Keep It Together, Keiko Carter: Chapters 1–5

by Debbi Michiko Florence
Keiko has always counted on her best friends, Audrey and Jenna — but the girls' friendship is tested as they navigate seventh grade.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–9, Chapters 10–17, Chapters 18–24, Chapters 25–32
25 words 469 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. balm
    preparation applied externally as a remedy or for soothing
    “She stopped texting us,” Audrey said, swiping on lip gloss instead of the lip balm she’d been using over the summer.
  2. collage
    a paste-up of pieces to form an artistic image
    Audrey documented every part of our trip, from waiting at the bus stop to sitting together on the hard bus seats, and she snapped a selfie in front of every store we visited. Then she printed up the photos and made me a collage of our day.
  3. rummage
    search haphazardly
    Jenna sat down on the bench and shrugged. “Different. Yeah.” She rummaged in her army-green messenger bag. “I brought back gifts.”
  4. spree
    a brief indulgence of your impulses
    “This is great.” Audrey opened the lockbox. “I keep worrying that Mom will have one of her rare but overly thorough cleaning sprees and toss out everything under the bathroom sink.”
  5. bask
    derive or receive pleasure from
    The sharp prick of guilt stabbed me, but I pushed it away. I wanted to bask in this moment.
  6. rehash
    discuss again; go back over
    I was starting to like Audrey’s idea. “We could triple date! Imagine getting ready for our dates together, picking out our outfits, and then later rehashing everything. Just like Audrey’s magazine articles talk about!”
  7. mortified
    made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride
    I had been mortified, then disappointed when he said he was only visiting for the summer from Seattle.
  8. resistant
    impervious to being affected
    Jenna was going to be resistant. She was the practical one, the unemotional one, the good student.
  9. concession
    a point that is yielded
    “We can still sign up for all the same clubs,” I said as a concession.
  10. quirk
    twist or curve abruptly
    “The world is our oyster!” Audrey announced, making me laugh. I glanced at Jenna, who quirked her lips in a small smile.
  11. cliche
    a trite or obvious remark
    Last year in the language arts class Audrey and I were in together, our teacher campaigned against cliches so enthusiastically that Audrey started using them on purpose.
  12. envy
    a desire to have something that is possessed by another
    “You got a new laptop, too?” Audrey’s voice was soaked in envy.
  13. boutique
    a shop that sells women's clothes and jewelry
    Jenna and I trailed after Audrey, who stopped in front of a little boutique called Whispers.
  14. wicker
    flexible branches or twigs that can be woven together
    Audrey and I sat on a wicker couch under a green-and-blue umbrella.
  15. snobby
    tending to associate only with people of a similar background
    Andie, the main character, had two boys who liked her: her best friend, Duckie, who was kind of weird but funny, and this rich guy Blane, who hung out in a snobby clique.
  16. clique
    an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
    Andie, the main character, had two boys who liked her: her best friend, Duckie, who was kind of weird but funny, and this rich guy Blane, who hung out in a snobby clique.
  17. snub
    refuse to acknowledge
    After Blane snubbed her and hurt her feelings because of his stupid friends, he realized he’d made a mistake.
  18. twinge
    a sudden sharp feeling
    That earlier twinge of guilt pinched me. I’d missed Jenna for sure.
  19. obsess
    be preoccupied with something
    Plus Audrey, who had always been interested in fashion, was even more obsessed now.
  20. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    “She’s acting like she’s too busy for us!” Audrey played with a silver bangle on her wrist.
  21. plantain
    starchy banana-like fruit
    Audrey popped open a Diet Coke and nodded. “Right? It’s like we tried everything. Those fried plantains from the Cuban place, and then the green tea donuts at the coffee shop. You loved those!”
  22. lope
    run easily
    Before I could ask anything else, our social studies teacher, Mr. Jay, loped in, balancing a stack of folders and a cup of coffee.
  23. mode
    how something is done or how it happens
    Jenna went into straight-A-student mode: facing forward, sitting ramrod straight, pen in her hand and ready to take notes.
  24. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    I picked up my burger, but then the sight of Audrey’s brother and his idiot friends sauntering our way made me lose my appetite.
  25. snicker
    laugh quietly
    Conner and the Morons snickered as they passed us, nudging one another like the idiots they were.
Created on Fri Mar 19 19:31:05 EDT 2021 (updated Mon Mar 29 12:26:55 EDT 2021)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.