When Zachary Beaver Came to Town: Chapters 8–14

by Kimberly Willis Holt
In this coming-of-age story, a thirteen-year-old boy learns about loss and friendship over the course of one eventful summer.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–22
25 words 92 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. apparently
    seemingly; as far as one can tell
    "She got runner-up, and apparently some hotshot manager in the audience thinks he can get her a record deal."
  2. sprawl
    sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
    At the lake I jump off my bike, run up to the water, and lie sprawled flat on the grass, looking up at the millions of stars and the full moon.
  3. lull
    make calm or still
    These days I lull myself to sleep thinking of Scarlett swinging back and forth on her porch swing.
  4. optimum
    most desirable possible under a restriction
    She likes hearing about the optimum temperature for worms, and he likes learning about the different types of roses.
  5. stingy
    unwilling to spend
    In Cal's backyard, Mrs. McKnight hangs underwear on the clothesline. Mom says Charlie McKnight is too stingy to fork out enough money for a clothes dryer.
  6. fluster
    cause to be nervous or upset
    The sight of the Judge breathing down my face doesn't fluster her at all.
  7. wicker
    flexible branches or twigs that can be woven together
    She sits in the white rocker and motions the sheriff and me to the chairs around the wicker table.
  8. barge
    push one's way
    "Miss Myrtie Mae, this must be such an inconvenience, me barging in on you and all. I really just want to get some—"
  9. dainty
    affectedly refined
    I don't know what to do with that napkin, and I watch Sheriff Levi, but he doesn't seem to know either. So I wait for Miss Myrtie Mae's cue. She flings hers open and drops it daintily into her lap.
  10. full-fledged
    having gained complete status
    I'm turning into a full-fledged pathological liar.
  11. pathological
    caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition
    I'm turning into a full-fledged pathological liar.
  12. engrossed
    giving or marked by complete attention to
    A magazine rests in her lap, and she's so engrossed in it, she doesn't see me.
  13. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    Moist wisps of hair cling to her sunburned face.
  14. casual
    not showing effort or strain
    I wish I could start all over—opening the gate, repeating my slow cool walk toward the porch, maybe a casual lift of my eyebrows when she says hi.
  15. glamorous
    having an air of allure, romance and excitement
    "Or maybe a stewardess. That would be the next best thing, to fly around the world. How glamorous."
  16. musty
    stale and unclean smelling
    I follow her into her house, which is dark and smells musty like an attic.
  17. shabby
    showing signs of wear and tear
    Clothes cover shabby furniture and toys litter the floor.
  18. penitentiary
    a correctional institution for those convicted of crimes
    One side has a ton of stuffed animals and dolls without arms and heads. I swear Tara is headed for the women's penitentiary.
  19. pine
    have a desire for something or someone who is not present
    I leave the girl of my dreams in the kitchen, pining over some other guy, while I take her possessed sister to see Zachary Beaver.
  20. traipse
    walk or tramp about
    I'm happy using my hands, but I traipse over to the kitchen drawer and dig out a fork for Zachary and Cal.
  21. snub
    reject outright and bluntly
    Zachary stares at Kate's hand, and I just know he's going to snub her. But he accepts it, shakes, and smiles.
  22. concession
    a small business that operates in a larger business or public place
    But Cal hops out and follows Kate to the concession stand.
  23. register
    enter into someone's consciousness
    It takes a second to register, but then I see.
  24. famished
    extremely hungry
    I'm famished, and it's all I can do to keep from wolfing down the whole meal in one bite.
  25. begotten
    generated by procreation
    John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Created on Fri Aug 06 11:51:25 EDT 2021 (updated Mon Aug 09 11:08:54 EDT 2021)

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