In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

January

• In China, Bandit receives a letter from her father, who is in America
• She is given the American name Shirley Temple.

February

• Shirley and her mother travel to San Francisco by boat and then by train to N.Y.C.

March

April

• Suddenly ignored by the other children at school, she hopes to fit in again.
• Lonely, her mother signs her up for piano lessons and her father buys her roller-skates.

May

• Shirley gets punched by Mabel after interfering in a game of stickball
• The next day, Mabel apologizes to Shirley and they quickly become friends.

June

• During school, Shirley's class talked about Jackie Robinson and baseball
• They also discussed diversity, freedom, and our democracy
• During this speech, Shirley suddenly feels like she can do anything in the world.

July

• Shirley is glued to the radio, listening to the Dodger's games for the first days of summer
• She takes Toscanini on a walk and he behaves well
• Then, Shirley makes the promise to take care of Senora's house while she visits her daughter

August

• Shirley receives a pull-out bed as a surprise
• The lights suddenly go out in her apartment building and she attempts to fix it, but she ends up needing her father's help.

September

• On the first day back to school, Shirley makes a new friend, Emily
• Shirley also begins to save up money from her new job, babysitting the O'Reilly triplets.

September

• On the first day back to school, Shirley makes a new friend, Emily
• Shirley also begins to save up money from her new job, babysitting the O'Reilly triplets.

October

• Spending most of her free time at Mr. P's watching the World Series.
• A couple of good runs here and there, the Dodgers finally lose to the Yankees.

November

• Shirley's family almost forgot about the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Chinese tradition
• Shirley's grandfather sent mooncakes

December

• Shirley and her family experience their first Christmas in America
• Chosen to represent her class, Shirley presents the key to P.S.8 to her hero, Jackie Robinson