At Last She Stood: Chapters 6–15

by Erin Entrada Kelly
Josefina "Joey" Guerrero of the Philippines, diagnosed with leprosy (Hansen’s disease) as WWII unfolded, was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom at age 31 for her courageous and lifesaving work as a WWII spy supporting the Allied forces.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–15, Chapters 16–25, Chapters 26–33, Chapters 34–42
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. leprosy
    communicable disease characterized by wasting of body parts
    The doctor informs them that Joey’s skin lesions, never-ending fever, nosebleeds, and painful joints are caused by Hansen’s disease, better known as leprosy.
  2. enclosure
    a structure consisting of an area that has been confined
    In the mid-nineteenth century, for example, several people in a small Canadian village in New Brunswick developed leprosy. In response, the townspeople built log enclosures far from everyone else and forced the lepers inside.
  3. scrutiny
    a prolonged intense look
    Joey needs good medical care, but she isn’t a public health hazard. Renato knows this, and so does Joey’s doctor. They arrange for someone to treat her in secret. As long as no one else knows, they are safe from public scrutiny.
  4. fortification
    the act of increasing the strength of something
    The Philippine Army is called to service. Trucks and tanks rumble through the streets at night, loaded with ammunition. There are rumors of a Japanese invasion, but many people feel safe with all the additional fortifications.
  5. tantamount
    being essentially equal to something
    An attack on Pearl Harbor is tantamount to a declaration of war.
  6. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
    The whispers of a Japanese invasion suddenly don’t seem so unlikely; in fact, an invasion appears inevitable.
  7. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    The Japanese military have several reasons to attack Pearl Harbor and the Philippines in quick succession. The United States has formidable naval fleets in both places, and the Japanese want to disable those fleets as quickly as possible.
  8. advocate
    speak, plead, or argue in favor of
    Any material that advocates democracy, exposes wrongdoing by the Japanese military, or contains anti-Japanese sentiment is confiscated.
  9. confiscate
    take temporary possession of a security by legal authority
    Any material that advocates democracy, exposes wrongdoing by the Japanese military, or contains anti-Japanese sentiment is confiscated.
  10. culvert
    a transverse and enclosed drain under a road or railway
    Clouds of smoke rise from the mountains to the south and the east as Philippine demolition squads blast bridges and culverts, hoping to keep the Japanese at bay.
  11. optimistic
    hopeful that the best will happen in the future
    Despite the poor conditions in the internment camp, the prisoners are optimistic.
  12. cassock
    a black garment reaching down to the ankles
    Father Julien reaches inside his cassock for the diary, but it is too late. A Japanese military policeman grabs his collar and forces him inside where the Japanese soldiers bark orders, telling everyone to pack a bag. Only one each.
  13. guerrilla
    a member of an irregular army that fights a stronger force
    “A woman of your spirit should join the guerrillas,” he says.
    The guerrillas are small groups of Filipino combatants who work with the US military to fight the Japanese.
  14. quash
    put down by force or intimidation
    The propagandists with the Imperial Japanese Army develop flyers and press releases to threaten the guerrillas, hoping to quash their spirits.
  15. skewed
    favoring one person or side over another
    Filipinos were desperate for real news, not the sleek and skewed messaging they received from the Propaganda Corps.
Created on Sat Feb 28 19:52:43 EST 2026 (updated Tue Apr 14 12:24:53 EDT 2026)

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