Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers by Anna James Chapters 14-18

a strong liking for or attraction to someone or something

"It's this intense relationship that first starts pulling characters out of books, and why your first bookwander is normally into a book you have an affinity with."

full of life and energy

Grandma was behind the till, chatting animatedly to a regular customer.

very eager

It's a good job you're not an avid Lord of the Rings reader or we'd have to deal with this even more urgently.

said, done, or given reluctantly

"That is Tilly Pages and she is my friend who is visiting Sir," Anne added begrudgingly.

to pretend that you will do something or that you know or have something in order to trick someone into doing what you want

"Yes, I believe you can see some of Lewis Carroll's manuscripts in the Treasures Gallery," Grandad bluffed.

at some later time : in the end

Eventually the corridor ended in a set of wooden double doors with twisty carved handles.

to hesitate in speech

"I didn't mean to..." she faltered.

upset or nervous

"No, no." Grandad was flustered and frustrated.

to stare at someone or something in a rude or stupid way

"Okay, enough gawping for now."

a demand or request that is not reasonable or that causes trouble for someone

"Are you sure it's not an imposition?"

the act or process of placing someone in a new job or position

"Most of those questions will be covered in your induction session with one of the librarians."

to interrupt what someone else is saying with (a comment, remark, etc.)

"She wasn't worried until you said that," Oskar interjected.

full of enthusiasm : EAGER

"It was something to do with Alice in Wonderland that you were keen on, wasn't it?"

to move around during a party, meeting, etc., and talk informally with different people

Slick-looking businesspeople shaking hands, and hipsters with slim laptop cases and reusable coffee mugs all mingled around them.

a boring lack of change

Tilly almost wished for the monotony of her usual classroom.

not easily described : having no special or interesting qualities, parts, etc. : typical and uninteresting

Grandad's tone had implied something huge and grand, but they were standing in a narrow corridor with wooden floorboards and nondescript doors lining the walls that curled round into darkness.

a natural self-confident manner

"I work so hard to maintain my poise in trying situations."

present only in small amounts

The others followed her into a room that was almost identical in shape and size to hers, but much more sparsely furnished and with walls covered with metal filing cabinets and shelves full of huge, uniformly sized books.

a private conversation between two people

"It sounds like you need to have a tête-à-tête with your grandfather.

a state of noisy confusion or disorder

The classroom erupted in shouts, gasps, and more tears from Tilly's desk-mate, and the tumult finally distracted Mr. Phillips from the sums he was writing on the board.

having or showing a desire to hurt someone who has hurt or caused problems for you

"I am sorry to see a pupil of mine displaying such a temper and vindictive spirit," he said.