A Mango-Shaped Space: Chapters 9-11

by Wendy Mass
In this novel, a thirteen-year-old girl learns to understand and manage her synesthesia, a neurological condition in which one sense involuntarily triggers responses from other senses.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue-Chapter 2, Chapters 3-4, Chapters 5-8,
Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-15
30 words 147 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. listless
    lacking zest or vivacity
    I’m banging on the bathroom door while Zack leans listlessly against the wall next to me.
  2. enthralled
    filled with wonder and delight
    Zack looks utterly enthralled, and when he takes her hand I’m afraid he’s going to kiss it.
  3. mesmerized
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    “Breathe in through your nose, hold it, breathe out through your mouth,” Beth says in a low, soothing voice. I watch, mesmerized. Suddenly Zack loses his balance and tips over, almost taking Beth down with him.
  4. spiteful
    showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt
    “Actually you look pretty stupid,” I say spitefully.
  5. squat
    short and thick
    Beth has so many candles that she’ll never miss one. I choose a short, squat yellow one from her bookshelf and grab a book of matches from the dresser drawer where I’d seen her stash them.
  6. stammer
    speak haltingly
    “So you’re calling about the project, right?”
    “Uh, r-right,” I stammer. “The project.”
  7. poised
    marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
    I stand perfectly still, the paper poised in my hand.
  8. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “It’s a little strange though,” my mother muses.
  9. vehemently
    in a forceful manner
    “Got a new boyfriend?”
    “Dad!” Jenna moans.
    “No!” I vehemently deny.
  10. floodgate
    something that restrains an outpouring
    If she really wants to know what’s going on with me, then I’m going to tell her. The floodgates open. I tell her about Adam’s e-mails and the whole acupuncture thing.
  11. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    He is oblivious both to the falling crumbs and to my mother’s glare as she sweeps them into her hand.
  12. prosper
    make steady progress
    “Live long and prosper,” Zack tells Beth before we run to make the bus.
  13. nonchalantly
    in a composed and unconcerned manner
    “Before you ask, the answer is yes. My mother set up the appointment for after school on Wednesday. She’s going to call your mother tonight.”
    “Oh, she is?” I say nonchalantly.
  14. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    “Okay,” he says. “If it’s that important to you.”
    “It is,” I tell him as forcefully as I can muster.
  15. wring
    twist, squeeze, or compress in order to extract liquid
    I wring out the sponge over the sink and keep repeating one thought in my head: Wednesday cannot come fast enough.
  16. certify
    authorize officially
    She shakes her head and talks to me while she looks over my chart. “I am certified in the practice of acupuncture. You know how doctors study anatomy so they know how the body works?”
  17. anatomy
    the study of the structure of animals
    She shakes her head and talks to me while she looks over my chart. “I am certified in the practice of acupuncture. You know how doctors study anatomy so they know how the body works?”
  18. undulate
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
    The bubbles are now undulating and forming the most incredible streaks of color.
  19. indistinct
    not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
    I’m about to ask her how soon I can come back when I notice there is an indistinct brownish-pink cloud around her upper body.
  20. haze
    dust or smoke in the air that causes reduced visibility
    She moves across the room to open the door, and the haze goes with her, but it also trails behind.
  21. aura
    distinctive but intangible quality around a person or thing
    Everyone has their own misty aura around them.
  22. verge
    the limit beyond which something happens or changes
    My legs feel like rubber, and I’m on the verge of totally freaking out.
  23. jubilation
    a feeling of extreme joy
    A feeling of jubilation spreads through me.
  24. profusely
    in very large amounts or quantities; extremely
    I thank both Mrs. Carson and Roger again, profusely, and practically skip across the lawn.
  25. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
    As I hop in the shower it occurs to me that a few weeks ago I would have been ecstatic to have multiplied numbers in my head.
  26. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    “Huh?” I untangle my arms. Can’t they tell my role in this is finished?
    “C’mon, Mia,” Roger coaxes. “We’ll worry about the written part if you make a model of the ship. Or a painting even!”
  27. feat
    a notable achievement
    Not an easy feat, but I can do it if I concentrate.
  28. sophisticated
    having worldly knowledge and refinement
    “I got the balloons, young ladies,” he says, placing the box on the counter. “I still don’t understand why anyone’d want black balloons for a party.”
    “It’s part of the theme,” Jenna explains. “Black is sophisticated.”
  29. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    Jenna carefully scrutinizes the chocolate while I decide between the Gobstoppers and Bazooka gum.
  30. fidgety
    nervous and unable to relax
    I’m so fidgety in the car that Roger asks me if I want to go first this time.
Created on Wed Apr 18 21:41:45 EDT 2018 (updated Tue Apr 24 10:32:56 EDT 2018)

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