Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Synopsis:
When Kimberley Chang and her mother come to Brooklyn, New York from Hong Kong hoping for a better life, they get the complete opposite. Having no money, they are forced to rely deeply on their evil Aunt to support them. They are forced to live in a filthy apartment without heat, infested with roaches, and no appliances. They also have to work at the family owned sweatshop for hours on end. Kimberley has to juggle school, friends, and working at the factory daily. When she is given a full scholarship to one of the best schools in New York there is hope that she can get herself and her mother a better life. Not only does she have to translate the English she barley understands but also her friends, love, and family. As she learns to translate in school she also learns more about herself not only as a student but also as a person.
Praises:
Throughout the book the reader gets to see all of struggles Kimberley faces, through her eyes. I like how the reader gets to experience them almost as if we were the ones going through all of the things she has. As the readers we get to see the daily struggle she goes through living a double life of a student and sweatshop worker. Another point that I liked in the book was how the author showed the daily struggle of emigrating from Hong Kong to America and showing the daily differences in the culture.
5 Star Rating/ Recommendations:
I would rate this book as a 4 out 5 stars. I like how the author shows the struggles of emigrating from different countries and shows the daily differences the cultures have. It is an eye opener to how much a person can truly endure and how much the people around them are oblivious. I would recommend this book to middle school/ high school readers.
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