Chronically Dolores: Chapters 1–3

by Maya Van Wagenen
This novel, inspired by the author's real life, follows Dolores Mendoza as she struggles with a chronic illness and discovers the power of unexpected friendship.

Here are links to our lists for the book:
Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–12, Chapters 13–15, Chapters 16–18, Chapters 19–21, Chapters 22–24, Chapter 25–Epilogue
25 words 83 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. incense
    a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
    If you enter with expectations of Gregorian chants, candles, and incense, you will leave disappointed.
  2. secular
    not concerned with or devoted to religion
    Mom raised us to be atheist secular humanists.
  3. canon
    a collection of books accepted as holy scripture
    Canon law requires that confessors keep private all things said in the Sacrament of Penance.
  4. divulge
    make known to the public information previously kept secret
    Not even to save my own life could I divulge one word you tell me.
  5. rosary
    a string of beads used in counting prayers
    Her rosary swung back and forth from the rearview mirror, almost taking out the plastic St. Christopher suction-cupped to the dashboard.
  6. vanity
    low table with a mirror where one sits while dressing
    I could picture us in her parents’ huge master bath, leaning over the double vanity, goading each other in the mirror to finally rip away the paper.
  7. careen
    move at high speed and in an uncontrolled way
    I watched my aunt’s red ’87 Ford Escort careen down the alley, narrowly avoiding the corner of our big metal dumpster.
  8. practically
    almost; nearly
    She flips her test and stands up, victorious, practically toppling the desk.
  9. linoleum
    a floor covering made from linseed oil, cork, and resin
    The loud smack of her skull on the linoleum floor stops the music.
  10. ominously
    in a manner suggesting something bad will happen
    The couch creaked ominously.
  11. oversight
    an unintentional omission from failure to notice something
    “Is that just an oversight,” Mom pressed, “or is there something you want to talk about?”
  12. lilting
    characterized by a buoyant rhythm
    Johann exclaimed in his lilting German accent.
  13. mea culpa
    an acknowledgment of your error or guilt
    “Mea culpa!” he cried loudly, beating one arm to his chest.
  14. duvet
    a soft quilt usually filled with down
    I screamed into my pillow and kicked the duvet off my legs.
  15. leper
    a pariah who is avoided by others
    It started with problem one, my leaky pee balloon, which led to problem two, accidental public urination during the last week of middle school, which caused problem three, my status as a leper.
  16. barrage
    the rapid and continuous delivery of communication
    Desperate, I sent another barrage into the abyss between us.
  17. workshop
    a brief intensive course for a small group
    “It’s a workshop, see? Building Communication Skills for Girls Ten to Thirteen. I signed you up.”
  18. furrow
    a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
    I looked at my mother, really looked at her—at the deep furrow running across her forehead, the wrinkles starting to form around her eyes, and her eyes themselves, all red like she’d cried herself to sleep.
  19. compliance
    the act of submitting, usually surrendering power to another
    “Yeah. Whatever,” I said, leaving out the fact that it took imagining her mortality to motivate my compliance.
  20. immaculate
    completely neat and clean
    This immaculate, tile-coated single-seater is everything the upstairs bathroom wishes it could be.
  21. quaint
    attractively old-fashioned
    The lack of customers ensures that this quaint little haven remains perpetually empty, but the owners keep it fully stocked with expensive toilet paper and air freshener, “just in case.”
  22. perpetually
    everlastingly; for all time
    The lack of customers ensures that this quaint little haven remains perpetually empty, but the owners keep it fully stocked with expensive toilet paper and air freshener, “just in case.”
  23. aback
    by surprise
    I nodded, taken aback by his tone.
  24. stoicism
    an indifference to pleasure or pain
    Dolores examines the photos with brave stoicism.
  25. rueful
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow
    She gives a rueful smile at the woman’s naïvety.
Created on Fri Mar 14 05:53:27 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Mar 17 09:19:23 EDT 2025)

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