How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. (1)
For a story about a strained relationship, things start out on a positive note. Mom tells Waverly how to be strong, a tool Waverly clearly uses in chess and in the rest of her life. We might see this opening as tempering the harsher stuff Waverly's mom puts her through later on, but it might also suggest that the conflict with Waverly's mom isn't as clear-cut as it seems—Waverly gains things from her mom's harsh ways, too.
Quote #2
My mother imparted her daily truths so she could help my older brothers and me rise above our circumstances. (3)
Again Tan muddies the waters early on when it comes to Mom, setting us up to understand that she's trying to help her kids. By putting this at the beginning—before Mom really starts getting under everyone's skin—we are able to trust that Waverly's mother has good intentions.
Quote #3
My family called me Meimei, "Little Sister." (9)
Waverly's nickname has a specific family meaning, connecting her to her brothers and parents. This is important because it binds her identity to her family—and it's only more important since her official name is Waverly Place, a.k.a. the street they live on. Both on official documents and in family conversation, then, Waverly's identity is constantly bound to her family and their home.
Quote #4
"Let me! Let me!" I begged between games when one brother or the other would sit back with a deep sigh of relief and victory, the other annoyed, unable to let go of the outcome. (18)
Waverly's love of chess starts out as a family thing: She's interested in what her brothers are doing and she wants in. And of course, once her mom realizes she's good at it, chess only becomes more of a family affair.
Quote #5
She sat proudly on the bench, telling my admirers with proper Chinese humility, "Is luck." (34)
Waverly might call it "Chinese humility," but what's happening is that her mom is putting down her skills. And Waverly's mom does this a lot, disguising passive aggressive put-downs as humility.
Quote #6
My mother placed my first trophy next to a new plastic chess set that the neighborhood Tao society had given to me. As she wiped each piece with a soft cloth, she said, "Next time win more, lose less." (41)
Mom actually takes pride in what her daughter's doing, but at the same time she can't resist stinging her kid, too. Here Waverly's winning, but she's not winning enough. This relentlessness from her mom—her inability to let her daughter enjoy her accomplishments—eventually undoes their relationship.
Quote #7
That's when my mother decided I no longer had to do the dishes. Winston and Vincent had to do my chores. (46)
Gee Mom, we're certainly not playing favorites here, are we?
Quote #8
My mother had a habit of standing over me while I plotted out my games. I think she thought of herself as my protective ally. Her lips would be sealed tight, and after each move I made, a soft "Hmmmmph" would escape from her nose. (52)
Waverly's mom ends up crushing her daughter through micromanaging, endlessly demanding that she do better and never letting her enjoy the fruits of her labor. Here we see this in action. Mom hovers, making disapproving sounds and generally making it impossible for Waverly to do her thing. Again Waverly colors it with some "best intentions" comments, but it's very clear that their relationship is growing tense.
Quote #9
My mother would proudly walk with me, visiting many shops, buying very little. "This my daughter Wave-ly Jong," she said to whoever looked her way. (54)
This is the breaking point for Waverly, when she finally has enough of what her Mom's up to. First she wants to throw the chess set away, then she tells everyone Waverly wins through luck, then she tells Waverly she's not winning enough, then she takes her out and parades her around like a show pony. And the kid's resentful for some reason? Wow…
Quote #10
Everything below me disappeared and I was alone. (69)
It's funny how Waverly's final dream of escape leaves her alone, with no family around her. Is this what she really wants? Or is it something she's afraid of? Hard to say, since the story ends in the next sentence, but clearly Waverly is thinking about her connection to her family here.