Scarlet Discovers True Strength (17 page)

Cycle of Life:
A Starling's life span. When Starlings die, they are said to have “completed their Cycle of Life.”

Druderwomp:
An edible barrel-like
bush capable of pulling up its own roots and rolling like a tumbleweed, then planting itself again.

Floozel:
The
Starland equivalent of a Wishworld mile.

Flutterfocus:
A Starland creature similar to a Wishworld butterfly but with illuminated wings.

Galliope:
A sparkly Starland creature similar to a Wishworld horse.

Garble greens:
A Starland vegetable similar to spinach.

Glitterbees:
Blue-and-orange-striped bugs that pollinate Starland flowers and produce a sweet substance called gossamer.

Globerbeem:
Large, f
riendly lightning bug–type insects
that are sparkly and lay eggs.

Glorange:
A glowing orange fruit. Its juice is often enjoyed at breakfast time.

Glowfur:
A small, furry Starland creature with gossamer wings that eats flowers and glows.

Glowsow:
A large farm animal that is prized for the light it emits at night—perfect for working after dark.

Good Wish Orbs:
Orbs that are the result of positive wishes made on Wishworld. They are planted in Wish-Houses.

Green globules:
Green pellets that are fed to pet glowfurs. They don't taste very good to Starlings.

Halo Hall:
The building where Starling Academy classes are held.

Halo-harp:
A melodious stringed instrument played by striking its strings with a small mallet.

Holo-text:
A message sent or received on a Star-Zap and projected into the air. There are also holo-albums,
holo-billboards
,
holo-books
,
holo-cards
,
holo-communications
, holo-diaries,
holo-flyers
, holo-letters, holo-papers,
holo-pictures, and holo–place cards
. Anything that would be made of paper or contain writing or images on Wishworld is a hologram on Starland.

Hydrong:
The equivalent of a Wishworld hundred.

Illumination Library:
The impressive library at Starling Academy.

Impossible Wish Orbs:
Orbs that are the result of wishes made on Wishworld that are beyond the power of Starlings to grant.

Isle of Misera:
A barren rocky island off the coast of New Prism.

Kaleidoscope tree:
A rare and beautiful tree whose blossoms continuously change color.

Keytar:
An instrument that is held like a guitar but has keys instead of strings.

Lightning Lounge:
A place on the Starling Academy campus where students relax and socialize.

Little Dipper Dormitory:
Where first- and second-year students live.

Luminous Lake:
A serene and lovely lake next to the Starling Academy campus.

Microjoule:
A tiny amount.

Mirror Mantra:
A saying specific to each Star Darling that when recited gives her (and her Wisher) reassurance and strength. When a Starling recites her Mirror Mantra while looking in a mirror, she will see her true appearance reflected.

Moonium:
An amount similar to a Wishworld million.

Old Prism:
A medium-sized historical city about an hour from Starling Academy.

Power Crystal:
The powerful stone that each Star Darling receives once she has granted her first wish.

Shooting stars:
Speeding stars that Starlings can latch on to and ride to Wishworld.

Shortsnip:
A tiny unit of measurement, generally referring to distance.

Silver Blossom:
The final manifestation of a Good Wish Orb. This glimmering metallic bloom is placed in the Hall of Granted Wishes.

Solar Springs:
A hilly small town in the countryside where Tessa and Gemma are from.

Sparkle shower:
An energy shower Starlings take every day to get clean and refresh their sparkling glow.

Star ball:
An intramural sport that shares similarities with soccer on Wishworld. But star ball players use energy manipulation to control the ball.

Starcar:
The primary mode of transportation for most Starlings. These ultrasafe vehicles drive themselves on cushions of wish energy.

Star Caves:
The caverns underneath Starling Academy where the Star Darlings
' secret
Wish-Cavern is located.

Starf!:
A Starling expression of dismay.

Star flash:
News bulletin, often used starcastically.

Starland City:
The largest city on Starland, also its capital.

Starlicious:
Tasty, delicious.

Starlings:
The glowing beings with sparkly skin who live on Starland.

Star Quad:
The center of the Starling Academy campus. The dancing fountain, band shell, and hedge maze are located here.

Star salutations:
The Starling way to say “thank you.”

Staryear:
A period of 365 days on Starland, the equivalent of a Wishworld year.

Star-Zap:
The ultimate smartphone that Starlings use for all communications. It has myriad features.

Stellation:
The point of a star. Halo Hall has five stellations, each housing a different department.

Supernova:
A stellar explosion. Also used colloquially, meaning “really angry,” as in “She went supernova when she found out the bad news.”

