Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun: Chapters 17–26

by Tọlá Okogwu
This first book of the series introduces junior secondary school student Onyekachi Adéyẹmí Adérìnólá, who must return to her birth country of Nigeria to learn how to control her hairy superpowers.


Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–16, Chapters 17–26, Chapters 27–36
40 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. drone
    an aircraft without a pilot and operated by remote control
    A dozen or so robotic drones float around, and every so often one sends out a blue beam as if scanning us.
  2. tentative
    hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
    “Did you do something different to your hair?”
    I reach up with a tentative hand. I didn’t think anyone would notice.
  3. sheen
    the visual property of something that shines
    The jumbo braid is still there, but the strands now have a strange sheen to them.
  4. spar
    practice boxing or fighting
    “Since you’re all so excitable today, we’ll run sparring drills.”
  5. stance
    standing posture
    I shut up and try to mimic her stance. We circle around each other, neither of us willing to get too close.
  6. stealthily
    in a manner marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    I blink in surprise as his flickering form moves stealthily toward the exit.
  7. slink
    move or walk stealthily
    I slink out from behind my hiding spot and walk over to Hassan on legs made slow with embarrassment.
  8. snarky
    rudely sarcastic and mocking in tone or manner
    “If she wins every year, I can understand why everyone else gets annoyed.” Especially with her snarky attitude.
  9. frenzied
    excessively agitated
    I lose it then and my Ike flares out of control. My hair whips around me in a frenzied cloud.
  10. troupe
    an organization of performers and associated personnel
    As the heavy rhythm of Afrobeat filled the room, one of the boys created a copy of himself. He straight up became his own dance troupe and his moves were fire.
  11. clinical
    relating to or based on direct observation of patients
    “This is the one he wrote about clinical research findings in pycnodysostosis and gene mutations of cathepsin K.”
  12. prong
    a pointed projection
    Mum calls it ilarun, but it’s really just a wooden cutting comb with three prongs.
  13. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    “Who is Dr. Naomi Uduike?”
    My voice bounces loudly across Dr. Dòyìnbó’s office, and he stares at me, a bemused expression on his face.
  14. contend
    come to terms with
    “Your mother felt it best not to tell you about your aunt as you already had so much to contend with,” Dr. Dòyìnbó continues.
  15. provision
    a stipulated condition
    I didn’t expect you to be here this long, so I made no provision for your inclusion.
  16. respective
    considered individually
    Solari are gathered in their respective houses, and I count about thirty of us in total.
  17. chasm
    a deep opening in the earth's surface
    I’m still staring at the chasm wondering the same thing when small rocks appear like floating islands, bridging the gap.
  18. simulation
    representing the real world by a computer program
    Though it’s a simulation, everything you feel is real, even the pain.
  19. telekinesis
    the power to move something by thinking about it
    He uses his power of telekinesis to float past everyone, avoiding the drones and rocks altogether.
  20. telepathic
    communicating without apparent physical signals
    Somehow, I doubt her telepathic powers would work on the drones, and I can’t leave her to get flame-grilled.
  21. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
    At least Dr. Dòyìnbó doesn’t expect us to swim across. Then, as if my thought conjured him up, his voice booms around us.
  22. snag
    catch or cause to catch on something sharp that is sticking out
    My foot snags on a rock and I stumble forward, knocking into Adanna.
  23. disoriented
    having lost your bearings
    I don’t move for a moment, disoriented and unable to believe what I just did.
  24. blare
    make a loud noise
    The sand around us begins to dissolve away as the talking drums blare out.
  25. clammy
    unpleasantly cool and humid
    Wiping clammy hands on my leggings, I take a deep breath and follow it.
  26. flank
    be located at the sides of something or somebody
    We turn to find Dr. Dòyìnbó, flanked by two uniformed guards.
  27. skeptical
    marked by or given to doubt
    “I’m fine,” I insist again.
    She throws me a skeptical look.
  28. agility
    the gracefulness of a quick and nimble person or animal
    Then he’s off again, moving around the course like a jaguar, dodging obstacle after obstacle with a speed and agility that make my head spin.
  29. maneuver
    move skillfully, as around obstacles or into a position
    He uses his Ike to both defend and maneuver himself through the course.
  30. drawl
    speak in a slow and drawn out way
    “You could always just disappear,” Adanna drawls sweetly, earning herself a dirty look.
  31. snipe
    attack in speech or writing
    “I go make you disappear,” Hassan snipes back.
  32. thermal
    relating to or associated with heat
    “Second Sight is equipped with thermal scanners,” Niyì replies, and I give him a confused look. “Because of the mutation, Solari have a core body temperature that’s higher than normal,” he tells me. “We just have to find a child with a matching heat signature.”
  33. buggy
    a small lightweight carriage
    I spot a motorized buggy taking a baby for a walk on the pavement, the mum walking next to it, talking on her phone.
  34. tiered
    having or arranged in layers or levels
    Rising from the ground in tiered levels are towering structures masquerading as buildings, but not like any I’ve ever seen before.
  35. masquerade
    pretend to be someone or something that you are not
    Rising from the ground in tiered levels are towering structures masquerading as buildings, but not like any I’ve ever seen before.
  36. flimsy
    lacking solidity or strength
    Each structure is connected by flimsy-looking walkways and bridges made of wood and metal.
  37. sheer
    complete and without restriction
    I’m amazed by the sheer number of bodies, crammed shoulder to shoulder, as electric scooters weave through the heaving mass.
  38. haggle
    wrangle, as over a price or terms of an agreement
    The sharp sound of haggling and bickering fills my ears—an odd shout or insult rising over the steady hum.
  39. cascade
    rush down in big quantities
    I’m wearing my hair in big, chunky twists today that cascade down my back, with the front pulled up.
  40. aback
    by surprise
    “Erm...hi?” I reply, taken aback.
Created on Thu Dec 21 16:18:22 EST 2023 (updated Fri Dec 22 11:25:20 EST 2023)

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