Stella by Starlight: Chapters 21–30

by Sharon M. Draper
In this historical novel, a young girl confronts prejudice and injustice in her segregated North Carolina town.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–10, Chapters 11–20, Chapters 21–30, Chapters 31–40, Chapters 41–50

Here are links to lists for other books by Sharon M. Draper: Out of My Mind, Copper Sun, Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire, Blended
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    “What’s wrong, Papa?” she asked warily.
  2. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    Her father was quiet for the first few miles, and Stella did not disturb his pensive mood.
  3. suppress
    control and refrain from showing
    At this, Stella couldn’t suppress a snicker.
  4. sentinel
    a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    Then he called out to Rudie to get along now, and Stella kept her eyes on the trees standing sentinel as they passed.
  5. mite
    a slight but appreciable amount
    Stella’s father hesitated. “Georgia supports me, but she was a mite trembly this morning. I brought Stella, though.” He squeezed her shoulders affectionately.
  6. registrar
    someone responsible for keeping records
    “You gotta pay a fee,” the registrar warned.
    “We are prepared to pay.” Papa’s reply was as even as the pastor’s.
  7. endowed
    provided or supplied or equipped with
    We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  8. unalienable
    incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another
    We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  9. tribunal
    an assembly to conduct judicial business
    Stella leaned over and read some of the questions as her father went through the test.
    1. Name the attorney general of the United States.
    2. What is a tribunal?
    3. What is a treaty?
  10. preamble
    a preliminary introduction, as to a statute or constitution
    4. What officer is designated by the Constitution to be president of the Senate of the United States?
    5. Write the preamble of the Constitution of the United States.
  11. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    While the three men wrote their answers, two others, white men, sauntered into the office.
  12. indivisible
    impossible to split into parts
    Stella, with the rest of her class, chanted loudly and clearly, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
  13. mottled
    having spots or patches of color
    “You make it sound so easy,” she said, catching an apricot-colored leaf in midair as Tony whacked the mottled white trunk of a birch tree.
  14. brandish
    exhibit aggressively
    “You’ll think of something,” he said easily, brandishing his stick at an invisible enemy.
  15. pretense
    the act of giving a false appearance
    “Sounds like a great idea,” Stella told him, steering clear of his pretense at knighthood.
  16. trounce
    defeat in a competition, race, or conflict
    She was in a mood to trounce Jojo in checkers, not work outside all day.
  17. prune
    cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
    “You do if you plan to eat tonight,” her mother retorted. “The spinach will grow well into December if we keep it pruned, and that cabbage by the fence is big enough to pick. You might even find a few bush beans. And pull me some of them collard greens—they’ll be great with a few potatoes.”
  18. gingerly
    in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
    “Oh, golly,” Stella breathed, gingerly touching the thick book.
  19. crepe
    a soft thin light fabric with a crinkled surface
    The three of them marveled over ladies who sported hair curled tightly into the latest bobs, high-heeled shoes, and dresses made of cotton and crepe.
  20. undulate
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
    She stopped short—it was like the setting sun, but the bright orange image pulsed and undulated like no sun she’d ever seen.
  21. agape
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
    Stella stopped in her tracks, mouth agape.
  22. cohort
    a company of companions or supporters
    The man signaled to his cohorts, and in unison, all three horses reared.
  23. pummel
    strike, usually with the fist
    Stella curled into a tight ball, waiting for the hooves to pummel her, wondering if it would hurt very much when she died.
  24. whit
    a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
    Stella couldn’t hold it back any longer—she burst into tears, not caring a whit who saw her.
  25. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    And Randy’s dad was hobbling along at a surprising speed, also bearing a bucket.
  26. trough
    a long narrow shallow receptacle
    Even children helped, filling buckets from wells and troughs in the nearby yards.
  27. exasperation
    a feeling of annoyance
    “Where’s that blasted fire company?” Mrs. Bates asked in exasperation, heaving a sloshing bucket to Mr. Malone, who had just run up to join them.
  28. prod
    urge on; cause to act
    “But you gathered all your babes, right?” her mother prodded gently.
  29. laden
    filled with a great quantity
    Patrick O’Brian, owner of the general store, hustled up next, arms laden with jars of thick green pickles and bottles of Pepsi-Cola.
  30. gusto
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    She laid the empty bottle on the ground and reached for the next bucket of water with renewed gusto.
  31. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    Stella kept coaxing her forward, then pulled the girl into her arms.
  32. tenor
    an adult male with a voice above baritone
    ‘“Hush, hush,”’ the bass and tenors sang first.
  33. adversity
    a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event
    “Dear Lord, You have seen us through good times and bad, through adversity as well as triumph. We thank You that no lives were lost yesterday, that You saved every member of the Spencer family. Houses can be rebuilt. People cannot.”
  34. dumbfounded
    as if rendered speechless with astonishment and surprise
    Her parents looked just as dumbfounded.
  35. yield
    give or supply
    “Yes, this little girl represents all of us. She is youth. She is promise. She is the reason we get up each morning and go to jobs where we are underpaid or mistreated, to work in fields that are dry and parched and refuse to yield. She stands there for all our children.”
  36. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    As Jojo got up, a bright-blue marble clattered noisily to the wooden floor and rolled away. Mama shot him that how dare you? look, but he just grinned sheepishly and stood with the rest of the children.
  37. cacophony
    loud confusing disagreeable sounds
    “Come to the front, children,” Pastor Patton called out above the cacophony.
  38. mousy
    quiet, timid, and ineffectual
    She didn’t recognize the two mousy white women who stood there.
  39. cordially
    in a politely friendly manner
    Stella’s mother hurried over to the door. “Come in, ladies,” she said cordially.
  40. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
    Then she chastised herself for thinking mean thoughts—after all, these ladies were here to help.
Created on Fri Dec 15 09:39:41 EST 2017 (updated Thu Apr 04 09:32:53 EDT 2019)

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