Time of Applying:
The very busy time of year when Starlings work on and send out applications to schools.

Time of Letting Go:
One of the four seasons on Starland. It falls between the warmest season and the coldest, similar to fall on Wishworld.

Time of Lumiere:
The warmest season on Starland, similar to summer on Wishworld.

Time of Shadows:
The coldest season of the year on Starland, similar to winter on Wishworld.

Toothlight:
A high-tech gadget that Starlings use to clean their teeth.

Wish Blossom:
The bloom that appears from a Wish Orb after its wish is granted.

Wish energy:
The positive energy that is released when a wish is granted. Wish energy powers everything on Starland.

Wisher:
The Wishling who has made the wish that is being granted.

Wish-Granters:
Starlings whose job is to travel down to Wishworld to help make wishes come true and collect wish energy.

Wish-House:
The place where Wish Orbs are planted and cared for until they sparkle. Once the orb's wish is granted, it becomes a Wish Blossom.

Wishlings:
The inhabitants of Wishworld.

Wish Mission:
The task a Starling undertakes when she travels to Wishworld to help grant a wish.

Wish Orb:
The form a wish takes on Wishworld before traveling to Starland. There it will grow and sparkle when it's time to grant the wish.

Wish Pendant:
A gadget that absorbs and transports wish energy, helps Starlings locate their Wishers, and changes a Starling's appearance. Each Wish Pendant holds a different special power for its Star Darling.

Wishworld:
The planet Starland relies on for wish energy. The beings on Wishworld know it by another name—Earth.

Wishworld Outfit Selector:
A program on each Star-Zap that accesses Wishworld fashions for Starlings to wear to blend in on their Wish Missions.

Wishworld Surveillance Deck:
Located high above the campus, it is where Starling Academy students go to observe Wishlings through high-powered telescopes.

Zing:
A traditional Starling breakfast drink. It can be enjoyed hot or iced.

It is impossible
to list all of our gratitude, but we will try.

Our most precious gift and greatest teacher, Halo; we love you more than there are stars in the sky…punashaku. To the rest of our crazy, awesome, unique tribe—thank you for teaching us to go for our dreams. Integrity. Strength. Love. Foundation. Family. Grateful. Mimi Muldoon—from your star doodling to naming our Star Darlings, your artistry, unconditional love, and inspiration is infinite. Didi Muldoon—your belief and support in us is only matched by your fierce protection and massive-hearted guidance. Gail. Queen G. Your business sense and witchy wisdom are legendary. Frank—you are missed and we know you are watching over us all. Along with Tutu, Nana, and Deda, who are always present, gently guiding us in spirit. To our colorful, totally genius, and bananas siblings—Patrick, Moon, Diva, and Dweezil—there is more creativity and humor in those four names than most people experience in a lifetime. Blessed. To our magical nieces—Mathilda, Zola, Ceylon, and Mia—the Star Darlings adore you and so do we. Our witchy cuzzie fairy godmothers—Ane and Gina. Our fairy fashion godfather, Paris. Our sweet Panay. Teeta and Freddy—we love you all so much. And our four-legged fur babies—Sandwich, Luna, Figgy, and Pinky Star.

The incredible Barry Waldo, our SD partner. Sent to us from above in perfect timing. Your expertise and friendship are beyond words. We love you and Gary to the moon and back. Long live the manifestation room!

Catherine Daly—the stars shined brightly upon us the day we aligned with you. Your talent and inspiration are otherworldly; our appreciation cannot be expressed in words. Many heartfelt hugs for you and the adorable Oonagh.

To our beloved Disney family. Thank you for believing in us. Wendy Lefkon, our master guide and friend through this entire journey. Stephanie Lurie, for being the first to believe in Star Darlings. Suzanne Murphy, who helped every step of the way. Jeanne Mosure, we fell in love with you the first time we met, and Star Darlings wouldn't be what it is without you. Andrew Sugerman, thank you so much for all your support.

Our team…Devon (pony pants) and our Monsterfoot crew—so grateful. Richard Scheltinga—our angel and protector. Chris Abramson—thank you! Special appreciation to Richard Thompson, John LaViolette, Swanna, Mario, and Sam.

To our friends old and new—we are so grateful to be on this rad journey that is life with you all. Fay. Jorja. Chandra. Sananda. Sandy. Kathryn. Louise. What wisdom and strength you share. Ruth, Mike, and the rest of our magical Wagon Wheel bunch—how lucky we are. How inspiring you are. We love you.

Last—we have immeasurable gratitude for every person we've met along our journey, for all the good and the bad; it is all a gift. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for touching our lives.