The Master PuppeteerThe Master Puppeteerby Katherine Paterson

77thth Grade Language Arts Grade Language Arts

Chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-29)

• reluctantly (2): unwilling or not wanting to do something

• manipulator (11): a person who operates or controls something or someone

• bellow (11): yeII or shout in a deep voice• defiance (13): bold opposition to

authority• livelihood (15): how a person earns a living

Chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-29)

• sincerity (17): honesty; truthfulness• anxiety (19): nervousness or tension

caused by fear of danger or misfortune

• contributing (23): giving help or assisting• samisen (26): a Japanese three-stringed,

guitar-like instrument• ominous (27): threatening; the sense that

something bad will happen

Chapters 4-6 (pp. 30-76)• kimono (31): a loose, wide-sleeved

Japanese robe fastened at the waist with a wide sash

• tedious (36): long and tiresome• inadvertent (37): accidental; not meaning to• koto (37): a seven or thirteen-stringed

Japanese instrument with the strings stretched over a rectangular box

• disciple (39): follower of a skilled leader or teacher

Chapters 4-6 (pp. 30-76)• perpetual (45): continuing or seeming to last

forever• nonchalant (58): not caring; not showing

excitement• contradict (59): proving wrong through your

actions or words; to speak against

• anguish (68): great mental suffering or pain

• disheveled (70): messy, sloppy, or dirty in appearance

Chapters 7-9 (pp. 77-111)

• resemble (80): to appear or look like • refuge (82): a place of protection and

security• persistent (86): determined not to give up;

continuing• magistrate (87): a judge; a government

leader• pompous (88): arrogant; bossy; egotistical

Chapters 7-9 (pp. 77-111)

• vile (99): horrible; foul; mean; nasty• indefinitely (99): without knowing the

ending time• ambitious (100): boldly desiring and going

after success• bereft (101): deprived; taken away• sentimental (110): emotional; tender-hearted

Chapters 10-12 (pp. 112-145)

• vigil (121): watch; guard; close attention• fabricated (121): made up or created• neutral (122): neither for nor against; in

the middle• dreaded (124): feared; being anxious about

an upcoming event• despised (128): hated; detested

Chapters 10-12 (pp. 112-145)

• scheme (130): plan or strategy• animated (135): moved; filled with life• inevitable (138): unable to be avoided• dissuade (141): to talk a person out of

something• elusive (141): difficult to catch; tricky

Chapters 13-16 (pp. 146-179)

• squinting (146): scrunching up of the eyes while looking at something

• placid (151): calm, peaceful, or gentle• contorted (151):twisted; misshapen• wavered (152): shifted back and forth• cacophony (153): a harsh mixture of sounds

Chapters 13-16 (pp.146-179)

• typhoon (154): a “hurricane” in the Pacific Ocean

• perilous (161): dangerous; threatening• valor (164): bravery; courage• decipher (167): to solve, figure out, or

understand• gallant (172): bold, fearless, and

honorable