At Last She Stood: Chapters 16–25

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
15 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. disseminate
    cause to become widely known
    Although the Americans leave Manila in the hands of the Japanese—temporarily, at least—and the Propaganda Corps works tirelessly to disseminate their messages, the Imperial Japanese Army struggles in the first months of the occupation.
  2. vermillion
    of a vivid red to reddish-orange color
    Dismayed, Father Monaghan pauses and studies the landscape. Around him, vermillion blossoms sway, the green mountains rise high in the distance, and the grass grows under his feet.
  3. persevere
    be persistent, refuse to stop
    The beautiful natural world of the Philippines perseveres, despite everything.
  4. modicum
    a small or moderate or token amount
    Each day, Father Monaghan finds some modicum of peace in nature: the singing of morning birds, the distant crowing of roosters, the sun shining through mango trees.
  5. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
    The port—where ships dock, load and unload supplies, and transport raw materials—is essential to the Japanese, and a tour of the area is the only way for her to discern what they’re up to.
  6. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
    Meanwhile, their meager food rations have become increasingly sparse. There are two thousand internees at Los Baños—many of them “enemy civilians,” like those at Santo Tomas, where Gertie is—and they are hungry.
  7. circuitous
    deviating from a straight course
    Gertie stands and follows a circuitous route through the makeshift shantytown, dodging occasional gunfire, heading toward her freedom.
  8. paratrooper
    a soldier who is trained to jump from airplanes
    As soon as the paratroopers land, American fighter planes appear. They bomb the Japanese positions, pinning them high in the hills.
  9. rosary
    a series of prayers counted using a string of beads
    Father Julien drops to the ground. Bullets fly in every direction, and he is petrified that he and his fellow prisoners will be caught in the crossfire. He frantically prays the rosary. Others join him.
  10. underscore
    give extra weight to
    Each decisive battle in Europe and the Pacific further underscored the sharp decline of the remaining Axis Powers.
  11. austere
    practicing great self-denial
    “Consider,” Father Monaghan says, “that you are going to an austere cloister, a Carmel, where Christ awaits you.”
  12. cloister
    residence that is a place of religious seclusion
    “Consider,” Father Monaghan says, “that you are going to an austere cloister, a Carmel, where Christ awaits you.”
  13. seclusion
    the act of isolating oneself from others
    The Carmelites are another Catholic order, like the Jesuits. They live in seclusion and solitude and are revered for their self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence.
  14. abstention
    the trait of avoiding some substance or activity
    The Carmelites are another Catholic order, like the Jesuits. They live in seclusion and solitude and are revered for their self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence.
  15. indulgence
    the act of gratifying a desire
    The Carmelites are another Catholic order, like the Jesuits. They live in seclusion and solitude and are revered for their self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence.
Created on Sat Feb 28 20:04:59 EST 2026 (updated Tue Apr 14 12:37:29 EDT 2026)

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