Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- By the end of the book, is Shirley American or is she still Chinese? Can she be both? What makes someone an American?
- Why is Jackie Robinson the perfect hero for Shirley to model herself after?
- How is Shirley's journey the epitome of the American Dream?
- How would you characterize Shirley's growth from the beginning to the end of the novel? Is it personal? Physical? Geographical? All?
- How does Shirley manage to hold onto her past while creating a future in America?
- How does Shirley make friends? What kinds of friends does she make? What do the different people she bonds with symbolize?