Keep It Together, Keiko Carter: Chapters 25–32

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
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    “Yeah, I know. You said that already.” I didn’t know why my voice was all sullen. I mean, I was happy that everything was okay again.
  2. lash out
    attack, especially in speech or writing
    It was all a big misunderstanding. We got our feelings hurt, and we lashed out. We could admit we were wrong and get back to being friends again.
  3. sarcastic
    expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds
    “Hey. Nice shirt,” he said.
    I glanced down at my baggy purple T-shirt. Okay. Was he being sarcastic?
  4. engross
    devote fully to
    By now the noise in the classroom had grown to a low buzz. But Mr. Mann was fully engrossed in whatever he was listening to.
  5. flank
    be located at the sides of something or somebody
    “What are you talking about?” I asked as Kimmie flanked me on the other side.
  6. sashay
    walk with a lofty proud gait, often to impress others
    Nicole and Kimmie smiled at each other and sashayed away.
  7. rile
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    “It’s a start,” Jenna said. “I like seeing you riled up.”
  8. throng
    a large gathering of people
    I marched right up to the group, not even sure if Jenna was still behind me. I pushed my way through the throng right up to Gregor. He grinned at me.
  9. curdle
    turn from a liquid to a solid mass
    “There’s room for all of you. No need to shove, Keiko.” His voice, the one that used to make me melt, sounded like it could curdle cream.
  10. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    Jenna had kept up and she slid in next to me, her face impassive.
  11. coherent
    capable of thinking in a clear and consistent manner
    I spluttered. No coherent words came out of my mouth.
  12. rational
    consistent with or based on or using reason
    It felt like my head was about to explode. I didn’t even have time for rational thought.
  13. conviction
    an unshakable belief in something without need for proof
    “You rock!” Jenna bumped shoulders with me.
    “Thanks,” I said without much conviction.
  14. anticipation
    an expectation
    “Come in!” I called out, and I held my breath in anticipation.
  15. gloat
    dwell on with satisfaction
    “Are you going to gloat?” she asked, her voice trembling.
  16. muddle
    mix up or confuse
    My head was muddled.
  17. grim
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    When I made it to Conner’s locker, all three of the guys were there. They turned to watch me approach. Conner’s face was grim.
  18. skittish
    unpredictably excitable, especially of horses
    “Here, just take everything out and you can make your books fit,” Conner said in a voice like I was a skittish stray.
  19. congeal
    solidify, thicken, or come together
    My thoughts spun and congealed, and I couldn’t seem to focus on any one thing as I put Yuki back down and started walking again.
  20. peruse
    examine or consider with attention and in detail
    So I stalled, walking over to the shelves and perusing the familiar framed pictures.
  21. candid
    informal or natural
    The photo Conner framed was a candid one Mr. Lassiter had taken of me standing at the railing, gazing at the ocean.
  22. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    My hair was in a ponytail, but a few wisps of hair had slipped out and fluttered across my cheek in the breeze.
  23. fallout
    any adverse and unwanted secondary effect
    The choice was clear, but that didn’t mean the decision was easy. And there would be fallout.
  24. eavesdrop
    listen without the speaker's knowledge
    Just as well that we were leaving, since my family was eavesdropping.
  25. reverberate
    ring or echo with sound
    Cool air brushed against my skin, and the rustle of leaves in the trees reverberated in my ears.
Created on Fri Mar 19 20:32:50 EDT 2021 (updated Mon Mar 29 16:22:36 EDT 2021)

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