect, believe, or suppose
    “Any kind you want—books with stories and pictures ’bout anything you can think of, I reckon.”
  22. cobbler
    a pie made of fruit with rich biscuit dough on top
    The lady starts walking farther into the library and I keep following and let myself breathe in the library smells. Old paper, glue, and wood. Smells better than Mama’s peach cobbler.
  23. mumble
    talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
    I walk in circles staring up at that ceiling and bump into a woman with books.
    “Excuse me ma’am,” I mumble as she cuts her eyes at me.
  24. esteemed
    having an illustrious reputation; respected
    “They are several of the authors from our lecture series. Of course, Chicago is home to many esteemed Negro writers.” She smiles. I nod like I know exactly what she’s talking about.
  25. ensure
    make certain of
    “He didn’t build the library.” She looks serious again. “But it was because of his efforts to ensure this community had a library that this branch was built fifteen years ago. It was named in his honor.”
Created on Thu Aug 29 11:12:42 EDT 2019 (updated Tue Sep 03 16:56:29 EDT 2019)

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