Stella by Starlight: Chapters 41–50

by Sharon M. Draper
In this historical novel, a young girl confronts prejudice and injustice in her segregated North Carolina town.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–10, Chapters 11–20, Chapters 21–30, Chapters 31–40, Chapters 41–50

Here are links to lists for other books by Sharon M. Draper: Out of My Mind, Copper Sun, Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire, Blended
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. frayed
    worn away or tattered along the edges
    Excited, she picked out the first book, but she grew quiet as she saw how raggedy it was—the binding frayed, even missing pages.
  2. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    “Oh, brother,” he said with dismay, “this one’s got scribbles all through it.”
  3. parcel
    a wrapped package
    He picked the parcel back up and handed it to Mrs. Grayson.
  4. hankering
    a yearning for something or to do something
    “Well, I suppose I best be on my way. I ain’t got no hankering to interrupt any more learning!”
  5. endeavor
    earnest and conscientious activity intended to do something
    We feel that it is vitally important to support our Negro children in their educational endeavors.
  6. patter
    a quick succession of light rapid sounds
    The only sound was the steady patter of rain on the tin roof.
  7. sludge
    any thick, viscous matter
    Stella dodged a slithering hunk of sludge.
  8. undergrowth
    the brush beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
    As Stella approached, something moved in the undergrowth.
  9. eerie
    inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening
    Stella felt an eerie calm come over her.
  10. imperceptibly
    in a manner that is difficult to discern
    Her mother’s head moved imperceptibly.
  11. croon
    sing softly
    “Mama, I told you I’d be right back. I’m here now,” Stella crooned as she lifted her mother’s head and placed the pillow under it.
  12. desperation
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
    “He ain’t here,” her father said, desperation in his voice.
  13. quell
    suppress or crush completely
    Stella bit her lip to quell her rising panic.
  14. venom
    toxin secreted by animals
    “Mama can’t be moved, sir. Papa says it would make the venom travel faster in her bloodstream.”
  15. implore
    beg or request earnestly and urgently
    “Please sir. Please. Her leg is swelling. It’s hard for her to breathe. She’s barely conscious. Won’t you be kind enough to come take a look at her? Please?” Stella implored.
  16. toxin
    a poisonous substance produced organically
    If it was a rattler that bit her, that venom can be fatal. Depends on the type of rattlesnake, where the bite is, and the type of toxin it carries.
  17. disoriented
    having lost your bearings
    So she was confused and disoriented when the front door burst open and several people entered, all seemingly talking at once.
  18. demure
    shy or modest, often in a playful or provocative way
    Mrs. Odom, who usually dressed in demure long dresses and straw hats, had on a pair of men’s overalls and an old plaid work shirt.
  19. fedora
    a hat made of felt with a creased crown
    And Dr. Hawkins—Dr. Hawkins!—in his Sunday-go-to-meeting three-piece suit and fedora filled the room with his authority.
  20. incredulously
    in a disbelieving manner
    “So Mama's not going to—I mean—she’s gonna, she’s gonna live?” Stella asked incredulously.
  21. warble
    sing or play with trills
    It was cold. Too cold for Klansmen to burn crosses. Too cold for nightingales to warble. Too cold for sitting on the steps.
  22. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    She took a walk on the banks of Kilkenny Pond, trying to ignore the nippiness of the night, the troublesome memories of Mama’s ordeal.
  23. concentric
    having a common center
    Concentric rings grew larger and larger on the dark water, then gradually disappeared.
  24. thrash
    move or stir about violently
    Stella moved toward the sound, toward the splashing and wild thrashing that followed another gurgled cry. “I can’t swim! Help me!”
  25. plunge
    dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity
    Stella didn’t pause to think; she ripped off her jacket and plunged into the water, gasping as the cold grabbed her, soaking through her hair, a feeling she hated.
  26. mystified
    totally perplexed and mixed up
    Stella, mystified, let her cry, until she, too, was shaking with cold.
  27. adrenaline
    hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress
    Stella waited. Fatigue was quickly replacing the adrenaline. Her skin felt frozen. She wanted to go home.
  28. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    “You can’t get cholera from cold water,” Stella scoffed, crossing her arms.
  29. blunt
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
    “Your father is mean,” Stella said bluntly.
    Paulette raised her chin. “I know.”
  30. livid
    furiously angry
    Stella backed away, too livid to stop.
  31. rave
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
    “He’s always ranting and raving about how awful colored people are. That's when he’s not yelling at my mother and smacking her around.”
  32. sear
    burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
    Mama, sitting with her leg elevated on a pillow, directed, guiding her on details Stella had never paid much attention to before—like boiling and frying and searing.
  33. rustling
    a light noise, like leaves blowing in the wind
    Stella heard a rustling in the loft and hopped back up to get the coffee.
  34. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    “Tell that to the cow, the mule, and the chickens!” her father said with a bemused smile.
  35. garland
    a circular band of flowers or other foliage
    Together, they made a garland of pinecones and chicken feathers, so pretty that Mama decided then and there that they had just created a new holiday tradition.
  36. nigh
    not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
    Look down from the sky
    And stay by my cradle
    Till morning is nigh.
  37. regal
    belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
    Tony, Johnsteve, and Randy, the three wise men, stood regally in one corner—for only a minute, however, because somehow, Randy’s crown toppled from his head!
  38. frankincense
    an aromatic gum resin formerly valued for worship
    Apple jelly, not frankincense or myrrh, spilled across the stage.
  39. teeter
    move unsteadily, with a rocking motion
    But as he tried to adjust it back on his head, he bumped into Johnsteve, who teetered on the edge of the pulpit.
  40. subside
    wear off or die down
    “We still gettin’ presents?” Jojo piped up after the clapping subsided.
    That made everyone laugh again.
Created on Fri Dec 15 10:03:08 EST 2017 (updated Thu Apr 04 09:33:22 EDT 2019)

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