The year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord takes place in Sixth Cousin Wong's house with her family. Her family is a little different from the other families in China due to the fact that her father lives in America. It is 1947, shortly after World War II, and Mr. Wong has gone to America to try and create a better way of life for his family.

One day he calls and says they can now come live with him in America. Sixth Cousin gets a new name, Shirley Temple Wong, and heads overseas with her mother to find her father and live with him. Once they arrive, Shirley becomes lost when her father sends her on a cigarette run and she gets lost in the big city. She realizes while in the store that living in America isn't going to be what she thought it would be since she doesn't speak the language. Then, when she becomes lost, she doesn't have the ability to even ask for directions. Shirley's father has to rescue her at this point.

Shirley starts fifth grade in her school in America and she is fearful because she was only in the third year of school in China. She is afraid that she will not be as smart as the other children. Then, there are obvious issues to start off with, one being a language barrier. Shirley knows little English and even less social customs of American kids. She becomes isolated and sad for a majority of her first few months. Her mother doesn't make it easier on her as she tells Shirley that she is to be especially good in school as she is an ambassador for all Chinese people.

A few months later, Shirley makes friends with the school bully after she refuses to apologize or back down when she accidentally runs into Mabel, the bully. Thinking that she's defying her, Mabel promptly punches her in the face, giving her two black eyes. When the Wongs see Shirley that evening, they want to press charges, but Shirley refuses to tell them who did it. Mabel respects that and the next day they become friends. Mabel tells everyone that Shirley is her friend and it makes it easier for Shirley to be accepted by everyone.

The kids let her play baseball and while she doesn't understand all of the rules, she really likes it. The reader learns that in their apartment building, their landlady, Senora Rodriguez, plays piano. Shirley starts taking lessons from her. One day she comes for lessons and finds Senora crying because she misses her daughter in Mexico. The Wongs offer to watch the apartment building while Senora goes on a trip. With the money they save (since they don't have to pay rent that month) they are able to purchase Shirley a new bed. It is this biggest bed she's ever owned.

Later that next year a new girl, named Emily, arrives at school and Shirley, knowing how it feels to be lonely, befriends her and the two become fast friends. Shirley also begins to miss China, and believes she is losing her heritage. She tries and works on keeping her Chinese heritage alive. Her love for baseball grows as her friends take her to several outings and at the end of the year she presents Jackie Robinson the key to their school. Even though there were many hardships she still overcomes them and keeps her heritage alive and strong in her.