Caterpillar Summer: Part Five

by Gillian McDunn
Because her mom must travel to teach a summer course, eleven-year-old Catherine Gladwell finds herself in North Carolina, meeting her maternal grandparents for the first time, looking after her seven-year-old brother, and trying to create sweet Gingerbread Island memories.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Parts Three–Four, Part Five
35 words 6 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. barometer
    an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
    It was the afternoon before the fishing contest and it looked like rain. Macon was monitoring the situation. First, he looked at the wall barometer. Then he loaded his phone’s weather map.
  2. meteorologist
    a specialist who studies weather conditions
    Cat half wondered if he was driving to the mainland to find a meteorologist to discuss things with.
  3. grudge
    a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
    Macon would admit he’d been wrong about how he’d reacted. Mom would admit she’d carried a grudge for too long.
  4. mill
    move about in a confused manner
    A crowd of people milled around the pier.
  5. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    Briggs’s hand snuck out in a lightning punch to John Harvey’s ribs. It happened so quickly, Cat would have missed it if she hadn’t been looking right at them. John Harvey stayed silent but rubbed his side gingerly.
  6. taunt
    a cruel or scornful remark
    Cat had a flash of that same feeling she had when she met John Harvey that day on the beach—that he was someone who needed protecting. But it faded as she remembered the mud on her bike and his taunts about the contest.
  7. logistics
    supplying an operation with labor and materials as needed
    As for logistics, all fish, after being weighed by the judges, will be delivered immediately to the truck for preparation and serving.
  8. proceeds
    the income or profit arising from a transaction
    Part of the day’s proceeds will be used for the prize money. Thank you, Small Fry, for your generous support of our event.
  9. beeline
    the most direct route
    John Harvey made a beeline for his lucky spot at the end.
  10. anticipation
    an expectation
    The crowd was quiet and full of anticipation. Who would catch the first fish?
  11. vigorously
    in an energetic manner
    “Wow, Chicken, did you get a prize?”
    He nodded vigorously.
  12. rustle
    forage food
    “Let’s you and me rustle up some lunch.”
  13. flounder
    a marine flatfish
    Eventually she saw a flat brown fish at the end of it. She’d never caught one, but recognized it anyway. “A flounder!” she said.
  14. maintain
    keep in a certain state, position, or activity
    John Harvey had maintained his lead. Cat, Luis, Ella, and George were all in the running for second place.
  15. sidle
    move unobtrusively or furtively
    Harriet sidled up to the tent and leaned against it, every cell of her body straining to hear.
  16. disqualify
    declare unfit
    “John Harvey was disqualified!”
    “What?” asked Cat and Macon, together.
    “He broke a rule. It sounded like they were saying that he put cinder blocks in the water at the end of the pier. Why would he do that?”
  17. thrive
    grow vigorously
    “Fish love little nooks and crannies,” said Macon. “A reef creates an area where fish can grow and thrive.”
  18. dedication
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
    “All y’all have shown dedication to the great sport of fishing. We are most pleased to see the future of fishing on Gingerbread Island.”
  19. determined
    characterized by great firmness of purpose
    She didn’t want the night to end, but the rain was determined to stop it.
  20. tenacious
    stubbornly unyielding
    “You’re tenacious, Cat—you know how to dig in and fight for something you want.”
  21. patter
    a quick succession of light rapid sounds
    The rain around them changed from a patter to a pounding.
  22. groove
    a long narrow furrow cut by a natural process or a tool
    Cat traced the grooves in the wood.
  23. swivel
    turn on a pivot
    Cat swiveled to look at Harriet.
  24. waver
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    Would the sirens scare Chicken? Should she direct the firefighters? Cat wavered for a moment, but Harriet pulled at her sleeve.
  25. pummel
    strike, usually with the fist
    The rain pummeled the roof and splashed the steps.
  26. premises
    land and the buildings on it
    I know you don’t want to, but I’m the mom on the premises and I say you have to.
  27. brim
    be completely full
    Her eyes were brimming with tears.
  28. fret
    worry unnecessarily or excessively
    “Of all the things,” Lily fretted.
  29. pneumonia
    a serious illness of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe
    “Thought you saw him in the waves. You’ll get pneumonia if you aren’t careful.”
  30. improvise
    manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand
    The kitchen didn’t have enough mugs, so they improvised. Ms. Willis had her hot chocolate in a jelly jar and Dean swigged from a soup bowl.
  31. trickle
    run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
    As the rain quieted, kids yawned and the crowd began to trickle out.
  32. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    His eyebrows furrowed. “Now, who could have found that?”
  33. skedaddle
    run away, as if in a panic
    “You’ve got about thirty minutes. Better skedaddle before Lily sees you, or she’ll hug on you 'til the car is half out of the driveway.”
  34. flustered
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    “Oh!” said Cat, flustered. "I thought—”
    “I know what you thought.”
  35. pendant
    an adornment that hangs from a piece of jewelry
    Inside was a necklace with a sea glass pendant in the exact shade of the Atlantic the day Cat first saw it.
Created on Mon Mar 18 17:02:51 EDT 2024 (updated Tue Mar 19 16:21:44 EDT 2024)

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