Bette Bao Lord

I first learned of this book in a roundabout sort of way. There was a banner in my library with children's book illustrations on it, and I could identify all the images except two. After some detective work on the BookCrossing forum, I learned that the image came from this book. A kind BookCrosser even sent me a copy, but it took me a while to read it.

I'm not a huge baseball fan, nor am I an immigrant. But I could still relate to this character's feelings of being an outsider and needing show more something to be excited about. It was wonderful watching Shirley Temple Wong adapt to a completely new culture and way of doing things, learn English, make friends, create new opportunities for her parents, find her place at school, and fall in love with baseball and the spectacular rookie Jackie Robinson. When she gets to meet him at the end of the year, I was thrilled. The idea of race and culture is dealt with so easily and honestly in this book from a kid's perspective. And when Jackie Robinson tells her that one day a woman would be president, I shed a few tears.

Pop Sugar Reading Challenge: A book set around a holiday other than Christmas show less

I loved how this story was told through the viewpoint of a young Chinese immigrant. It gave me a better understanding of how someone might feel moving to new country with a completely different language and culture. Shirley’s adjustment was often humorous, making this a fun book to read. I also liked that the book explained some of Chinese culture. When Shirley’s family learned that she would be moving to America, Shirley desperately wanted to know what was going on but knew she could show more not ask because it is not appropriate for children to ask questions in China. The message of this book is learning to adjust to new environments. show less

Just so you know, Jackie Robinson may be in the title of this book, but it's not really about the desegregation of baseball. It's mostly about what it's like to move to a completely foreign country as a child. The main character of this book (whose name is hilarious, but I won't give it away here) is so cute and your heart just goes right out to her. I was especially sympathetic to the parts where she's laughed at because in my brief experience as a stranger in a strange land I was laughed show more at a whole lot (and I didn't take it as well as the little girl in this book).

This book is more light and charming than some other books that tackle the subject of the immigrant experience. It's pretty much free of violence and racism, focusing instead on the everyday challenges of learning a new language and making new friends while staying true to your roots. show less

When I heard this book being described as "a Chinese Gone with the Wind," I simply couldn't resist.

Spring Moon is a strong, intelligent girl growing up in a time and place where girls weren't encouraged to be either. Due to her uncle's (the patriarch of the family) insistence, she is taught how to read and becomes educated, while the rest of her relatives would prefer to see her simply married off into a good family. When he learns that Spring Moon is to be married to a boy he finds show more unacceptable, her uncle intervenes on her behalf and makes it his mission to find her a better match. With Eldest Uncle acting as her advocate, her life becomes much more enriched than it would have been without his help. She grows into a woman steeped in her culture's tradition of honour and respect, but unafraid to speak up and express her thoughts.

Spring Moon does have a lot in common with Scarlett O'Hara. Their families are both torn apart by war, in Spring Moon's case forced to separate in order to survive. She also has to live with a forbidden love, although for very different reasons than Scarlett's. She's forced to face great loss and many hardships, which serve to strengthen her character... and make her story truly enthralling. Although much of her life is filled with sadness, you never doubt for a moment that she will endure, and live to see five generations under one roof, as predicted. show less