Beginning
What is Waverly named after?
She is named after where her family lives, Waverly Place.
Why does Waverly first stop playing chess?
She first stops playing chess in order to hurt her mother and her mother's feelings.
What concessions did the parents make to allow Waverly to play chess? (List at least one; extra 50 points for two)
Waverly gets a bedroom to herself. Her brothers have to sleep in the living room.
She is not forced to finish her meals.
How did Waverly get her first chess set? Where did it come from?
Her brother, Vincent, chooses this gift from the annual Christmas party at the First Chinese Baptist Church. After Vincent and Winston get tired of using the chess set and losing to their younger sister, Waverly gets to keep it.
How does Waverly learn to play expert chess?
She sees an old man in the playground playing chess so she asks him if she can play too. The man named Lau Po agrees and they play several matches over the course of a few weeks. Although Waverly loses many games to Lau Po, he decides to coach her after seeing her potential.
How does Waverly’s mother treat her when she returns home after running away?
Waverly's mother is very angry when she returns home and doesn't want to care for her because her mother feels neglected. Waverly's mother treats her as though she doesn't even exist. Mrs. Jong feels Waverly is not showing care towards her therefore she is not going to show care back.
How does Waverly’s mother, Lindo, demonstrate "the art of invisible strength?"
Waverly goes into a shop and does not cry or beg for the salted plums she wants. She "bites back her tongue." Her mother then buys the salted plums for her to reward her for her silence, her "invisible strength."
How does Waverly manipulate her mother into letting her compete in a local chess tournament?
Waverly says in a small voice that she does not want to play in the local tournament because she does not think she can win. She reasons that they would have American rules meaning if she lost she would bring shame to her family. By doing this, Waverly says that her Chinese family is incapable of succeeding and following the "rules" of American life. This causes her mother to change her mind quickly. (uses reverse psychology)
Why does Waverly run away?
She got into an argument with her mother. She felt that her mother was showing her chess skills off to her community. Her mother felt her daughter was embarrassed to be her child.
What does Lindo mean by,"The strongest wind cannot be seen?"
Silence and awareness gives one strength by helping win arguments and respect from others. One must not draw attention to themselves but must pay attention to their surroundings in order to succeed in getting what they want.
What does Waverly’s mother say when she attended her daughter’s chess exhibition games?
When Waverly wins her first match in the exhibition games, her mother says that it is only luck that helped her win.
In your own words, what is the "art of invisible strength?"
It is a strategy for winning arguments and respect from others by being silent and aware of surroundings.