The Way to Rio Luna: Chapters 11–14

by Zoraida Córdova
Foster children Danny and his older sister Pili share a love for a book of fairy tales. When Pili disappears, Danny embarks on an enchanted quest to find her with the help of new friends, some of the fairy tale characters, and magic.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–10, Chapters 11–14, Chapters 15–18, Chapters 19–23
15 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. brandish
    move or swing back and forth
    “Here we are,” Glory said, and pulled out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that looked like a long-sleeved baseball shirt but instead of a team logo, there was a knight brandishing a sword.
  2. fissure
    a long narrow opening
    One night a young witch was walking in the wintry woods of her human world when she caught the silver light of the moon shining through a rip between the worlds. It looked like a fissure, an open wound made by someone in a hurry to get out...
  3. bard
    a lyric poet
    There, the young witch, named Leigh the Bard, learned to wield the power of the night sky.
  4. fluke
    a stroke of luck
    What if it had all been a fluke?
  5. awestruck
    having a feeling of mixed reverence and wonder and dread
    A soft chiming filled the room as the light illuminated their awestruck faces.
  6. trident
    a spear with three prongs
    She brought it back to the table, and when she unrolled it, Danny could see a map of Manhattan Island. This version of the city was different—there were strange symbols on the four corners: a crescent moon, a trident, interlocked triangles, and a sun.
  7. celestial
    of or relating to the sky
    I am the dialogue between the celestial and the ground.
  8. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    When Ella created the map to Rio Luna, she tasked me with guarding the last page of my story, and I obliged.
  9. asphyxiate
    die from lack of oxygen
    “Right you are, Danny!” she said, and waved her hand in the air. The yellow birds scattered. “Willie, do let them go before they asphyxiate.”
    They were freed.
  10. gnarly
    rough and misshapen and full of knots
    Dirt fell from the ceiling as she tugged the slender glass tube free from the gnarly hand jutting out from the ceiling.
  11. aviary
    a building where birds are kept
    “Ella St. Clay! That thief. That scoundrel!”
    “Thief?” Danny said the word as a question. “She’s a writer.”
    “Perhaps, but she will always be known as the person who ruined our majestic aviary to help the Moon Witch.”
  12. perspective
    a way of regarding situations or topics
    “Now, Glory,” Auntie North said, clearing her throat. “Ella St. Clay never gives the Shadow Queen’s perspective. She’s only a villain in Leigh the Bard’s story.”
  13. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
    "I am a most magnanimous prince and agree to help you on your quest until I can safely get back home," the jackalope said. “
  14. desperation
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
    There was desperation and fear of never seeing his sister again.
  15. selfless
    showing concern for the welfare of others
    “...Sinchi made it back home with his siblings and carried with them wishing stars to give to the kids in their village,” Danny said, handing The Way to Rio Luna to Glory.
    She ran her finger down the ripped page in the seam. “That’s selfless and kind.”
Created on Wed Oct 29 22:01:17 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Dec 22 19:12:26 EST 2025)

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