Books come and go. Most of them—honestly—just gather dust after a single reading. But Bette Bao Lord’s 1984 classic In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson is different. It’s one of those rare stories that somehow feels more relevant in 2026 than it did forty years ago. Maybe it’s because we’re all still trying to figure out where we belong.
Shirley Temple Wong is the heart of it all.
She arrives in Brooklyn in 1947. She doesn't speak English. She's lonely. She’s "Sixth Cousin" back in China, but in America, she has to be someone entirely new. If you've ever moved to a new city or even just started a job where you didn't know the lingo, you know that specific, sharp sting of being an outsider. It’s brutal. Lord captures that without being overly sentimental or preachy, which is why the book sticks.
What People Get Wrong About Shirley’s Journey
A lot of people think this is just a "baseball book." It isn't. Not really.
Baseball is the bridge. In 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers made history by starting Jackie Robinson. For Shirley, Robinson wasn't just an athlete; he was a mirror. He was the guy who proved you could be "different" and still be the hero of the story. When Shirley discovers the Dodgers, she doesn't just find a hobby. She finds a language.
Sports have always been a shortcut to assimilation. You might not know how to conjugate a verb, but you know what a home run looks like. You understand the tension of a full count. Shirley’s obsession with Jackie Robinson is a survival tactic. It’s her way of saying, "I am part of this, too."
There's a common misconception that Shirley's transition was easy because the book is categorized as "children's literature." It wasn't easy. The book deals with real isolation. It deals with the physical sensation of being invisible. Lord based much of this on her own experience coming to the U.S. in 1946, and that authenticity is why the prose feels so lived-in.
The Real Impact of 1947
Why 1947? Why the Year of the Boar?
In the Chinese Zodiac, the Boar (or Pig) represents honesty, hard work, and a bit of a peace-loving nature. 1947 was that year. It was also the year the post-war world was trying to redefine itself. For an immigrant kid in Brooklyn, these two worlds—the ancient cycles of her family and the frantic, loud energy of post-war New York—collided.
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- The Language Barrier: Shirley's early days in school are a masterclass in social anxiety.
- The Jackie Robinson Effect: It wasn't just about talent. It was about the dignity Robinson showed under fire. Shirley saw that. She felt it.
- The Concept of "Double-Consciousness": W.E.B. Du Bois talked about this, and while Shirley is a child, she lives it. She is Chinese. She is American. She is both. She is neither.
Why We Are Still Talking About Bette Bao Lord
Bette Bao Lord didn't just write a cute story. She wrote a manual for cultural survival.
She later became a significant voice in human rights, serving as the chair of Freedom House. When you read In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, you’re seeing the seeds of that later work. You’re seeing a writer explore what it means to have a voice when the world expects you to stay quiet.
The book is taught in schools across the country, but it’s often stripped of its complexity. Teachers sometimes focus only on the "friendship" aspect. But look closer at the scene where Shirley finally meets Jackie Robinson. It’s short. It’s quiet. It’s not some grand, cinematic explosion. It’s a moment of recognition. Two people who have been told they don't belong, standing in the same space.
The Cultural Nuance You Might Have Missed
The "Boar" isn't just a calendar entry. In the story, it symbolizes Shirley’s transition from the protected, structured life of her grandfather’s house to the chaotic freedom of Brooklyn.
In China, Shirley was defined by her relation to others—Sixth Cousin. In America, she chooses her own name. She chooses "Shirley Temple" because she wants to be a star, even if she’s just a kid from Chongqing. It’s a bit funny, kind of sad, and totally relatable. We all "put on" names or personas when we’re trying to fit in.
The Jackie Robinson Connection: More Than Just a Game
If you look at the stats from the 1947 season, Robinson hit .297. He won the Rookie of the Year award. But for the kids in Brooklyn—real kids like the ones Lord wrote about—his stats didn't matter as much as his presence.
He was the "Great Experiment."
For Shirley, who was being bullied and ignored, Robinson was proof that the "Experiment" could work. If a Black man could lead the Dodgers to a pennant, maybe a Chinese girl could win a game of stickball. Or at least make a friend.
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The friendship between Shirley and Mabel is the real emotional anchor. Mabel is tough. She’s the gatekeeper of the neighborhood. Their bond isn't built on deep philosophical discussions; it’s built on a shared understanding of what it means to fight for your spot on the sidewalk.
Is the Book Still "Accurate" Today?
People ask if the immigrant experience in 1947 mirrors today. Sorta.
The technology has changed, obviously. A kid moving from China to Brooklyn today would have a smartphone, WeChat, and Google Translate. They wouldn't be as isolated as Shirley was. But the internal feeling? That hasn't changed a bit. The feeling of "Am I doing this right?" or "Did I just offend someone?" is universal.
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson captures the specific 1940s Brooklyn atmosphere—the stoops, the egg creams, the radio broadcasts—but the heart of it is timeless.
Addressing the Critics
Some modern readers find the book's optimism a bit dated. They argue it brushes over the deeper systemic racism of the era. That’s a fair point. The book is, after all, written for a younger audience. It doesn't dive into the dark underbelly of 1940s segregation.
However, looking at it as a historical artifact of 1980s literature, it was actually quite progressive. It put a young Asian girl at the center of the American story, which—honestly—didn't happen often back then. It claimed the "American Dream" for someone who didn't look like the characters in Dick and Jane.
Practical Ways to Revisit the Story
If you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who loves a good narrative, don't just skim the book. Dive into the historical context.
- Watch 1947 newsreels: See the Brooklyn that Shirley saw. It was gritty, loud, and packed.
- Look up Jackie Robinson’s letters: Read what he was actually going through during that '47 season. It adds a layer of weight to Shirley’s admiration.
- Compare the "Year of the Boar" traits: Look at how Shirley embodies the Boar’s traits—tenacity and heart—throughout the chapters.
The book is structured by months. January through December. It’s a literal year of transformation. By the time you get to the end, Shirley isn't a different person, but she is a more complete person. She hasn't lost her Chinese heritage; she’s just added a layer of Brooklyn on top of it.
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What We Can Learn from Shirley Temple Wong
Honestly, we could all use a bit of Shirley’s grit. She didn't wait for permission to belong. She studied the game. She practiced. She took the hits—literally, in some cases—and kept showing up to the playground.
In a world that feels increasingly divided, there’s something really beautiful about a story that says "Hey, we can find common ground in a game with a ball and a bat." It sounds simple. It sounds like a cliché. But when you’re ten years old and you don't speak the language, it’s everything.
Actionable Steps for Readers
If this story resonates with you, or if you're introducing it to a new generation, there are actual ways to make the themes stick.
First, don't treat it as a history lesson. Treat it as a character study. Ask why Shirley chose the name she did. Think about what name you would choose if you had to start over in a country where no one knew you.
Second, explore the concept of "The Year of the Boar" in your own life. What was the year you felt like an outsider? How did you find your "Jackie Robinson"—that person or thing that gave you the courage to stand your ground?
Third, read Bette Bao Lord’s other works. She’s an incredible thinker. Legacies: A Chinese Mosaic offers a much deeper, adult look at the themes of identity and statehood that she touches on in Shirley’s story.
The "Year of the Boar" isn't just 1947. It’s any year where you decide to stop being a spectator and start playing the game. It’s about the moment you realize that being "American" (or anything else) isn't about where you were born, but about the heart you bring to the community you're in.
Shirley Temple Wong didn't just learn English. She learned how to be herself in a second language. That’s the real victory. Not a home run, but a long, hard-earned walk to first base. And sometimes, that’s all you need to start a rally.