An irreverent poke at vocabulary definitions. Words such as "capricious, equivocal, mitigate," and "instigate" can be baffling and nerve-racking to young adults, especially when they need to demonstrate their knowledge in the classroom or on an exam. Poet Michael Salinger defuses the tension by offering his own tongue-in-cheek definitions that students will surely commit to memory. Giving each word a personality all its own, Salinger creates mini story lines and amusing images, full of wit and irony, that will keep readers chuckling. Cartoonist Sam Henderson's hilarious drawings add to the fun in this "Voice of Youth Advocates" Nonfiction Honor List book.