Maizy Chen's Last Chance: Chapter 56–Epilogue

by Lisa Yee
After her grandfather becomes sick, eleven-year-old Maizy moves from Los Angeles to Last Chance, Minnesota, where she struggles to fit in as her family's Chinese restaurant is targeted with racist attacks.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–27, Chapters 28–55, Chapter 56–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. flustered
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    The young woman was flustered to have been caught, but she trusted my mother.
  2. masquerade
    pretend to be someone or something that you are not
    Over a pot of tea, the stranger told an incredible story—that she was masquerading as Jian Lee.
  3. tinge
    a slight but appreciable amount
    “Sweet with a slight garlic bite and tinge of red pepper,” I tell Opa when I get home.
  4. yin
    the dark, negative principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology
    “It’s the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, where what appears to be contrary may be complementary. Sometimes when opposites work together, everything becomes stronger, better.”
  5. complementary
    serving to fill out, enhance, or supply what is lacking
    “It’s the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, where what appears to be contrary may be complementary. Sometimes when opposites work together, everything becomes stronger, better.”
  6. modified
    changed in form or character
    Lady Macbeth frowns when my mother explains that we have a “modified menu” today. Translation: Oma’s not here and Daisy’s too scared to prepare some of the more complicated dishes.
  7. sprig
    a small branch or stem, usually with leaves or flowers
    “Instead of piling the noodles, drape them with a slight swirl, then top them with sprigs of cilantro.”
  8. sliver
    a thin fragment or slice that has been shaved from something
    “Floating a few slivers of ginger in wonton soup makes it more inviting.”
  9. prominent
    conspicuous in position or importance
    It didn't matter that the Golden Palace had been successful, or that he carried letters of introduction from the mayor, Sheriff Swain, and several prominent citizens. All that the white bankers could see was that Lucky was Chinese.
  10. bigoted
    blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion
    Opa is sick; Oma and my mom are upset; someone stole Bud, left a bigoted letter, and then painted a slur on him.
  11. slur
    a negative or offensive remark about someone
    Opa is sick; Oma and my mom are upset; someone stole Bud, left a bigoted letter, and then painted a slur on him.
  12. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
    Intricate wood panels line the walls and a huge crystal chandelier hangs overhead, casting twinkling rainbows all around me.
  13. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    Lady Macbeth points a gnarled finger at an overstuffed chair in the next room.
  14. impeccable
    without error or flaw
    Her posture is impeccable.
  15. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    A smug smile forms on her thin lips.
  16. contort
    twist and press out of shape
    Lady Macbeth’s face contorts. The smirk leads to a smile, then a laugh that won’t stop.
  17. debutante
    a young woman making her formal entrance into society
    There are photos and paintings everywhere. Lady Macbeth as a little girl, Lady Macbeth as a debutante, Lady Macbeth on her wedding day with a handsome young groom.
  18. missive
    a written message addressed to a person or organization
    The handwritten missive clearly targeted the Chen family, the only Chinese in the area.
  19. stereotypical
    lacking spontaneity or originality or individuality
    In addition to stereotypical mocking language, it referenced racist images and demanded 1,000 yen (which is Japanese currency) for the return of Bud the Bear, and ended with “Go home to China!"
  20. proprietor
    someone who owns a business
    Bud’s owners, and the proprietors of the Golden Palace, John and Lydia Chen, declined to talk to us, but their eleven-year-old granddaughter, Maizy Chen, of Los Angeles, who is visiting Last Chance, observed, “It's bad enough they took Bud, but the note was clearly meant to harm. It was a racist and hateful message.”
  21. attribute
    explain or regard as resulting from a particular cause
    The county sheriff’s office attributed Bud’s disappearance and the note to "just some kids doing a prank.”
  22. derogatory
    expressive of low opinion
    Bud the Bear was attacked with a paintbrush when someone painted a derogatory statement on him.
  23. tolerance
    willingness to respect the beliefs or practices of others
    There has been a lot in the news about tolerance and/or the lack of it. Last Chance is a friendly town. Yet prejudice still hides in the shadows.
  24. perpetrator
    someone who commits wrongdoing
    For now, beloved Bud the Bear is home in front of the Golden Palace, free of hateful messages. However, the perpetrator is still among us.
  25. crux
    the most important point
    “Maizy, you did say it. Maybe not those specific words, but it’s what you meant. That was a powerful statement. Maybe even the crux of the story. Let’s just let people think you said it.”
  26. prospect
    someone who is considered for something
    There weren’t any marriage prospects for him in Last Chance. In many states, it was against the law for a Chinese person to marry outside their race.
  27. obliterate
    do away with completely, without leaving a trace
    3000 DEAD; $300,000,000 LOST
    SAN FRANCISCO IS OBLITERATED
  28. culprit
    someone or something responsible for harm or wrongdoing
    Now that Bud’s home, I’ve eased up on tracking down the culprits.
  29. crusty
    blunt and ill-tempered
    Lady Macbeth and Oma have a lot in common. Neither is as crusty as they want you to believe.
  30. circumstantial
    suggesting that something is true without proving it
    “It sounds like there’s something there, but it’s circumstantial evidence.”
    “Circumstantial?”
    “That means it’s not one hundred percent certain that Erik and his friends did it.”
  31. flaunt
    display proudly
    Many who had hid their prejudice now felt free to flaunt it.
  32. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
    By the time World War II ended, it had taken its toll on the entire country, and there was still resentment toward anyone who looked Asian.
  33. legacy
    anything handed down by someone or something in the past
    “You and Dad made your life here at the Golden Palace,” Mom tells her. “I’m proud of that. I want to honor my legacy—but in my own way.”
  34. grim
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    In Opa’s room, Mom and Oma hold hands, looking grim as sorrow wraps them closer together.
  35. frail
    physically weak
    Lady Beth looks so frail, like a baby bird.
  36. patron
    a regular customer
    “As mayor of the town and a longtime patron of the Golden Palace, I’d like to say a few words about your husband during the service, with your permission, of course.”
  37. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    Mayor Whitlock ignores me. He’s waiting for an answer from Oma. I scrutinize his tell—confident, self-important, pretentious.
  38. pretentious
    creating an appearance of importance or distinction
    Mayor Whitlock ignores me. He’s waiting for an answer from Oma. I scrutinize his tell—confident, self-important, pretentious.
  39. boisterous
    marked by exuberance and high spirits
    I’m afraid he may start to cry again, but instead he releases a big, boisterous laugh like I’ve never heard before.
  40. ethical
    adhering to moral principles
    Apparently, the magazine got an anonymous letter questioning the authenticity of one of his articles. After an internal investigation, he was fired for ethical violations.
Created on Mon Oct 31 12:56:40 EDT 2022 (updated Fri Nov 18 17:34:32 EST 2022)

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