Ban This Book: List 2

by Alan Gratz
When Amy Anne's favorite book is banned from her school library, she decided to fight against censorship.

This list covers "The Big Idea"–"Nowhere to Stomp To."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
20 words 116 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. resolve
    reach a decision
    But I was resolved. I was going to read each and every one of the books Mrs. Spencer said I couldn’t, just to spite her.
  2. spite
    hurt the feelings of
    But I was resolved. I was going to read each and every one of the books Mrs. Spencer said I couldn’t, just to spite her.
  3. nonfiction
    prose writing that is not formed by the imagination
    It’s a nonfiction book...
  4. ruckus
    the act of making a noisy disturbance
    Alexis screamed because I’d surprised her, and the dogs went crazy barking like the mailman had suddenly appeared in the room, and the whole ruckus brought Mom running.
  5. lope
    run easily
    Danny loped over to us and brushed his hair out of his eyes. “Hey! What’s so funny?”
  6. odious
    extremely repulsive or unpleasant
    “That odious woman,” Mrs. Jones said when they had gone. “This all started when she didn’t like the Captain Underpants book Trey checked out.”
  7. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
    She gave me an exasperated sigh, but then she seemed to get an idea. She smiled to herself and went into the office in the back, the one with all the windows, and got on the computer.
  8. corrupt
    debase morally
    “Sure. From all the parents whose children you’ve corrupted. Why do you think they banned all those books to begin with? Because the parents think they’re going to rot our brains and turn us into violent criminals.”
  9. stammer
    speak haltingly
    “Uh...” I said. I looked at Rebecca. Her eyes went wide and she shook her head.
    “We, uh...” I stammered. We couldn’t tell her what our bake sale was really for.
  10. gawk
    look with amazement
    Rebecca gawked at me.
  11. juvenile
    of or relating to children or young people
    “Kid prisoners. Kids our age who are in jail.”
    Under the table, Rebecca started hitting me in the leg with her fist.
    “You mean, juvenile delinquents?” Principal Banazewski said.
  12. delinquent
    a young offender
    “Kid prisoners. Kids our age who are in jail.”
    Under the table, Rebecca started hitting me in the leg with her fist.
    “You mean, juvenile delinquents?” Principal Banazewski said.
  13. noble
    having high or elevated character
    “Well, that’s very noble of you,” Principal Banazewski said.
  14. interrogation
    formal systematic questioning
    I sat in one of the chairs outside Detective Banazewski’s office like a criminal waiting to go into the interrogation room.
  15. objection
    the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
    But this time I didn’t say anything. Blurting out an objection was one thing; arguing with the principal was another. Still, I didn’t see what the difference between banning and removing was.
  16. acquisition
    the act of contracting or assuming possession of something
    “You’re in charge of alternative acquisitions,” Rebecca said. “That means getting the books that we can’t afford to buy.”
  17. gizmo
    a small mechanical device or tool
    “Do you have a different stamp for every day?”
    “Oh heavens, no. There was a neat little gizmo that could stamp any date. I wonder if I still have one.”
  18. rummage
    search haphazardly
    Mrs. Jones disappeared into the back office. I could see her rummaging around in a drawer through the windows.
  19. bellow
    shout loudly and without restraint
    “Girls!” Dad bellowed from the living room. “I do not want to deal with this right now!”
  20. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    I stomped through the kitchen again, where Angelina eyed me warily from underneath the table.
Created on Tue Dec 15 08:36:16 EST 2020 (updated Tue Dec 15 08:42:56 EST 2020)

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