This book starts out in China where a young girl, named Bandit is forced to go to America. She must go because her father wants Bandit and her mother to move to America and make it their home. Bandit is not sad however, because she'll finally get to be together with her father. Bandit takes the name of Shirly Temple Wong and starts her trip to America. At first she struggles but soon, she learns to play baseball and starts making friends.

Something i like about this book is the way it is clear and understandable and also a little funny. Many people would be able to relate to some of her embarressing moments. I think the book is very understandable because there are no big words and the sentences are kept simple. I could just read through the entire book without going back to make sure i read some paragraph right."One sunny afternoon, Shirly leaned out the third story window of P. S 8 slapping the chalk from the class erasers." This quote is one of the good ones. It is clear and the author keeps it simple with enough detail to satisfy the reader.

One part that was funny, and i could relate to was when shirly got lost on her way back from the store."What a fool she was! Nothing but a fool. Utterly ashamed, she hid her face in her arms." This quote from the book describes Shirly after she is lost and gives up. I remember many times when i was young and would get lost alot and start getting scared.

My favorite part of the book was when Shirly is told to go home. She thinks that the kids hate her and want her to go home, but really they meant to get her to run to home base. It is funny how some things can be misconcieving and how people may think very differently from others.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

Very funny...  Jun 19, 2000

I was required to read this book for school. And I am very glad that I did. It is very humorous and made me laugh out loud while I was reading it. It is about a Chinese girl named Bandit in China but Shirley Temple Wong in America who is traveling to America with her Mother to live with her father. She lives in New York City and has to go to an English shool. She finds that she has to learn English before she can have friends. She ends up becoming fried=nds with the toughest girl in school and falls in love with baseball. I hope you will read this outrageously funny book and take some time to laugh.

10 of 12 found the following review helpful:

A thought-provoking book  Oct 28, 1999

I am currently using this book as part of our guided reading program here in an inner-city school in San Antonio, Texas. Though the book is well-written, my class of students were concerned that Chinese-Americans would be offended by this book. Some of the things they discussed in class was why the main character was named "Bandit." To them, this name connotates a bad person or a thief. Also, they expressed concerned that prior to her going to America, her family insisted on her picking an American name - Shirley Temple. One of my students asked why she didn't pick a traditional Chinese name. To them, it appeared that the family was abandoning their Chinese customs in favor of America's customs. Despite that fact that my students have raised some interesting and thought-provoking questions, the book does challenge the reader to compare and contrast Chinese and American customs. In addition, this is an excellent book to have a dialogue on racial and cultural tolerance here in America.

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