Drew Leclair Gets a Clue: Chapters 9–14

by Katryn Bury
In this first book of the series, a twelve-year-old girl, named after the fictional detective Nancy Drew, compiles profiles of possible suspects in a case of cyberbullying targeting seventh graders at Oakland's Ella Baker Middle School.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–14, Chapters 15–21, Chapters 22–26
40 words 10 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
    Coding is an assumed hobby, based on the fact that I overheard Ms. Tuitasi asking him to work on this year’s “Hour of Code” event.
  2. composed
    serenely self-possessed and free from agitation
    I’m trying my best to look calm and composed.
  3. noncommittal
    refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action
    “I mean, probably Granday? He’s literally the worst. It’s like he thinks everyone is a joke.”
    “Could be,” I say noncommittally.
  4. jaunty
    marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
    The margins of his notebook are filled with a string of cartoons of spiders in old-fashioned top hats.

    CONCLUSION: Ethan has some kind of hat obsession? I’ve never seen him wear a hat. Weird.
    “Okay, Ethan,” I say, staring at the jaunty spiders.
  5. poised
    marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
    My pen is poised to paper, my notebook open to the next blank page.
  6. usher
    accompany or escort
    We’re a few feet away, but I still usher the group further toward the side of the building.
  7. suffice
    be adequate, either in quality or quantity
    “That is awful," I say through clenched teeth. The words don’t suffice, but I can’t think of anything better.
  8. culprit
    someone or something responsible for harm or wrongdoing
    “So, everyone seems to suspect that Johnny is the culprit at this point, right? Ethan said the same thing—that he picks on everyone.”
  9. impulsively
    in a hasty way; without caution or planning
    Remembering Holly and my inability to hug, I impulsively decide to return the gesture. I give her a playful shove back, and she falls over, giggling.
  10. confirm
    establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
    “Okay, so I have this friend from Cesar Chavez who could help us with more information about Micah Demmers. Which we’re looking for, right?”
    "We are,” I confirm.
  11. steep
    set at a high angle (of a slope)
    After everyone agrees, Trissa runs off to catch her bus, and Shrey and I start the steep walk uphill toward our houses.
  12. stealthy
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    DREW: Trissa. When you grabbed my phone yesterday, did you change your contact name?
    TRIHSOKA TANO: Guilty! Gave myself a special ringtone too. Muhahahaaa, guess I’m more stealthy than you give me credit for!
  13. osmosis
    the gradual and unconscious absorption of knowledge or ideas
    My dad checks this phone. And I’m betting your dadi is receiving your texts by osmosis or something.
  14. manifesto
    a public declaration of intentions
    I look up from texting Shrey a bucket-filled manifesto, because he won’t stop taunting me with his new emoji.
  15. frenzied
    affected with or marked by mania uncontrolled by reason
    A brisk knock on the door interrupts this frenzied list, and I give Shrey an apologetic smile when I usher him in. “Trissa is very excited about our cereal selection,” I explain over her shrieking.
  16. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    “Okay, I was wrong; we have all the sugar cereals in the world. So, should I order pizza now, or...?”
    Trissa gives me an incredulous look. “Um, you do you. I’m eating five bowls of cereal, thank you very much.”
  17. scour
    examine minutely
    When Trissa sits down, she grabs our sixth-grade yearbook from the coffee table (I was scouring it the night before for clues).
  18. generic
    having no special or distinctive characteristics; unoriginal
    “This cover is so blah,” she says, pointing at the generic Ella Baker Badger logo encircled by colorful figures holding hands.
  19. circumstantial
    suggesting that something is true without proving it
    “This is barely even circumstantial evidence. But if we question our lead suspects, like Johnny—”
  20. faux
    not genuine or real
    In spite of her faux fear, she mostly looks entertained.
  21. giddy
    exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
    “Okay,” I say, still feeling light and giddy from my presentation.
  22. maniacal
    wildly disordered
    Trissa and I are singing a duet into the microphone while Shrey laughs maniacally.
  23. devolve
    grow worse
    “Sorry we made such a mess,” I say, glad I had the foresight to put the crime board back under my bed before we devolved into our dorky activities.
  24. ironically
    in a manner characterized by incongruity or unexpectedness
    I set a ‘favorite people’ notification for posts from Ella Baker Shade. I mean, ironically, since they might be one of my least favorite people.
  25. lax
    without rigor or strictness
    However, with Mr. Covacha’s lax rules about cell phones, the library is now flooded with giggling students.
  26. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    “But it’s still time to talk to Micah and Johnny. There’s no way Emma and Brie would cross Alicia like this. That’s three suspects tentatively off our list.”
  27. sheepishly
    in a manner showing embarrassment or shame
    Shrey looks thoughtful, but Trissa immediately flushes sheepishly.
    “You’re right,” she says. “We’re sorry. What can we do?”
  28. prompt
    something designed to elicit a response from a student
    I look down at the prompts in my notebook, mentally preparing as we walk up to Johnny and his crew.
  29. drawl
    speak in a slow and drawn out way
    Shrey gives him a weak smile as I drawl, “Thaaaaaanks?”
  30. appraise
    consider in a comprehensive way
    He tosses an appraising look at Shrey.
  31. necessarily
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    “What are you saying?” Shrey asks. “That Granday couldn’t have done it?”
    “Not necessarily,” I say. “But does he seem like the type to hold on to embarrassing videos, or to be inconspicuous enough to get them in the first place?”
  32. grotesque
    distorted and unnatural in shape or size
    She’d been the one to pick me up after Alicia, Brie, and Emma chased me with the grotesque bee-sting images.
  33. invasive
    gradually intrusive without right or permission
    Between my frustration and the invasive memory, the worst happens: the tears I’ve been holding at bay start spilling out, one after another.
  34. plod
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    Ignoring him, I keep plodding up the hill.
  35. foliage
    the collective amount of leaves of one or more plants
    When I see a group of Ella Baker students heading toward us, I pull Shrey into a driveway with foliage heavy enough to block us from view.
  36. quizzical
    perplexed
    “Why are you asking me all of this?” Shrey gives me a quizzical look, and I realize how out-of-the-blue this must seem to him.
  37. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
    Shrey’s hurt and bewildered face is the last thing I see before I turn on my heel and stride away, tears stinging my eyes.
  38. scalding
    extremely hot
    When I get inside, I head right for the shower, figuring that scalding water can wash this awful day down the drain.
  39. mantra
    a commonly repeated word or phrase
    I end up spending the duration of my shower repeating the mantra: Don't cry. You're a scientist. No emotion!
  40. alibi
    proof that someone accused of a crime could not have done it
    We like a suspect until an alibi or evidence proves us wrong.
Created on Wed Nov 15 13:40:37 EST 2023 (updated Thu Nov 16 13:00:01 EST 2023)

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