Title: Rules of the Game
Author: Amy Tan
Published: 1989, collection The Joy Luck Club
Genre: Drama
Summary
Waverly is a Chinese girl that has multiple brothers and a very strict mom. She loves the small town in which she lives in while enjoying the company of her brothers. On Christmas day, the family goes to an event to receive some gifts in the church. She is given a pack of life savers and her brother is given a used chess set. Thrilled to have it, her brothers start playing with it and a curiosity sparks in Waverly to learn how to play.
She then spent a couple of days Playing with her brothers while learning the best moves to use in chess. One day she stumbled across a game of chess in the alley and decided to bet her Lifesavers on a man that was 10 times better than her brothers at playing chess. He taught her all about the most dangerous moves, while her interest in the game grew stronger.
She would get home after school and start practicing her moves that she had learnt in a white and black mat she had hung on her wall.
With determination and perseverance she had become so good that she would go on tournaments and beat most of the people she would go up against. She started to get recognition everywhere to the point where she almost became the Grand Master in the country.
Her mom was very proud that the chores she was given had been left for her brothers to be done; however, whenever she wouldn't go to a tournament on a weekend, her mom would take her to the market and show her off to the acquaintances. Eventually she got tired of the same act so she decided she didn't want her mom to use her anymore and ranaway.
When she got home, her mom was very furious at her and told her to go to her room. Waverly, being ashamed, quickly rushed to her room and started playing one last game of chess in her head.
Author’s purpose
The purpose of the book is to entertain the reader while diving into a family drama that explores the main character's feelings of being a successful chess player while having a very strict mom.
Review
We consider that it was a real life story that highlights the power of determination and the difficulties of mother-daughter relationships. Waverly learns valuable life lessons about strategy, patience, and perseverance, furthermore she discovers that sometimes breaking the rules can lead to unpredicted victories. We firmly recommend this story since it shows situations of real life in which people can relate, moreover realizing the importance of embracing one’s unique identity.
Characters
Waverly Jong
-Young Chinese-American girl who discovers her talent for playing chess. Waverly is determined and ambitious, committed to become a national champion. She struggles with her Chinese heritage and the pressure of her mother’s expectations.
Lindo Jong
-Waverly’s mother who is an obstinate and traditional Chinese woman. She recognizes her daughter’s talents and encourages her to succeed, however, using Waverly’s achievements to showcase her own pride and status within the Chinese community.
Vincent and Winston Jong
-Waverly’s older brothers that are skilled chess players who in the beginning introduce her to the game. They serve both as mentors and competitors, motivating their sister to improve her skills.
The old man at the park
-Elderly Chinese man who plays chess at the park, also becomes Waverly’s mentor and teaches her valuable strategies and techniques. In the story this man represents the wisdom that Waverly was looking for outside of her intimate family.
By: Victoria Merchán &
Silvana Calvo, Step 9
