Family

This is a theme that is a constant to Shirley's changing life. In China the Wong house is populated by the many family members of the Wong family. All Shirley's friends were family when they lived in China - no outside friends. In America, Shirley has a chance to make real friends and is suddenly not surrounded by all her family. This causes her to have to actually be social and exert herself.

This underscores the many roles that family can play for the individual. First, of course, there is the biological relation providing genetic similarities between members. Everyone shares many of the same characteristics, and those with slight variations are accepted into the group. In America, Shirley's differences are more pronounced. Not everyone looks like her, or acts like her. Many of the things that had been intrinsic to her because of her close family...