Free Period: Chapters 5–6

by Ali Terese
In this novel, best friends Helen and Gracie fight to stay out of trouble, maintain their friendship, and help secure free access to menstrual hygiene products for students at their middle school.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1-2, Chapters 3-4, Chapters 5-6, Chapters 7-9, Chapters 10-11, Chapters 12-14, Chapters 15-18, Chapters 19-21, Chapters 22-25, Chapters 26-29.

25 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. reek
    smell badly and offensively
    Principal Varone’s dumpster fire of an office always reeked of lavender.
  2. immune
    not affected by a given influence
    “I want it that way. Ladies, for anyone else I’d say that smelling like a skunk would have taught you a lesson. However, I know that you two are immune to such things.”
  3. insubordination
    defiance of authority
    “Grace Sasso. Tardiness, Insubordination, Insubordination, Tardiness, Code 226—I actually have to look that one up.”
  4. accomplish
    achieve with effort
    In any event, you have one month to accomplish something that matters to the school.
  5. amorphous
    having no definite form or distinct shape
    Oh yes, that did sound dull, but with room for some very amorphous accomplishments.
  6. delusion
    a mistaken or unfounded opinion or idea
    I knew we had to get this right just in case there was any truth to my parents’ delusions about private school.
  7. scrounge
    collect or look around for
    She sifted through her desk until she’d scrounged some paper.
  8. disinfectant
    a chemical or agent that destroys harmful microorganisms
    Quiet, empty, reeking of disinfectant, full of possibility.
  9. anticipation
    an expectation
    Last period, especially, you can feel the anticipation of final bell seeping out from under their closed doors.
  10. audacity
    fearless daring
    If the country of Italy were going to a party, this is the jacket it would pull on. And it was cream colored. The audacity.
  11. tepid
    feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
    “He’s mildly tepid.”
  12. plod
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    The final bell rang as we plodded to the Activities Room.
  13. gavel
    a small mallet used by a presiding officer or a judge
    Madison banged a gavel on the podium.
  14. nurture
    help develop; help grow
    Michael F. cleared his throat and said, “This is a club for students, created by students, committed to nurturing education in our middle school community and creating positive change by convincing decision-makers to take action.”
  15. triumphant
    joyful and proud especially because of success
    Isabella looked less triumphant all of a sudden.
  16. forge
    move ahead steadily
    “Avery,” Madison forged ahead, “make juice-box-size flyers with dead turtles as a warning. Anytime a kid drinks with a straw, we go up with a big smile and stick it to their juice box—or coconut water.”
  17. extinction
    the state of being no longer in existence
    “Let’s vote. All in favor of putting human feelings above the mass extinction of marine animals?”
  18. equity
    the quality of being fair, reasonable, or impartial
    A projector dropped from the ceiling and two words appeared: PERIOD EQUITY Madison let them hang there in the room.
  19. acknowledge
    express recognition of the presence or existence of
    Madison didn’t acknowledge any of it.
  20. ipso facto
    by the fact itself
    Ipso facto, I-uterus-therefore-I-bleed—you should throw a few pads in all the bathrooms to make sure everyone is included.
  21. ally
    an associate who provides cooperation or assistance
    “I met with a school board member when they happened to be on their morning run, and I happened to greet them with their preferred espresso beverage. Now we have an ally, and we’re on the next meeting agenda. A week from Monday.”
  22. account
    furnish a justifying analysis or explanation
    “That doesn’t even account for the impact on spitball fights,” I said.
  23. persuasion
    communication intended to induce belief or action
    “Helen has a point on persuasion,” Larisa said.
  24. nemesis
    a personal foe or rival that cannot be easily defeated
    And I was always up for a battle with our nemesis.
  25. partake
    consume
    I felt a stomachache coming on, and not only because I had partaken in all-you-can-eat-spaghetti and a massive, undercooked chocolate chip cookie for lunch, in what I had not even appreciated was to become a strawless cafeteria after we graduated.
Created on Wed Mar 05 07:38:31 EST 2025 (updated Thu Mar 06 06:09:47 EST 2025)

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