How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Oh?" said the older girl. "You are always imagining things! Remember the time you told everyone there was a goldfish swimming in the bamboo trees? It was only a fallen kite. Remember the time you overheard the cook plotting to murder the washerwoman? He was only sharpening his cleaver to kill a hen." Bandit scowled as she scattered the dried lima beans. That was then. Now is now! (1.6-7)
Shirley's best friend in China is Fourth Cousin. Shirley (or Bandit, as she is known there), thinks something's up at the Wong family house. Like a good best friend, Fourth Cousin mocks her little cousin. Their relationship is easy—there's a shared history that you can't pick up overnight with new friends.
Quote #2
Shirley was certain they should not be there, but what choice did she have? These were now her friends. (3.27)
When the kids at school invite Shirley along to go to Mr. P's for lunch, she's pretty sure that they're not supposed to be going off-campus. She does it anyway (peer pressure alert), though, because she assumes these kids are her friends. They don't say much to her, but she's desperate to bond with anyone at her new school.
Quote #3
True, she was a coward. Those who broke the rules to go to Mr. P's no longer bothered with her. True, she was stupid. Too stupid to know the difference between a wink and a tic until Father explained.
But still—didn't they know how lonely she felt? (4.1-2)
After a month at school, Shirley hasn't made any friends. The kids who invited her to lunch on her first day haven't reached out to her since, but though she blames herself, it's not really her fault. It's not like she did something wrong. She's just a lonely girl and needs some companionship—fast.
Quote #4
His face was pure white, as if his mother had powdered her baby on the wrong end. But to Shirley, at this moment, he was the handsomest boy in all of Brooklyn. (4.11)
Joseph isn't the cutest boy, which Shirley notes to herself, but who cares about looks? He reaches out to her and invites her to play stickball. In her mind, trying to befriend her makes him pretty darn adorable.
Quote #5
She laughed along when someone missed. She cheered along when someone scored. Always a second too late, a second too long. Yet none of the gang noticed. They seemed not to see her at all. (4.19)
After playing pretty poorly in stickball, Shirley tries to join the larger group, but though she does what they do, no one pays any attention to her. They are excluding the new girl, not bringing her into their circle. It's like Shirley doesn't exist to them. Poor kid.
Quote #6
At home, she locked herself in the bathroom. Tiptoe on the toilet seat, she peered into the mirror, trying to blow bubbles with her Juicy Fruit gum. Even the first graders blew bubbles as big as full moons. Hers were no bigger than a button. Jaws aching, she tried again and again. She had to do something right. Had to. (4.20)
In another attempt to fit in, Shirley tries to make herself more like the other kids. She wants to learn to blow a bubble like the other students, but so far her efforts aren't working. The more she tries to make herself like other kids, the more Shirley doesn't appreciate her own differences. After all, they are what make her special.
Quote #7
Soon they would meet in the cafeteria. For once, she could speak fluently, not like an idiot. This time others, not Shirley, would feel left out. (4.59)
When Shirley thinks there's another Chinese girl at P.S. 8, she's super-excited—for the first time, she won't feel like the odd one out, and instead everyone else will feel left out. She's so psyched to have someone like her there, which shows just how much she wants to bond with someone. Poor Shirley—she gets really let down when the girl actually isn't Chinese.
Quote #8
When school was over, the skies had cleared and the walks were dry. Only the leaves, shined to a tender green, gave a clue to the shower that had passed over Brooklyn. (5.52)
Mabel approaches Shirley in the rain after she doesn't tattle on her to the police. She's got a peace offering for Shirley, and they become pals. Finally Shirley has a friend. Yay. When the rain is over, the storm and fight between Shirley and Mabel is symbolically cleared up, too. It's a nice day in Brooklyn for all.
Quote #9
And yes, of course, naturally, stickball was now her favorite game. (5.105)
When Mabel invites Shirley to play stickball, Shirley doesn't do too well. That doesn't matter, though, since it's all about the fun of the game. She's so happy to be included that she'll do whatever it takes, including learning up on the game, to make friends. Good for you, Shirley.
Quote #10
Joseph came huffing. "Hey, wait up!" He had gotten even rounder. Maria offered them a fistful of Double Bubble gun. Even Irvie sort of waved from across the street. (9.30)
When school returns in September, Shirley's worried that all the hard work she put in to making friends will be moot, that maybe everyone's forgotten her over the summer. But everything's just fine. All her pals are just like they were when she left school, and they're eager to catch up with their friend Shirley, who's become one of the gang.