Kwame Crashes the Underworld: Chapters 10–11

by Craig Kofi Farmer
Twelve-year-old Kwame is struggling to face the death of his beloved grandmother. But a heroic journey through the Ghanaian underworld, filled with mythology and magic, offers him a transformative experience ultimately preparing him for his grandmother’s celebration of life.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapters 5–6, Chapter 7, Chapters 8–9, Chapters 10–11, Chapters 12–15, Chapters 16–18,
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. infinity
    time without end
    I wake to stray drops of water slapping my face. I’m in a room that looks like the inside of a cabin, complete with string lights, massive barrels, and OutKast posters. My dashiki is curled around my neck like an infinity scarf.
  2. delusional
    suffering from or characterized by erroneous beliefs
    There’s a pamphlet on a side table by the bed featuring a Black family on the beach, smiling like they have no worries in the world—like they’re not being chased by angry gods or delusional electoral candidates. The title reads, WELCOME TO ASAMANDO: CREATE YOUR FOREVER.
  3. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
    I fling open the door, climb the stairs, and rush outside to find myself not in a hallway but on the deck of a colossal ship.
  4. slanderous
    harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign
    Ama curses. “Of course he’d be considering something like that. The process of creating a goddess is forbidden and slanderous. Not only that, he’s seeking to twist this new being’s mind so she can join him on his warpath. Nansi’s grief and anger may literally destroy the world.”
  5. warpath
    a course leading to warfare or battle
    Ama curses. “Of course he’d be considering something like that. The process of creating a goddess is forbidden and slanderous. Not only that, he’s seeking to twist this new being’s mind so she can join him on his warpath. Nansi’s grief and anger may literally destroy the world.”
  6. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
    Autumn studies my face. “But you don’t want the power.”
    I cross my arms. I feel like I’m being chastised by Ma for not wanting to join a million clubs at school. “I mean, can you blame me? I—I just want to be ordinary. To just have some peace in my life, for once.”
  7. interject
    speak abruptly, especially as an interruption
    I rise to my feet. “What, you want powers of your own?”
    “Kwame—” Ama interjects.
    “Maybe. Why not?” Autumn challenges, standing up and balling her fists. “I could prove myself to every person who thinks I’m less than because of my hearing. Or my skin color. Or my gender. I could—I could—”
  8. starboard
    located on the right side of a ship or aircraft
    “Get them starboard anchors down!” Lala screams to her crew scampering throughout the ship to their positions. “And get to defense positions! We got a Grootslang on our hands!”
    I turn to see what she sees—a serpent the size of a dinosaur.
  9. leverage
    strategic advantage; power to act effectively
    I look up to see the serpent tossing Lala around in the air. She’s holding on to her electric rope for dear life, trying her best to find leverage that can stop her from being whipped around.
  10. sonic
    having or caused by speed equal to the speed of sound
    “Come on,” I mutter.
    The blade begins to pick up speed, releasing sonic booms as it flies.
  11. exhilarated
    filled with joy or excitement
    “YES!” I can’t help the exhilarated smile that crosses my face. I thrust my hand out toward the akrafena. “Bring us up!”
    The akrafena spins over to me and offers its hilt.
  12. unhinged
    affected or as if affected with madness or insanity
    “So let's backtrack,” Autumn signs. “We just became a walking Find My Phone for an unhinged god who wants to use your soul power—I mean, your sunsum—to bring back the dead Mother Earth?”
    “That’s right.”
  13. environmentalist
    someone who works to protect nature from destruction
    You’re, like, the best adventure partner anyone could ask for.”
    She doesn’t respond.
    “I’m serious,” I continue. “And other people see it too. You’re an environmentalist. You’re a natural at video games. And you’re brave. I mean, you swung a sword at a River God!”
  14. trauma
    an emotional wound or shock having long-lasting effects
    There are letters, in white ink, that say: Do you want a challenge? Do you miss risking your life every day? Then visit the Eloko and encounter monstrous creatures straight from the nightmares of children! Fight for your life…and have the time of your life!
    Then in smaller print: Asamando assumes no risk or liability for any permanent injuries or psychological trauma.
  15. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    We trudge through the beach until we reach the end. From the ship, I thought it was a forest that lined the beach; up close, though, it looks more like a wall. Vines, branches, and plants weave together into a thicket that is longer and thicker than the hull of the Taíno. If I look closely, I can see tiny red thorns pointing out from the surface—like a wall of botanical barbed wire.
  16. botanical
    of or relating to plants
    We trudge through the beach until we reach the end. From the ship, I thought it was a forest that lined the beach; up close, though, it looks more like a wall. Vines, branches, and plants weave together into a thicket that is longer and thicker than the hull of the Taíno. If I look closely, I can see tiny red thorns pointing out from the surface—like a wall of botanical barbed wire.
  17. tomahawk
    weapon consisting of a fighting ax
    Autumn’s eyes light up. Ama and I part ways for her, and she raises her hand toward her sword once more. Then in one motion, Autumn unsheathes her blade and gives the thicket an experimental tomahawk slice.
  18. earthy
    of or consisting of or resembling the soil
    We sprint forward through the newly created path. The thicket around me groans and cracks. An earthy scent hangs like humidity in the air, leaving me feeling a little lightheaded. Is that the thicket’s doing?
  19. resourceful
    adroit or imaginative
    Asase’s weapon is much more resourceful than I am, though. The akrafena jumps to my left without a command and shaves the wall down on one side. Ama unleashes an Adinkra spell that sprouts a gigantic wall of ferns, blocking the thorned thicket on the other side. These efforts give me just enough time and space to dive diagonally out of the carnivorous thicket.
  20. rickety
    inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
    We follow the stone path all the way to a beat-up cabin. The wood looks aged and weathered. The corners of the house splinter off at multiple places and give the cabin a perpetual slant.
    The stairs leading to the door are uneven and rickety, feeding into a porch that has six wicker chairs—five upright, and one kicked over.
Created on Mon Mar 24 21:38:41 EDT 2025 (updated Fri Apr 11 18:31:12 EDT 2025)

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