In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson Language and Communication Quotes

Shirley's first encounter with a strange American sets the tone for her future failures at communicating with her peers. She can't make this strange man understand what she needs and only after great effort can she eke out a purchase; then, she can't find her way home. The young optimist thinks she's more prepared than she actually is to take on the American world, but she has a lot to learn.

On her first day at school, Shirley couldn't understand why the principal blinked at her. She assumed it was the right thing to do, so she did it over and over again until Mrs. Rappaport thinks she's sick. Shirley intended to communicate her desire to make friends and become part of the community, but instead just confused her teacher.

Once again, Shirley tries to fit in with her class by reciting what she thinks is a poem like those her classmates have been assigned to speak. She doesn't understand what the task is, however, because she doesn't know what the words she's saying mean. As it turns out, Shirley recites a dialogue between cartoon characters instead of a serious poem, which causes her great embarrassment and makes her feel even more isolated than before.

Perhaps for the first time, Shirley is on the same communication wavelength with someone in America. This time, she's done so through the language of music. After a trial and error process, she figures out how to play the correct notes that the Señora and her bird require, and Shirley and the Señora begin to vibe together. They're in harmony, literally, and Shirley understands what she has to do.

Thanks to ex-bully Mabel, Shirley gets invited to play stickball. And even though she doesn't know what statements like "Go home" mean in the context of the sport, she understands the basic gestures others are encouraging her to do. Thanks to Shirley, the team scores a run and Shirley feels accepted. The universal language of sports has helped her make friends and feel connected.

Shirley botches the Pledge of Allegiance, but no one makes fun of her. She says it in unison with everyone else, so Shirley's become one of the group, which is also clear when the chapter opens with a description of Shirley in the midst of her classmates. She at least has some English words down, even if she doesn't realize what she's saying, and is repeating the ritualized act her friends are doing.

Shirley's started adapting even more to American culture, so much so that she's picked up important slang. From Mrs. Rodriguez, Shirley has learned both the meaning and the proper context for the use of the Spanish word "loco" to refer to her father's behavior. Not only has she begun to assimilate into American culture by picking up English words, she's also picked up words from other languages.

What's something that's universal across cultures? The necessity of not backing down to a bully and not ratting out another kid when you're in grade school. Shirley learns this when she is confronted by Mabel, the largest girl in her grade. She gets beaten up, but doesn't rat Mabel out, which earns her the girl's friendship. By following precepts used by both Chinese and American kids, Shirley earns an entry into stickball—she doesn't need to know English to know how kids act the world over.

As Shirley grows accustomed to American ways, English becomes her default language, so much so that she uses American words when speaking Chinese with her parents. Shirley's mother wants to make sure her daughter remains Chinese, though, that she doesn't acclimate entirely and lose her Chinese self. Shirley can't help it, though—she's becoming more and more American, and while she maintains her Chinese identity, her improved use of English symbolizes her adaptation.

Shirley's new nickname epitomizes the beginning of her acclimatization into American culture. She receives the nickname of her classmates' biggest hero. As she begins to understand what Jackie Robinson means to both Americans in general and her classmates specifically, Shirley realizes how those two words—"Jackie Robinson"—also epitomize how she is part of the American Dream.