WORD LISTS

"Maizy Chen's Last Chance" by Lisa Yee, Chapters 1–27

October 31, 2022
By Vocabulary.com (NY)Visual Thesaurus Moderator
After her grandfather becomes sick, eleven-year-old Maizy moves from Los Angeles to Last Chance, Minnesota, where she struggles to fit in as her family's Chinese restaurant is targeted with racist attacks.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–27, Chapters 28–55, Chapter 56–Epilogue
ironic
“My little Maizy,” Oma says. This is ironic, since my grandmother is only a couple of inches taller than me.
casualty
An assortment of smashed bugs grace the windshield, casualties of our three-day road trip from Los Angeles.
saute
When I step inside the Golden Palace, the smell of sautèed garlic and ginger reminds me that I haven’t eaten in over two hundred miles and I’m starving!
authentic
“Is this authentic Chinese?” The big man loosens his tie and deflates.
My grandmother nods. “Absolutely! All our dishes are from ancient Chinese recipes.”
mince
Using the sharp edge of the blade, Oma slides everything into a hot wok with minced garlic sizzling in oil.
braised
Steam rises from the spicy braised eggplant with minced pork.
memorabilia
I distract myself by looking at the pictures and memorabilia that cover the Golden Palace’s walls.
culinary
Mom tells people she works in the culinary arts—so maybe food is art, after all.
weary
“Come on, Maizy. Let’s go get settled.” Mom sounds weary.
delirious
The two of them look deliriously happy like they’re sharing a secret.
pry
I’ll be the one taking him to the doctor so I can get some solid information. It’s impossible to pry a straight story out of your grandmother.
gawk
I stop to gawk at a spooky gray mansion.
frantic
Frantically, I mop up the mess with a napkin.
cusp
I get the feeling that you’re on the cusp of a mother-daughter talk, so that’s my cue to exit.
rummage
Mom rummages through the desk drawers looking for aspirin.
dismissive
Opa waves a hand dismissively. “His food is great, but don’t ever tell him I said that. We don’t discuss Werner in this house.”
ravage
Long ago in China, warlords ravaged the countryside.
bluff
Poker has a weird language. “Fold” means to quit, and “ bluffing” is when you pretend you have better cards than you do. “Double barrel” betting and bluffing can throw your opponent’s game off.
subtle
Your opponents will give clues about their cards. It’s called a tell, because a subtle change in how they act can tell you what they’re thinking.
wage
Their wages were lower than anyone else’s for the same jobs.
waver
Does Werner spot my tell when my voice wavers?
size up
Werner eyes my bag as if sizing up the stakes.
casually
As the bratwursts sizzle and whistle on the grill, he asks casually, “How is your grandfather?”
former
It’s not just food I deliver. I also bring news to the two former friends about each other’s lives.
grueling
“Running a restaurant is grueling work.”
designate
“Yes, bacon should be designated a national treasure!”
muse
“It reminds me of Chicken McNuggets,” Daisy muses while adding red chilies and garlic to hoisin sauce.
punctuality
Mr. Philips was impressed by Lucky's punctuality. Before the start of every meal, he'd check his gold pocket watch and declare, "On time, again!"
ordinance
"The Sidewalk Ordinance bans Chinese from carrying laundry or groceries on a pole," he recited.
taunt
Above the taunts, the police officer shouted, "That stupid braid of yours is against the law, too!"
glare
Out of nowhere, Riley asks, “Have I done something to offend you? Every time I see you, you glare at me.”
elite
In China, education was only for the elite. In addition to teaching Lucky how to run a kitchen, Mrs. Birney, the cook, had taught him something even more valuable. She taught Lucky how to read and write.
lynch
In Los Angeles, there was a mass murder and lynching of almost twenty Chinese.
barge
One day, while the Philipses were visiting family in Los Angeles, four policemen barged into the kitchen.
reluctantly
Reluctantly, I attempt to pick up a worm with a stick.

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