On the Wings of la Noche: List 1: I Am–A Race with My Love

by Vanessa L. Torres
Struggling with her grief over her girlfriend's untimely death and her responsibility to guide her soul into the afterlife, Noche's life is further complicated when she begins to fall for a new boy in town.

Here are links to our lists for the book:
List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
15 words 19 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. luminescent
    emitting light not caused by heat
    She waves her luminescent hand through my glossy black feathers, leaving behind a trail of effervescence that tickles my wings.
  2. ethereal
    characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
    I move to pat Bob on his back with my wing, forgetting that my feathers will pass straight through his ethereal body.
  3. rivulet
    a small stream
    The air thins, wispy rivulets of atmosphere swirling inside my nostrils.
  4. morbid
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
    Besides, in my universe my morbid collection is totally normal, considering the rest of my life is off the charts.
  5. undulate
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
    Her long hair undulates behind her like waves on a midnight sea.
  6. covet
    wish, long, or crave for
    Because the rest of my life is viscous and dark, like the smothering molasses Papa covets as the secret ingredient to his chicken mole.
  7. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    “I can’t let you go without telling you how beautiful they are. They’re like…”
    “Amber,” I say, all nonchalant, though I’m squeezing the life out of his jacket.
  8. assimilate
    become like one's environment
    My grandparents wanted their kids to assimilate—fit in.
  9. vulnerability
    susceptibility to injury or attack
    But now, without my feathers, I am very aware of my human limitations and vulnerability.
  10. lament
    express grief verbally
    If we weren’t so deep in the “friend zone,” we’d probably lament all over each other about Dante.
  11. tchotchke
    an inexpensive showy trinket
    I’m pretty sure this explosion of color, Papa’s food, and south-of-the-border tchotchkes are their way of announcing who we are among the handful of mexicanos in Duluth.
  12. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    There are no self-help books about how to manage the fact that your daughter is not only a surly teenager but also an owl of death.
  13. perpetually
    everlastingly; for all time
    Me anxiously waiting for Dante, who is perpetually late for absolutely everything.
  14. feign
    make believe with the intent to deceive
    Feigning migraines was her idea.
  15. downy
    soft and fluffy, like small feathers
    My end feathers quiver as the downy plumes next to my skin stand at attention.
Created on Mon Aug 03 07:35:55 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Aug 25 14:56:59 EDT 2026)

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