Legendary Frybread Drive-In: "Momentum," by Christine Hartman Derr

by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In is a magical place where Indigenous teens can find love, support, comfort, and community — no matter where in space or time they come from.

Here are links to our lists for the last nine selections in this collection:
Momentum; I Love You, Grandson; The Rest Will Come; Language Lesson; Hearts Aflutter; Love Buzz; Jilly Bean and Jessa Jean; Kathy's Poem and Open Mic at the Drive-In
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. nonverbal
    not using spoken or written language to communicate
    He has perfected nonverbal communication.
  2. momentum
    the product of a body's mass and its velocity
    Conservation of angular momentum is your best friend.
  3. wholly
    to the full or entire extent
    It gives you an understanding that is distinctly, wholly yours.
  4. cicada
    stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings
    The crickets and cicadas continue their symphony, music for your routine.
  5. rig
    gear for a particular enterprise
    The moon casts the shadow of the trapeze rig away from you.
  6. thrum
    a low, continuous sound
    The birds are drowned out by the thrum of tires, but they flit from branch to forest floor to sky, and you know they like to sing while they move.
  7. mirage
    optical illusion in which hot air distorts distant objects
    The mirage from the road is in the forest, too.
  8. recede
    become faint or more distant
    The road noise recedes.
  9. priority
    status established in order of importance or urgency
    The song—that’s your priority.
  10. documentary
    a film presenting the facts about a person or event
    “Y’know, Levi is working on a documentary about artists. You should talk to him.”
  11. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
    A guy emerges from around the corner, two plates clutched in one hand and a cardboard drink carrier in the other.
  12. fringe
    the outside boundary or surface of something
    Levi sits on the fringe of the group.
  13. self-conscious
    excessively aware of your appearance or behavior
    You’re usually self-conscious during introductions, but being back in a group of Native people is worth feeling awkward at first, and the feeling is temporary anyway.
  14. swoon
    be overwhelmed with ecstasy, especially when encountering something or someone you admire
    “She just wants to swoon over Wes Studi!” comes a shout from the audience.
  15. inertia
    the tendency of something to stay in rest or motion
    Inertia changing velocity, energy output shifting.
Created on Mon Feb 23 09:01:09 EST 2026 (updated Tue Mar 24 18:25:26 EDT 2026)

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