Invisible strength is a recurrent theme within the story and connects readers to both the setting and characters. Just as Waverly closely observes her surroundings, readers, too, must pay attention to what is not said (what is invisible) to fully comprehend the story. At one point, Waverly says: “The sanddabs made me shiver each time; their eyes lay on one flattened side and reminded me of my mother’s story of a careless girl who ran into a crowded street and was crushed by a cab” (Paragraph 7). An unattractive fish at a local market prompts Waverly to remember a story about the violent end to a girl’s life. What is invisible is Waverly’s fear that she might meet the same fate should she ever be careless. The strength of the story is in the invisible—what is not told, but rather suggested.

The creation of Chinatown exhibits a people’s invisible strength. To be an immigrant requires reliance on invisible strengths to survive and adapt. The hustle and bustle of the fish market and local shops illustrate the area’s productivity; the crowded streets show that the space can support its growing numbers; and, the sense of play the children feel within its confines signal safety and a commitment to encourage childhood curiosity.