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raimalia's review against another edition
5.0
Started thinking about this book because I've had trouble getting myself to sit down and read lately. It was my favorite book as a kid. I remember my study period in middle school was about 20 minutes long and I'd see how many pages I could read in that time. The first day it was around 20, the second around 40, and I finished it by the third day at home.
This is the first book I've ever actually re-read. It's a really interesting experience. As I read, I would remember exactly what I was thinking as a kid over a decade ago. On top of that, I was surprised by how much of the book I actually remembered. Colorful illustrations of China paired with the nostalgia of a period I didn't live through really make a mark on a kid, I guess?
Anyways, I didn't really want to review this book. Just wanted to say that if you know a kid in grade/middle school, it's a good choice for them. Especially for the immigrant kids out there.
This is the first book I've ever actually re-read. It's a really interesting experience. As I read, I would remember exactly what I was thinking as a kid over a decade ago. On top of that, I was surprised by how much of the book I actually remembered. Colorful illustrations of China paired with the nostalgia of a period I didn't live through really make a mark on a kid, I guess?
Anyways, I didn't really want to review this book. Just wanted to say that if you know a kid in grade/middle school, it's a good choice for them. Especially for the immigrant kids out there.
bittbee's review against another edition
5.0
I first got introduced to this book through a chapter in my 4th-grade reading book. The next time my mother took me to the book store, I found this one and read the entire thing the next day. What a delightful book. Plucky, baseball-obsessed Shirley remains one of my favorite characters from my childhood. Her pains, joys, triumphs, schemes, and worries all feel very real to a ten-year-old. Lord's writing style is delightful, her characters memorable, and her feel for the setting wonderful. Possibly my favorite part was how well she handled Shirley's balance between her heritage and new life--not surprising, since Lord went through the same thing!
alic59books's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eralon's review against another edition
3.0
My 3rd grader was assigned this book in school so I read it too. The author made some strange choices for a book for young children. I was surprised it was published in the 1980s, because it reads like it was published in the 1940s, the period of time it covers. This all somewhat complicated by the fact that the book is semi-autobiographical but for a children's book the out-of-date quality makes it seem like it should no longer be the go-to book for reading assignments.
1) The conversation regarding "negro" students was uncomfortable without providing enlightenment to young readers.
2) Shirley and her friend take a blood oath. While children have done that sort of thing forever- it's not great to have young readers pick up on this idea without adults explaining how dangerous this practice is.
3) Shirley and her friend look at a book of naked pictures and while Shirley's view is comical, I'm left wondering how my prepubescent 3rd grader will understand this scene.
There are many more examples of things that read poorly in 2019.
From the title you would assume this book would cover some important race or immigrant issues, but it sort of just drops in the issues without really resolving anything in a way that would be meaningful to children or even adults. A swing and a miss, to borrow the language of baseball.
1) The conversation regarding "negro" students was uncomfortable without providing enlightenment to young readers.
2) Shirley and her friend take a blood oath. While children have done that sort of thing forever- it's not great to have young readers pick up on this idea without adults explaining how dangerous this practice is.
3) Shirley and her friend look at a book of naked pictures and while Shirley's view is comical, I'm left wondering how my prepubescent 3rd grader will understand this scene.
There are many more examples of things that read poorly in 2019.
From the title you would assume this book would cover some important race or immigrant issues, but it sort of just drops in the issues without really resolving anything in a way that would be meaningful to children or even adults. A swing and a miss, to borrow the language of baseball.
sierracook14's review against another edition
2.0
this is a good book for children to read about cultural differences and what children from other countries feel when they do come here. besides that, this book was good, for it gave a lot of detales and it showed that children are quick adapters to there new world and I love how Shirly Temple became a Lover of baseball. would recommend to a school or a younger person but for as oldies not so much.
audreysides's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly had really bad expectations of this book. I got assinged to it by school, so I had to read it. It actually wasn't that bad. This book is about a young girl from China who moves to the United States with her mother to stay with the father. She speaks absolutely no English, Knows nobody but her father, and has to change her name into an english name. Since she doesen't know any better, her new name becomes Shirley Temple. Full name: Shirley Temple Wong. So she goes to Brooklyn. When she first gets there, everything is strange and new and odd to her, she eventually learns to like things and make friends. Like Senora and Toscanini downstairs, Emily and Mabel from school, and she finds a great passion for baseball (Dodgers) too.
dereksilva's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book I wanted to read as a child, but never got around to. It's a simple but nice story.
becca_osborn's review against another edition
3.0
We read this aloud in 3rd grade and I remember enjoying it, even though I didn't care for the baseball parts. I remember it being an eye opener for how children adapt to new cultures!
bethmitcham's review against another edition
4.0
Kids eye view of immigration and cultural relativism, with a heartening picture of life in post-WWII New York. It's based on the author's life, so I hope it's not too rose-colored. The kids liked it.