When Sea Becomes Sky: Part Three

by Gillian McDunn
On Pelican Island, where both developers and a drought are threatening the Carolina salt marsh, twelve-year-old Rebecca (Bex) Wheeler discovers a statue, whose mystery distracts her from family troubles.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Parts Four–Five
30 words 17 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. fascinated
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    As the water lowered, more of the statue was revealed, bit by bit. I was especially fascinated by her expression, which seemed to change when viewed from different angles.
  2. sorrow
    an emotion of great sadness associated with loss
    Was she kind or angry? Full of joy or sorrow?
  3. thoroughly
    in an exhaustive manner
    After I’d examined the statue thoroughly, we often sat in the live oak or explored the salt creeks, searching for periwinkle shells and other treasures.
  4. calibrate
    make fine adjustments for optimal measuring
    We had no use for calendars or watches. Instead, we calibrated to the setting sun, the quiet stillness of a morning, and the elegance of an egret soaring overhead.
  5. extensive
    broad in scope or content
    I didn’t know if Fritz and Opal were really siblings, but I could see why Davey thought so. They, too, had extensive conversations in the marsh, among the cordgrass and lying on the sandy shore.
  6. pang
    a mental pain or distress
    Before going downstairs, I peeked in Davey’s room. I knew he wouldn’t be there—Dad’s shift started early—but I still felt a pang when I saw his empty bed.
  7. kibble
    pellets of coarsely ground grain used as animal feed
    In the kitchen, Mom scooped kibble into the cat bowl.
  8. content
    the state of being satisfied with your situation in life
    For her research, she favored an area in the opposite direction of The Thumb. There, the marsh was lined with multiple salt creeks where she could explore and take samples to her heart’s content.
  9. aerate
    fill, combine, or supply with oxygen
    As the crabs eat, they clean and aerate the marsh.
  10. salinity
    the relative proportion of salt in a solution
    “Species in the marsh must adapt—they need to handle fresh water, salt water, and the mix of the two. But it’s been so long without rain. The salinity levels are higher than they should be.”
  11. regret
    feel sorry for; be contrite about
    I regretted the words immediately. Lying to Mom wasn’t okay.
  12. fib
    a trivial lie
    Like any good writer, I considered myself a truth-teller. But the fib had slipped out, as if it had a mind of its own.
  13. submerged
    beneath the surface of the water
    There, swimming alongside us, was Opal. Even though most of her body was submerged, I’d recognize that little face anywhere, and her two perfect, rounded ears.
  14. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    Heat flushed my cheeks. My eyes prickled with tears.
  15. glare
    be sharply reflected
    The light glared on the water and hurt my eyes.
  16. awning
    a canvas canopy to shelter people or things from rain or sun
    When we reached the store, we stood outside the brick building for a moment. There were bouquets of flowers, kept fresh in buckets of water carefully placed beneath black-and-white-striped awnings.
  17. churn
    stir cream vigorously in order to make butter
    Millie once told me that between the fancy picnics and the freshly churned ice cream, the store made almost all its money during the summer months.
  18. coral
    of a strong pink to yellowish-pink color
    Her fingernails were painted coral and I wondered if Millie had done it for her.
  19. impression
    a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
    Clearly, she was under the impression that Millie and I were still friends. I didn’t want to correct her and have that information get back to Mom.
  20. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
    A family with five towheaded kids came in, making a big commotion. Two spun the postcard rack while the others crowded around the ice cream counter.
  21. decent
    sufficient for the purpose
    And no matter what I try, I can’t write anything decent.
  22. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
    Without examining the artifact in person, it would be difficult if not impossible to make an accurate assessment.
  23. primarily
    for the most part
    Her early works were sculpture, primarily casting statues from bronze.
  24. determine
    find out or learn with certainty, as by making an inquiry
    We are very excited to view the artifact and determine whether this is a previously undiscovered work of Effie Framingham.
  25. authenticity
    undisputed credibility
    Although we would not be in a position to confirm the authenticity of your artifact, we are confident that our staff could provide
    an initial assessment and assist in deciding any future steps.
  26. reclusive
    withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
    “What’s ‘reclusive’?” I asked.
    Davey’s forehead scrunched. “It means staying away from others—living far away from them. That explains why they don’t know if she’s alive—no one has heard from her in a long time.”
  27. compromise
    arrive at a settlement of differences
    I could tell that he didn’t agree, but he could compromise—and that was something.
  28. squawk
    make a harsh, abrupt noise
    In the distance, a heron squawked its roh-roh-roh call.
  29. crane
    stretch, so as to see better
    Davey rolled sideways on the wide branch and peered through the leaves. Then he gasped, craning his neck to look at the water.
  30. famished
    extremely hungry
    The otters must have been famished. They dived and hunted again and again. Finally, they filled their bellies and then rested in a shady patch of cordgrass.
Created on Sat Jul 20 16:55:08 EDT 2024 (updated Sun Jul 21 16:15:05 EDT 2024)

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