Book Description:

Shirley Temple Wong sails from China to America with a heart full of dreams. Her new home is Brooklyn, New York. America is indeed a land full of wonders, but Shirley doesn't know any English, so it's hard to make friends. Then a miracle--baseball--happens. It is 1947, and Jackie Robinson, star of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is everyone's hero. Jackie Robinson is proving that a black man, the grandson of a slave, can make a difference in America. And for Shirley as well, on the ball field and off, America becomes the land of opportunity. This story was based largely on the days when she herself was a newcomer to America.

Found in the free book bin at McKay's Used Books & CD's in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

My mom gave this to me to read. I decided not to read it, so it's ready to travel.

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This book is starting out in the Teens Shrinking Bookbox.

I'm taking this book from the Teens Bookbox. I became interested in this one after it was the subject of a "name that book" question in the forums (see it here).

Later: Very enjoyable book - I wish it had been around when I was in grade school! Sixth Cousin, aka Bandit, is a young Chinese girl who enjoys life in her extended family's home, despite the strict protocols everyone must follow. But when her father, who's been working in the US, informs the family that his wife and daughter must join him there, Bandit's life changes completely.

There are tons of intriguing cultural notes in these early pages, describing life in a traditional family post-WWII, with such tantalizing touches as the fact that "Bandit" doesn't have an official name yet; upon the news of her departure to her new home, she's allowed to choose one, and she opts for "an American name" - but her first choice, the first American name she can think of, is "Uncle Sam," and her family suggests she find something else. So she becomes "Shirley Temple Wong", and steps into a new world...

I loved the mix of fish-out-of-water and brave-girl-in-a-new-world; the challenge of starting school in a place whose language and customs are completely alien must be immense, and while she does struggle with loneliness and miscommunication she remains very brave. When she eventually makes a friend, it's in dramatic fashion via a facedown battle with Mabel, the tough girl who leads the stickball team - resulting in two black eyes for Shirley, who gains Mabel's trust when she refuses to tell on her! (Modern-day values-dissonance occurs here, though in context it's clear that Mabel isn't out to bully our heroine - her team lost a game because of Shirley's accidental intrusion, and it was a frustrated outburst. But there have been so many instances of male heroes bonding after one beats the other up, I admit I was rather pleased to see a distaff version here {wry grin}.)

The book touches on the stresses of trying to live two different cultures at once, and with the more common ones of trying to make friends and navigate ordinary social situations. It's funny and charming, all the more so once Shirley is introduced to baseball and promptly becomes an ardent Dodgers fan, and includes little scenes that are just perfect: Shirley and new friend Emily studying anatomy pictures, for example, reminding me of my discovery (at roughly the same age that Shirley is here) of the anatomy illustrations in our Encyclopedia Britannica. And the book includes a real treat for Shirley at the very end, one that got me a bit misty...

I left this book in the wall rack of reading material for customers inside Christopher's Subs at around 5; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 4th Annual Becky's Hugs challenge in memory of Becky. ***

*** Released as part of the 2014 Backyard Bird Count challenge, for the embedded "robin" in the title. ***

*** Released as part of the Head Shoulders Knees Toes challenge, for the embedded "ear" in the title. ***