The following sites can be used to support and enrich
the Book Club unit for In the Year of the Boar and
Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord.
Learn More About the Setting of the Novel
- Chongquing
Seattle, Chongquing's sister city, has provided some photographs of
important landmarks as well as brief but interesting facts about the city
previously known as Chungking. [most spellings of Chongquing include the u,
but on this site it is spelled without.]
- Chinese
Calendar A factual and thorough examination of the Chinese
calendar, including its history, correlation to the Gregorian calendar, specific
details about the way it works, and information about the early calendars,
is offered here.
- Brooklyn
Homepage Visitors can take an enthusiastically conducted tour
of present-day Brooklyn and read about and see highlights of the different
neighborhoods.
- Brooklyn
Timeline The Brooklyn Historical Society created this timeline,
which consists of dates and brief notes about significant events. It shows
the varied and full history of this section of New York City. Although not currently available at the
Brooklyn Historical Society website, it has been adapted by the Junior League of Brooklyn website.
Investigate the Cultural Background of the Main
Character
- Chinese
the Beautiful This index page offers myriad topics to explore.
Visitors can choose to hear or see or read about the Chinese language, art,
literature, and other aspects of Chinese culture. It is a very dense and comprehensive
site, well worth a visit.
- Family
Structure This site provides an informative look at the clan
structure of the Chinese family, the roles of the different family members,
and the influence of this relationship on all aspects of life.
- History
of China Compiled from Compton's Encyclopedia, the facts trace
the history of China from its beginnings through the dynasties and into the
present era. The details are more than adequate but not overwhelming. The
overview also includes discussion of the roles of significant historical figures,
such as Marco Polo and Kublai Khan.
- Chinese
Holidays The important holidays and festivals, including the
Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, are described with illustrations,
photographs, and great details. There is even a photograph of moon cakes as
well as a detailed explanation of what they are.
- Chinese
Beliefs A quick look at some interesting Chinese beliefs and
customs, including ideas associated with brooms, certain numbers, facial hair,
and dreams, is provided at this site.
Find Out More About Historical Figures and Events
in the Novel
- Immigration
Visitors learn about the experiences of Chinese immigrants as they
waited at the Angel Island detention center to be processed, sometimes for
months. One of the poems from the many inscribed on the walls by the immigrants
is featured on the site.
- Angel
Island Association An array of choices is given to visitors.
They can see Angel Island, find out about its history, and discover facts
about the history of Chinese immigration.
-
Jackie Robinson This home page devoted to Jackie Robinson
offers articles, links, and images of the legendary baseball player who broke the color barrier.
- Brooklyn
Dodgers Visitors to this site can access information about the old Brooklyn Dodgers and their charismatic players, including Jackie Robinson, as well as view an interactive timeline of key events in the team's history.
Meet the Author
-
Bette Bao Lord A brief biography is provided by the American Immigration Law Foundation.
- Bette
Bao Lord Resource Page Various resources are offered on this
site, such as a biography and photograph of the author and an interview with
her about one of her other books as well as links to information on some of
the topics in the novel.