Ellen Outside the Lines: Chapters 11–20

by A.J. Sass
While visiting Barcelona for two weeks with her Spanish class, thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz must learn to accept that her life can often be unpredictably out of her control.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–10, Chapters 11–20, Chapters 21–33
35 words 16 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sacristy
    a room in a church where religious objects are stored
    "It was called a sacristy, not a museum. It had a few religious items, but it definitely wasn't in an attic."
  2. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    Andy's clue sheet rustles in his hands.
  3. intrepid
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    "My intrepid travelers. It looks like Meritxell might have somewhere she needs to be."
  4. jolt
    disturb (someone's) composure
    The slam of a door jolts me awake.
  5. practically
    almost; nearly
    Laurel practically vibrates with excitement.
  6. accommodate
    provide with something desired or needed
    "An individualized education plan." Or IEP for short. Dr. Talia says lEPs help schools accommodate kids like me to make sure I do well in my classes—it's also why I didn't get in trouble for missing Señor L's lecture.
  7. robust
    strong enough to withstand intellectual challenges
    According to her, Lynnwood has a "robust" program for disabled students, which is a big reason why I go there.
  8. sliver
    (figurative) a small or narrow piece or slice
    I blink awake to a mostly dark room. A sliver of light divides it in two.
  9. erratic
    having no fixed course
    Jake thrums his fingers against the back of his chair frame. It's erratic, not like the rhythm I use on my leg.
  10. roil
    be agitated
    Laurel crosses her fingers, and my stomach roils.
  11. twinge
    a sudden sharp feeling
    I push away a twinge of guilt.
  12. mesmerizing
    attracting and holding interest as if by a spell
    Light bounces off the panes of glass. A different type of sparkle from Sagrada Família, but the same type of mesmerizing.
  13. replica
    copy that is not the original
    "It is a replica of a full-size statue in Park Güell," the cashier says.
  14. stationery
    paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters
    No matter how hard you push the envelope, it's still stationery
  15. slump
    assume a drooping posture or carriage
    "It really sucks." Laurel's shoulders slump.
  16. paella
    saffron-flavored dish of rice with shellfish and chicken
    “Anyway, we should figure out what we want to eat. I think the paella."
  17. omnibus
    an anthology of writings on one subject or by one author
    Andy pulls the Fisher omnibus out of his bag. It's a special edition that features all three volumes of Abba's latest series.
  18. paradigm
    the generally accepted perspective of a discipline
    "It's a set of rules that everyone in each town has to follow." The Paradigms are my favorite part because they remind me of my dot diary categories: straightforward and logical.
  19. neutral
    possessing no distinctive quality or characteristics
    "Well, the @ sign with an s at the end is the gender- neutral version you can use for nonbinary people, or just groups in general. Some people use an x instead—like they'd say Latinx instead of Latino or Latina—but I think the @ sign is more fun to write."
  20. teeming
    abundantly filled with especially living things
    Everywhere I turn is teeming with tourists.
  21. throng
    a large gathering of people
    Beneath it, throngs of people bump into one another as they enter the cramped space.
  22. flail
    thrash about
    I need...
    ...to cry.
    No, shriek.
    To rock and flail my arms until people stay away from me.
  23. rigid
    incapable of or resistant to bending
    Muscles rigid, my whole body aches with tension.
  24. glare
    look at with a fixed or angry gaze
    “But since I didn't explain why I broke up with her, she's pretty mad at me."
    "Oh, is that why she keeps glaring across the dining room?"
  25. groggy
    stunned or confused and slow to react
    I blink the rest of my grogginess away, wondering if she's in the bathroom.
  26. baguette
    a long, narrow loaf of French bread
    Isa dips their knife into a jar of tomato jam, spreading it onto a piece of baguette.
  27. troupe
    an organization of performers and associated personnel
    "Then this Saturday, there will be a performance by one of Barcelona's famous casteller troupes, which are also sometimes called human towers."
  28. procession
    the action of a group moving ahead in regular formation
    Señor L is also watching the procession.
  29. array
    an impressive display or assortment
    Isa starts the photo transfer, and the tablet fills with a colorful array of images.
  30. prompt
    urge, encourage, or motivate someone to act
    "Ellen?" Señor L prompts.
  31. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
    I settle on my bed with my dot diary, planning to update it with tomorrow's excursion.
  32. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    The owl card seems to beckon to me.
  33. amplify
    increase in size, volume or significance
    I flap my hands, and the feeling spreads from my chest into my arms and legs. When I rock, it's usually because there's too much going on and rocking helps calm me. Flapping is different because it lets me feel more. Every little ounce of joy, amplified.
  34. divine
    emanating from God
    David the cactus will live, Abba is saying, but only with divine intervention.
  35. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    Abba's carved two little grooves in it. A makeshift candleholder.
Created on Wed May 31 12:11:47 EDT 2023 (updated Wed May 31 15:31:58 EDT 2023)

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