The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School: Chapters 1–5

by Sonora Reyes
Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores is a queer Mexican-American girl who navigates Catholic school and first love while learning to be authentic to herself.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–12, Chapters 13–17, Chapters 18–27
35 words 59 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. vanity
    low table with a mirror where one sits while dressing
    It’s been way too long since I punched something, and that vanity had it coming. Stupid mirror.
  2. objectively
    in a manner not influenced by emotion
    I mean, I am cute—objectively—but that’s beside the point.
  3. exorcise
    expel through adjuration or prayers
    There’s a burning in my gut, like the crosses are trying to exorcise the gay out of me.
  4. naive
    marked by or showing unaffected simplicity
    Part of me wants to be grateful she only told a grand total of three people about me being gay—our other friends Stefani and Chachi, and Bianca’s mom—but that part of me is way too naive.
  5. inkling
    a slight suggestion or vague understanding
    Frankly, she could make a lot more 
money off this if she set it up a little nicer and actually put any inkling of energy into marketing her Etsy store.
  6. revamp
    patch up or renovate; repair or restore
    Revamping her Etsy store and making an Instagram for it could be exactly what she needs.
  7. deliberation
    careful consideration
    After about an hour of deliberation, I end up going with JoyeriaFlores for both Etsy and Instagram.
  8. convulse
    be overcome with laughter
    I throw myself onto my bed and happily convulse, squealing loud enough for Cesar to come in all concerned.
  9. frenzy
    state of violent mental agitation
    He backs away slowly from my squealy frenzy.
  10. entrepreneurial
    willing to take risks in order to make a profit
    “Do you like the name? Look at the sales! Isn’t that amazing? This will be my new job! I can help you with your workload and I’ll take care of all the online stuff.” I feel like I’m about to cry from pure joy. Mami must be so proud of my entrepreneurial genius.
  11. mantra
    a commonly repeated word or phrase
    Maybe it’s because it was basically our dad’s mantra. Dad was always outspoken about our roots, and he wanted us to be too.
  12. compensate
    make up for shortcomings by exaggerating good qualities
    He says “in lak’ech” instead of “same,” and always wears both a cross necklace and a chain with the jaguar symbol on it—for facing fears, I think. Maybe it’s his way of compensating for the fact that we haven’t had a solid connection to our ancestry since Dad left.
  13. gouge
    force with the thumb
    I roll the top of the skirt until it’s at my knee, and it makes me want to gouge my eyes out a little less.
  14. deadpan
    without betraying any feeling
    I want to stare deadpan back at her and continue to say nothing.
  15. intrigue
    cause to be interested or curious
    I hear a couple of murmurs and hushed laughter when her hand shoots up, and I’m intrigued.
  16. stifle
    smother or suppress
    She stretches the corners of her eyes with her fingers, then stifles a giggle.
  17. nonchalantly
    in a composed and unconcerned manner
    When some kid steps up to the front of the class, she nonchalantly places two pieces of paper on my desk, then walks back to hers.
  18. regimen
    a systematic plan for therapy
    Maybe I’m looking out of jealousy, and not attraction—maybe I just want to know her workout regimen.
  19. gravitate
    move toward
    I can easily gravitate toward people I’ve already met, instead of having to make new friends in every single class.
  20. backlog
    an accumulation of jobs not done or materials not processed
    We’ll definitely have a backlog of orders to fill now, but that’s a good problem to have.
  21. coveted
    greatly desired
    They’re all happily linking arms, with Karen’s borderline brownface spray tan in the coveted middle position.
  22. emphatically
    in a forceful manner; with emphasis
    "Thank you!" Jenna says emphatically, squeezing my arm.
  23. casually
    in an unconcerned manner
    I hate how casually she says she loves me. She doesn’t even know me.
  24. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
    I want to look cool and aloof, like I have friends I can text.
  25. ulterior
    lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed
    The years we spent as best friends didn’t matter because I must have had ulterior motives, and everything I had done now seemed creepy.
  26. solidarity
    a union of interests or purposes among members of a group
    I want to comment on the pin, but I can’t bring myself to 
do it. I’m not supposed to feel any kind of solidarity based on that pin.
  27. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
    “Daylight. Savings. Is. Arbitrary!”
  28. excommunication
    cutting a person off from a religious society
    The other side is arguing for separation of church and state. Like the only way they can accept me is through excommunication. The Catholic church has no problem taking all my money, but they don’t really want me.
  29. flourish
    grow vigorously
    She left the flourishing talavera pots out to mock me, I’m sure. I wonder if she finished the garden alone or if she already got someone to replace me.
  30. intoxicating
    extremely exciting
    Then there’s Bo’s intoxicating laugh from across the cafeteria. She throws her head back from the powerful force of her own laughter.
  31. existential
    relating to or dealing with the state of being
    So Bo is gay, and she’s okay with me knowing. Hearing Bo say it out loud sends me into an existential crisis.
  32. inevitably
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    My heart beats quicker, trying to catch up with my racing thoughts and internal squealing. Inevitably, I miss the rest of their argument.
  33. tangible
    perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
    It feels terrible to say, but I wish someone here believed in me. Someone more tangible.
  34. stickler
    someone who insists on something
    She’s always a stickler about cursing, and she only does it herself when she’s pissed.
  35. unconditional
    not subject to any restrictions or limitations
    I don’t know if there’s such a thing as unconditional love, but I think my dad loves me and Cesar as close to unconditionally as possible.
Created on Sat Nov 05 10:09:04 EDT 2022 (updated Fri Nov 18 17:20:48 EST 2022)

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