Paradise on Fire: List 4

by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Haunted by the memories of a fire that killed her parents, fifteen-year old Addy must lead her friends to safety after encountering a forest fire during a summer wilderness program.

This list covers "Escape"–Epilogue.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
30 words 39 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. disoriented
    having lost your bearings
    I squeeze my eyes shut.
    Think, Addy. Think. See.
    Now haze, smoke cloud the view. What if we get disoriented?
  2. singe
    burn superficially or lightly
    The roar above is thunderous, growling, growing closer. Wind shifts northward. There’s nothing to stop sparks, burning tree limbs from flying, singeing, killing us all.
  3. hyperventilate
    breathe excessively hard and fast
    Frightened, Nessa starts hyperventilating. Smoke strains her lungs, deepening, quickening her gasps.
  4. glum
    moody and sorrowful
    “We can do it,” encourages Jay.
    Glum, Nessa moans.
  5. tenor
    the adult male singing voice above baritone
    DeShon starts singing “Old Town Road.”
    Nessa tries to smother a giggle.
    Jay’s tenor soars.
  6. omen
    a sign of a thing about to happen
    Despite the smoke, seeing faint glimmers of sunlight, I’m happy. Traveling east, it seems like our omen.
  7. constrict
    become tight or as if tight
    Single file. Keep moving. Feet, legs ache. Keep moving. Lungs constrict; shoulders tense; muscles contract. Keep moving.
  8. resonate
    produce a deep, clear sound
    Bibi’s voice resonates: “To know yourself, you need to journey, Adaugo. Remember what’s forgotten.”
  9. patter
    a quick succession of light rapid sounds
    “Hold up. Be still.”
    Everyone quiets.
    Quick patters, rustling sounds.
    “Look.” A small stampede bursts from the forest. Plants tremor and shake.
    “Bobcat,” shouts Jay.
  10. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
    Ground fire is a wriggling snake, making erratic shapes.
  11. outpace
    surpass, especially in speed
    Jay sweeps the beam behind us, then in front of us. “We’re going to be trapped. Embers behind and ahead are burning up the trail.”
    “We’ve got to outpace it,” DeShon says, his voice low, steady.
  12. dreadful
    very unpleasant
    We’re almost there. We’re almost there. My shoulder to my elbow is seared. The pain is dreadful.
  13. outwit
    beat through cleverness
    Studying the furious, burning cliff, I can’t help thinking it’s alive, trying to outwit us.
  14. grit
    clench together
    I grit my teeth, clutch DeShon’s hand. (I’m going to break it.)
  15. gripe
    complain
    “Some adventure,” DeShon gripes. “No water. Not even during a wildfire.”
  16. superstitious
    showing faith in magic and ignorance of the laws of nature
    “I hope so.” (In the direction they were heading, I didn’t see a way out of the maze. Worse, I’m superstitious. A’Leia didn’t have Monty’s jacket. It must’ve burned in the tent.)
  17. hoarse
    deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness
    Jay, DeShon, Nessa, screaming themselves hoarse, jump up and down, waving.
  18. mock
    imitate with derision
    “Leo. Leo who? We’re his summer project. Black city kids—‘Let’s show them what they can’t do,’” he mocks, furious, hopping on his good foot.
  19. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    He grins, sheepish. “Wish I could see a crocodile. Turtles. Big ones.” His hands spread wide.
  20. propel
    cause to move forward with force
    I’m shocked by their power. Water propels us downstream. We can’t walk a straight line.
  21. smolder
    burn slowly and without a flame
    “Has the smoke lifted?” I ask wearily. We’re in a strange universe. No sky, sun, or clouds. Just smoldering air. “If there’s still smoke, fire’s near.”
  22. thrash
    move or stir about violently
    Our eyes stay focused on the riverbank. Our voices battle the thrashing, booming water.
  23. adrenaline
    hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress
    “Kick!” Adrenaline. Our hearts pound. I hear our blood rushing above the waterfall sound.
  24. matted
    tangled in a dense mass
    I stare at DeShon. Dirty, clothes torn, hair matted, he’s been tested. We all have.
  25. staccato
    marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds
    A squeal. Then another. A staccato kwit-kwit-kwit-kee-kee-kee-ker.
    An eagle glides, circling above me. Head tilted, I swear he sees me.
  26. asphalt
    mixed substance used for paving and roofing
    Run, run, run. Breathing hard. Stitch in my side. Hiking boots, clunky on asphalt. Wish I had my tennis shoes.
  27. chafe
    become or make sore by or as if by rubbing
    Still, I run, my heel chafing inside the boot.
  28. lull
    make calm or still
    Move.
    My steps make a rocking rhythm. Lulling. Dreamy.
  29. scrawl
    write carelessly
    Leo mailed me a newspaper article:
    CAMPFIRE!!!!
    he scrawled angrily at the bottom.
  30. flourish
    grow vigorously
    Leo says, “It’ll be decades. Maybe a hundred years before the forest flourishes again.”
Created on Tue Jan 11 21:15:32 EST 2022 (updated Fri Jan 21 15:25:34 EST 2022)

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