How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Bandit felt as if she had been summoned by an irate emperor. This time the punishment would be more than harsh words or three strokes of a bamboo cane. Much more. But she had to obey. No one ever disobeyed the Matriarch. (1.43)
While at home in China, Bandit (soon to be known as Shirley) follows her family's traditions strictly. This is a pain in the butt, especially when it comes to crime and punishment—her grandma rules supreme, and always punishes her grandkids, sometimes harshly. But Shirley's got to listen to her since that's just what you do in her family.
Quote #2
The final day of the Year of the Dog lasted until dawn. No one slept. Not even Precious Coins. for tradition had long decreed that a bad dream on any New Year's Eve was an omen of bad tomorrows. To make sure no one had a nightmare, all the beds in the House of Wong stood empty until the skies were lit by the dawn and danger passed. (1.78)
Some Chinese customs are designed to avert ill luck. For example, no one sleeps during the last day before the New Year so that they don't have unlucky dreams. This must have worked, since Shirley had a great year in America in 1947.
Quote #3
"Where is the cook?" Mother asked.
This time Father's crooked smile was even more crooked than usual. "In America, all cooks work in restaurants." (2.58-59)
Shirley's mother is used to the ways of a wealthy Chinese family, which involves having a cook make all of the meals for you. Not so fast, Father says—in America, the customs are different. Traditions and customs vary from culture to culture, country to country, family to family. Mother's going to have to adapt and make some of her own meals, since she's in a place with customs that are different from what she's used to.
Quote #4
"But the principal has explained that in America everyone is assigned according to age. Ten years old means fifth grade. And we must observe the American rules, mustn't we?" (3.11)
Americans have the custom of putting kids in grades depending on their age. Shirley has only finished three grades in China, but she's in a new place so she's got to adapt whether or not she likes it, and live by other people's rules.
Quote #5
Suddenly the principal shut one eye, the right one, then opened it again.
Was this another foreign custom, like shaking hands? It must be proper if a principal does it, Shirley thought. She ought to return the gesture, but she didn't know how. So she shut and opened both eyes. Twice. (3.17-18)
It's hard to figure out other people's body language. Shirley can't figure out what a wink from the principal means (the principal probably just meant it as encouragement). She wants to adhere to the customs of her new home, so she blinks back. This misunderstanding is well-intentioned, but the gesture is technically used incorrectly. Shirley will figure it out, though, as she lives and learns.
Quote #6
"Hi, Shirley!" the class shouted.
Shirley bowed deeply. Then, taking a guess, she replied, "Hi!" (3.24)
It's custom versus custom. The American kids at P.S. 8 greet Shirley with a typical "hi," their usual way of welcoming someone. Shirley does the same, but also adds in her own culture's traditional greeting—a bow. She's trying from the beginning to integrate herself into her new home's cultural practices.
Quote #7
With hands over hearts, the class performed the ritual that ushered in another day at school.
Shirley's voice was lost in the chorus. (6.3-4)
Shirley has started practicing American customs, including reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In doing so, she swears loyalty to her new home. There's no mention of China here—Shirley looks like an all-American kid.
Quote #8
Mabel's picture was something to see. First, hiding the ball, she gave the stick the evil eye. Then, twisting her torso and jiggling a leg, she whirled her arm around in a most impressive fashion, probably a ritual to shoo away any unfriendly spirits, before speeding the ball furiously into the hands of squatting Joseph. (5.85)
Shirley interprets her new friend Mabel's actions in light of her own traditions. When Mabel winds up to pitch, she does some funny motions—and Shirley assumes that she must be warding off bad spirits in order to complete a favorable pitch. In reality, Mabel is probably practicing her own lucky rituals, but in her own fashion.
Quote #9
Shirley blushed. She could not get used to the American custom of receiving compliments with a simple thank you. It seemed so… impolite. But the Chinese way only confused people. (5.4)
Even something as simple as responding to a compliment differs from culture to culture. The Americans just say thanks, but the Chinese do it differently. Navigating between these different customs tears Shirley apart—she wants to do the American thing, to fit in, but she can't just discard everything she always knew in China.
Quote #10
No one spoke. All knew they were thinking the same thoughts. How could they have left the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival slip by without realizing it? Americans did not commemorate the fullest moon of the year, but the Wongs had done so for centuries. (11.2)
As they become more Americanized, the Wongs leave behind some of their Chinese traditions. Because America doesn't celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Wongs forget about it until they got a wake-up call from the family's patriarch. By looking forward, they forgot what was behind them. Maybe the solution lies in a happy medium between the two.