Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence, Vocabulary List Chapters 1-6

to make known publicly

"I already finished sweeping," Sophie announced from the next room.

to talk about yourself, your achievements, your family, etc., in a way that shows too much pride

Sophie brags that her bedroom is bigger than mine, but I love my room.

to move or cause to move especially slightly

When I didn't budge, he shrugged.

to give (someone) an order : to tell (someone) to do something in a forceful and often official way

This meant barking commands at me while she picked at the chipped polish on her fingernails.

to seem better or worse in comparison to something else : to be good or bad when measured against something else

All good stuff compared to the homework and quiet time Mrs. Peepers made us do.

to argue so as to make a person agree or believe

I not only needed to convince my parents to let me help, but to let me join the boys too.

to move with sudden speed

"Thank you for the brownies! I'll see you later," I said, dashing out the door to Obaachan.

to move slowly on wind or water

A cool breeze drifted in.

to get away from a place (such as a prison) where you are being held or kept

I waited for a chance to escape the cleaning frenzy.

a person who has special skill or knowledge relating to a particular subject

Sophie was always the expert

to throw hard or without care

I flung myself at her as she stepped out of the car.

having good luck : enjoying good fortune

Fortunately Mrs. Reese lived only two houses down.

great and often wild or uncontrolled activity

I waited for a chance to escape the cleaning frenzy.

to breathe in suddenly and loudly with the mouth open because of surprise, shock, or pain

Obaachan gasped.

to eat fast or greedily

Mrs. Reese baked the best brownies, so it was hard not to gobble up all of them.

a person invited to visit or stay in someone's home

Mom was scrubbing the guest bathroom.

to pay no attention to

Sophie smirked, but I ignored her.

to show displeasure by pushing out the lips

"Stop pouting and finish cleaning," Sophie said.

something which shows that something else is true or correct

I realized that I had to have proof that I could pound mochi before I asked my parents.

to express or show unwillingness to do, give, or allow something

I gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.

something (as money) given or offered in return for a service or accomplishment

It's hard work to make mochi, but there's a reward- eating the gooey treat afterward.

to move or climb quickly and if necessary on hands and knees

I walked straight to Mrs. Reese's backyard, scrambled over the fence, and climbed into my secret thinking spot.

to smile in an insincere manner

Sophie smirked, but I ignored her.

to move, fall, or hit something in large drops

"Jasmine is splattering spaghetti sauce everywhere!"

to make a great effort to do or achieve something or to overcome someone or something

I smiled as he struggled.

a belief or custom handed down from one generation to another

It was tradition for Dad, the uncles and the boy cousins to turn the cooked rice into the sticky mochi by pouding it in a stone bowl with a big wooden hammer.