Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene: Chapters 24–37

by Emma Otheguy
Fifth-grader Sofía — the daughter of professional ballet dancers who represented Cuba around the world — is embarrassed that she cannot master the steps needed for her part in a small-town New York production of The Nutcracker.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–13, Chapters 14–23, Chapters 24–37
35 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. drafty
    not airtight; exposed to currents of air
    The theater is old and drafty, and I have my fuzzy purple hoodie on over my white leotard and tights so I can stay warm until it’s time to get into our costumes.
  2. mayhem
    violent and needless disturbance
    The second floor is total mayhem. My mom and Mrs. Lewis are shouting themselves hoarse trying to get kids to line up for their costumes, which have all been altered and steamed by Mrs. Lewis.
  3. overture
    orchestral music at the beginning of an opera or musical
    My mom meets my dad and me in the wings just as the overture comes crackling over the theater’s audio system.
  4. emphasis
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
    But then, during the March, I’m so focused on bringing my feet down on the downbeat, the way my dad and Regina always insist, that I accidentally bring my foot down on Greg. Hard. Really hard. I was trying to dance with emphasis!
  5. fumble
    make one's way clumsily or blindly
    I fumble and start the next jump a half beat too late, landing on the far side of the stage, closer to where the parents are dancing.
  6. tacky
    tastelessly showy
    Regina is sitting in front of the mirror, fussing while my mom dusts her with blush.
    “Ma, not too much—I don’t want to look tacky!”
  7. cummerbund
    a broad pleated sash worn at the waist with a tuxedo
    My mom is wearing a dress with an enormous hoopskirt, and my dad is wearing an old-fashioned velvet suit with a lacy cummerbund.
  8. stationery
    paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters
    She hands Regina a folded piece of pale pink stationery.
  9. tinker
    try to fix or mend in an unskilled manner
    I’ve been tinkering with headpieces for Stella and Tricia’s Decorations Committee, and I can tell the work of a master when I see one.
  10. stuffy
    lacking fresh air
    I can’t wait to get out of this stuffy cubicle of a dressing room.
  11. troupe
    an organization of performers and associated personnel
    The last time I sat in the audience of the Pine Hill Playhouse, it was for a performance of Cinderella by an acting troupe from New York City.
  12. materialistic
    marked by a desire for wealth and possessions
    The Cuban government calls people from the United States imperialistas. My mom says it to Regina and Manuel and me when she thinks we’re being selfish or materialistic.
  13. pas de deux
    a dance for two people
    Regina takes bow after bow, the Flowers clear the stage, and the soft strains of the Sugar Plum pas de deux begin.
  14. noncommittal
    refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action
    “Yeah, maybe,” I say, noncommittal.
  15. straddle
    sit or stand astride of
    But the room empties out, and Mr. Fallon smiles and straddles his stool, right across the desk from me.
  16. beeline
    the most direct route
    I’m beelining it to the basketball hoop, where Laurita is sitting in her usual spot. I don’t even glance back at Tricia and Stella.
  17. gusto
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    Of course I leave out that last part when I tell Laurita my ideas, and she scribbles them down with gusto. I can tell she’s excited.
  18. crepe
    paper with a crinkled texture
    Lucas and Tricia are wrapping Abdul up with crepe paper like a mummy.
  19. bigoted
    blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion
    “It’s just some people are so bigoted that a few new apartments and they complain.”
  20. stately
    refined or imposing in manner or appearance
    I love Pine Hill’s town hall because it’s like something out of a picture book. It has two stately white columns in the front, and a steep pointed roof.
  21. steep
    having a sharp inclination
    It has two stately white columns in the front, and a steep pointed roof.
  22. lob
    propel in a high arc
    She lobs the ball back hard, and I have to jump quick to catch it.
  23. foothold
    a place that provides support for standing or climbing
    Jonah, catching up to Eva, finds one of the footholds in the rock and tries to wriggle up.
  24. blunt
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
    “Don’t call him that,” Laurita says bluntly.
  25. churn
    be agitated
    My insides churn and wriggle as Laurita’s words sink in.
  26. scuff
    walk without lifting the feet
    I cross the street, scuffing my feet on the pavement as I go.
  27. tempt
    dispose, incline, or entice to
    It’s detailed and realistic, and I’m tempted to bring it upstairs to show Regina.
  28. touchy
    difficult to handle; requiring great tact
    Tricia’s brow wrinkles, and I can tell she’s worried that I’m about to talk about a touchy subject again.
  29. pristine
    immaculately clean and unused
    She made me give her my program, because she needs to keep hers pristine—when the show is over, we’re going to meet the dancers at the stage door and get their autographs.
  30. tulle
    a fine fabric net used for veils, tutus, or gowns
    Since there’s no story, I focus on the costumes, counting the layers of tulle on the ballerinas’ tutus, and I notice that the colors sort of match the music—bright and beautiful.
  31. drone
    talk in a monotonous voice
    My dad starts droning on about different styles and techniques in Cuba to anyone who will listen, but Regina interrupts him.
  32. impromptu
    with little or no preparation or forethought
    On the train ride home, our neighbors are so excited about the show that my parents decide to invite them all over for an impromptu party.
  33. baffled
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    My mom looks baffled. “I—well, mi cielo, I would have rather you didn’t lie to me, pero—”
  34. sheepishly
    in a manner showing embarrassment or shame
    My mom says, a little sheepishly, “We were pretty distracted these last few weeks—”
  35. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    I head toward the snack table and find Laurita standing with her hands in her pockets and a wistful smile on her face.
Created on Mon Nov 20 13:51:50 EST 2023 (updated Mon Dec 18 11:15:39 EST 2023)

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