Leona''s Unlucky Mission (17 page)

Big Dipper Dormitory:
Where third- and fourth-year students live.

Blushbelle:
A pink flower with a sweetly spicy scent. Libby's favorite flower.

Bot-Bot:
A Starland robot. There are Bot-Bot guards, waiters, deliverers, and guides on Starland.

Bright Day:
The date a Starling is born, celebrated each year like Wishling birthdays.

Celestial Café:
Starling Academy's outstanding cafeteria.

Cosmic Transporter:
The moving sidewalk system that transports students through dorms and across the Starling Academy campus.

Countdown Clock:
A timing device on a Starling's Star-Zap. It lets them know how much time is left on a Wish Mission, which coincides with when the Wish Orb will fade.

Crystal Mountains:
The most beautiful mountains on Starland. They are located across the lake from Starling Academy.

Cyber Journal:
Where the Star Darlings record their Wishworld observations.

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

Flairfield:
Leona's hometown. This pleasant, sleepy little town has a population of 30,000 and a charming downtown area.

Flash Vertical Mover:
A mode of transportation similar to a Wishling elevator, only superfast.

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

Galactical:
Having a negative overreaction.

Gamma chip clusters:
A crunchy, sweet, and salty snack.

Garble greens:
A Starland vegetable similar to spinach.

Glimmerworm:
The larval stage of the glimmerbug. It spins a beautiful sparkly cocoon from its silk. Empty cocoons are used to create fine textiles.

Glion:
A gentle Starland creature similar in appearance to a Wishworld lion, but with a multicolored glowing mane.

Globerbeem:
Large, friendly lightning bug–type insects that lay eggs.

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

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

Holo–letter:
A letter from one Starling to another that is a hologram. There are also holo-billboards, holo-books, holo-cards, holo-communications, holo-diaries, holo-flyers, holo-papers, holo-pictures, and holo-placecards—anything that would be made of paper or contains writing or images on Wishworld is a hologram on Starland.

Holo-phone:
A Starland game—much like the Wishworld game Telephone—in which a phrase is passed from one Starling to another and the last Starling says it out loud. The final message is often markedly different from the initial one, much to everyone's amusement.

Hydrong:
The equivalent of a Wishworld hundred.

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

Lightfall:
The time of day when the sun begins to set and everything on Starland glows its brightest.

Lightning Lounge:
The place where students relax and socialize.

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

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.

Moonfeather:
A material commonly used for stuffing pillows, coats, and toys. It is harvested from the moonfeather bush.

Moonium:
An amount similar to the Wishworld million.

Moonmoth:
Large glowing creatures attracted to light like Wishworld moths.

Moon shot:
A very slight possibility.

Mustardia:
A plant whose bright yellow blossoms are often pureed and used in savory sauces.

Old Prism:
One of Starland's original settlements. Filled with beautiful buildings that once housed Starland's founding mothers, it's a place with a lot of civic pride and a rich history. It has become a folksy tourist destination by day, but at night it's a sleepy little town. Cassie's hometown.

Ozziefruit:
Sweet plum-sized indigo fruit that grows on pink-leaved trees. It is usually eaten raw or cooked into pies. Starling Academy has an ozziefruit orchard.

Ranker:
A small machine that judges competitions and picks the winners. Its unbiased program eliminates favoritism.

Safety starglasses:
Worn by Starlings to protect their eyes when close to a shooting star.

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

Solar flare:
A mean look designed to intimidate.

Solar metal:
A common, inexpensive kind of metal.

StarBook:
A cyber hangout where Starlings post pictures and opinions.

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

Starf!:
A Starling expression of dismay.

Starjade:
A smooth green semiprecious stone.

Starkin:
The Starling word for siblings.

Starland:
The irregularly shaped world where Starlings live. It is veiled by a bright yellow glow that from a distance makes it look like a star.

Starland City:
The largest city on Starland, also its capital. Sage, Libby, and Adora's hometown.

Starlicious:
Tasty, delicious.

Starlight:
An expression used to mean public attention. When all eyes are on a Starling, she is said to be “in the starlight.”

Starling Academy:
The most prestigious all-girl four-year boarding school for wish granting on Starland.

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

Star marble:
An extra-luminescent natural stone used for walls and floors.

Starmin:
Sixty starsecs (or seconds) on Starland; the equivalent of a Wishworld minute.

Star Quad:
The central outdoor part of the Starling Academy campus.

Star salutations:
A Starling expression of thanks.

Stars crossed:
An expression meaning “hoping for a favorable outcome.” Similar to the Wishworld expression “fingers crossed.”

Starsec:
A brief period of time, similar to a Wishworld second.

Starweed:
A plant with thin emerald-green leaves, often eaten cooked in soups or raw in salads.

Star Wranglers:
Starlings whose job is to lasso a shooting star, to transport Starlings to Wishworld.

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

Sunspots:
Starling expression of dismay.

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.

Wish energy manipulation:
The ability to mentally harness wish energy to perform physical acts, like turning off lights, closing doors, etc.

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

Wish-House:
The place where Wish Orbs are planted and cared for until they sparkle.

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. 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.

Wish-Watcher:
A Starling whose job is to observe the Good Wish Orbs until they glow, indicating that they are ready to be granted.

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.

Wormholes:
Starling expression of dismay.

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

Zoomberry:
Small, sweetly tart berries that grow in abundance on Starland.

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 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.