How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Ma, what is Chinese torture?" (10)
Waverly's causing mischief here as her mother braids her hair, but this little jab also highlights the cultural differences that already exist between mother and daughter. Her mother's status as a person born in China is something Waverly can use against her.
Quote #2
"Chinese people do business, do medicine, do painting. Not lazy like American people. We do torture. Best torture." (12)
And here we get Waverly's mom's response to her question about Chinese torture. From where she's sitting, better to be Chinese than "lazy like American people." Burn.
Quote #3
I was seven according to the American formula and eight by the Chinese calendar. I said I was born on March 17, 1951. (13)
This is pretty clever, right? Waverly figures out how to express her age in a way that satisfies both cultures she's a part of. This lets us know that Waverly's balancing between the two cultures and, at least when it comes to birthdays, has found a way to walk that line just fine.
Quote #4
I think the only children who thought he was the real thing were too young to know that Santa Claus was not Chinese. (13)
Looks like Santa isn't crossing the boundary between Chinese and American cultures nearly as elegantly as Waverly does. He's awkward and cheap and not fooling anybody with that beard… at least according to Waverly. What do you make of her assessment that Santa can't be Chinese?
Quote #5
"This American rules," she concluded at last. "Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad, go back. They not telling you why so you can use their way go forward. They say, Don't know why, you find out yourself. But they knowing all the time. Better you take it, find out why yourself." (24)
Waverly's mom claims that these are "American" rules, even though the rules for chess are universal. It's really one big metaphor for Mom's immigrant experience, though—figure out how things work in America on your own, or you're out.
Quote #6
I turned to my opponent, a fifteen-year-old boy from Oakland. He looked at me, wrinkling his nose. (37)
Why's he wrinkling his nose? Does he think the little Chinese girl is beneath him? He's got another think coming…
Quote #7
"Why does she get to play and we do all the work," complained Vincent. "Is new American rules," said my mother. (47)
It's interesting that Mom "others" Waverly's brothers here by claiming that the new chore arrangement is somehow an American rule. She puts herself and Waverly on the inside of American culture, casting Waverly's brothers to the outside. Plus her American rule seems pretty unfair, though this may be the point. Maybe from where Mom's sitting, America simply isn't fair.
Quote #8
I was touted as the Great American Hope, a child prodigy and a girl to boot. (48)
This quote comes a couple of paragraphs after Waverly is proclaimed "Chinatown Chess Champion." Interestingly, her success locally seems to place a burden on her to represent the entire neighborhood. She's like the ambassador for Chinatown.
Quote #9
Seated across from me was an American man, about the same age as Lau Po, maybe fifty. I remember that his sweaty brow seemed to weep at my every move. He wore a dark, malodorous suit. One of his pockets was stuffed with a great white kerchief on which he wiped his palm before sweeping his hand over the chosen chess piece with great flourish. (49)
While the Chinese Lau Po is a teacher, this American is an obstacle. Once again, we see Waverly with feet in different worlds, and here it looks like the American side is pretty freaking daunting.