When Shirley comes to America in In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, all she's got is her parents, and she's pretty stinking lonely because of this. As she eventually gets used to American language and cultural habits, though, Shirley feels less isolated, assimilating a bit and getting some friends her own age, like Mabel and Emily, who teach her all about being a kid in America. Her loneliness falls away quickly at this point, as she feels closer to her classmates, neighbors, and even Jackie Robinson.
Questions About Isolation
- What makes someone isolated? Is isolation just in relation to people?
- What does Shirley miss most about China? Why?
- How do Shirley's parents inadvertently encourage her loneliness?
- How do Mabel and Emily help alleviate Shirley's isolation?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Shirley experiences multiple kinds of isolation.
Shirley is never lonelier than when she first starts school.