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Nancy Keane's | Booktalks -- Quick and Simple | |
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Lord,
Bette.
IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR AND JACKIE ROBINSON New York : HarperCollins, 1984 IL 3-6, RL 3.8 ISBN 0060240040 |
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10
year old Sixth Cousin emigrates from China to Brooklyn, New York in 1947
to live with her mother and father. She changes her name to Shirley Temple
Wong and the story follows her as she adapts to life in America and tries
to gain acceptance among her peers while also maintaining her Chinese traditions.
Children enjoy the many humorous interactions such as Shirley Temple's
confused translation of the Pledge of Allegiance, her frustration at teacher
compliments, and her infatuation with baseball. The high point of the story
is when Shirley Temple Wong gets to meet the African-American baseball
player Jackie Robinson and the realization that America, like baseball,
is a place where all people can come together.
Many students leave the comfort and security of their 'home' nation to immigrate to America. This story is a great way to encourage personal connections to the text and provides a glimpse into Chinese culture and the atmosphere of the United States in 1947. Children are encouraged to examine the symbolism throughout the story and reflect on the similarities between the game of baseball and America. (Jason Coffield, mrcoffield@msn.com, teacher) |
| SUBJECTS:
Chinese Americans -- Fiction.
Moving, Household -- Fiction. Schools -- Fiction. Historical fiction. |
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