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annasg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
novabird's review against another edition
2.0
From big WOWO website; Asian American Activism, Intellectualism and Literature:
I have not read enough Asian American Lit to be sure of this critique. However, it is as if Kwok created a self-limiting environment by providing Kimberly and her Ma with living conditions of an abandoned building, (where running water would have frozen in the pipes in winter without adequate heating in an apartment building and this is never mentioned) and working conditions of a necessarily anonymous and underground sweatshop . These insular settings gave Kimberly and Ma very little contact with other people and conveniently placed them out of the way of any other conflict except that of the nature of poverty. I am not denigrating the immigrant/poverty experience; however, what I am asking is why there were no ‘real,’ conflicts within this story other than the school teasing/racism, and the oppression by Aunt Paula. Also the fact that no one from Kimberly’s early school years onwards never found out where she lived, all except one and that was without negative consequence, was unrealistic.
What I did like was her English translations of Cantonese idioms and her inventive spelling as she acquired English skills.
I give this a 2 not even a passable read, and certainly not memorable. I think that the issue of poverty/immigration issue should never be handled in such a light manner so that it comes off either as a ‘Young Adult,’ offering or a highly sanitized version of semi-memoir.
I am going to try, “Free Food for Millionaires,” same theme of an Asian women’s experience with immigration/poverty, and academia plus adapting to the American lifestyle.
“If you want to see a world where Cantonese people don’t yell profanities at one another, don’t call White People “Gwai loh,” lack any kind of aggressiveness, don’t have any personal struggles outside of work and just sit around whining about how bad they have it “Girl in Translation,” is the book for you.” http://www.bigwowo.com/2010/11/girl-in-translation-by-jean-kwok-review.
I have not read enough Asian American Lit to be sure of this critique. However, it is as if Kwok created a self-limiting environment by providing Kimberly and her Ma with living conditions of an abandoned building, (where running water would have frozen in the pipes in winter without adequate heating in an apartment building and this is never mentioned) and working conditions of a necessarily anonymous and underground sweatshop . These insular settings gave Kimberly and Ma very little contact with other people and conveniently placed them out of the way of any other conflict except that of the nature of poverty. I am not denigrating the immigrant/poverty experience; however, what I am asking is why there were no ‘real,’ conflicts within this story other than the school teasing/racism, and the oppression by Aunt Paula. Also the fact that no one from Kimberly’s early school years onwards never found out where she lived, all except one and that was without negative consequence, was unrealistic.
What I did like was her English translations of Cantonese idioms and her inventive spelling as she acquired English skills.
I give this a 2 not even a passable read, and certainly not memorable. I think that the issue of poverty/immigration issue should never be handled in such a light manner so that it comes off either as a ‘Young Adult,’ offering or a highly sanitized version of semi-memoir.
I am going to try, “Free Food for Millionaires,” same theme of an Asian women’s experience with immigration/poverty, and academia plus adapting to the American lifestyle.
vegspringroll's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
ekatayama's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
x_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
Kwok made excellent use of language to illustrate Kim's growing knowledge of English. However, while the writing was elegant, the storyline was awkward. Kim never came to life as a character, and the plotline seemed forced.
thandi's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kaykay38's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing story, but sad ending.
Kim's experience is heartbreaking. Kwok did an amazing job in portraying the stark reality. Probably because she herself lived through a similar reality.
I could really relate to the main character as a fellow Chinese American who came to America at age 9 and a half but for a much different reason.
The 12-year time skip is very disappointing and jolting. After all of Kim's hard work and dedication, she does not tell of her success and feeling in finally reaching her goal.
She did not elaborate upon college. That was very disappointing.
The saddest was the breakup.
This is a very inspiring book that has changed my outlook on life a bit. I just really wish there was more! Another 200 pages would have been wonderful. The story was just so inspiring and captivating!
Kim's experience is heartbreaking. Kwok did an amazing job in portraying the stark reality. Probably because she herself lived through a similar reality.
I could really relate to the main character as a fellow Chinese American who came to America at age 9 and a half but for a much different reason.
The 12-year time skip is very disappointing and jolting. After all of Kim's hard work and dedication, she does not tell of her success and feeling in finally reaching her goal.
She did not elaborate upon college. That was very disappointing.
The saddest was the breakup.
This is a very inspiring book that has changed my outlook on life a bit. I just really wish there was more! Another 200 pages would have been wonderful. The story was just so inspiring and captivating!
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
A semi-autobiographical novel of a young girl’s journey from Hong Kong to New York with her mother, and their pursuit of the American dream.
Eleven-year-old Ah-Kim Chang and her mother arrive in Brooklyn in late autumn from Hong Kong. They’ve been sponsored by her mother’s older sister, Aunt Paula, and her husband, Uncle Bob. The original promise is a job for Kimberly’s mother as a nanny to Paula’s two boys, Nelson and Godfrey, and living in the family’s house on Staten Island. But after a week Aunt Paula says that she really needs her sister to help out at the factory, and moves them to an inexpensive apartment in a building owned by her father-in-law. The apartment is lacking windows in the rear, is without any heat, and infested with roaches, mice and rats. Paula does, at least, give them an alternate address to use so that, she explains, Kimberly can attend a better school (but really so that Paula can control their mail and authorities won’t know they are living in an uninhabitable and condemned building). Ma’s job at the factory is piece work and she quickly discovers that the only way to make deadline is for Kim to come to the factory after school and help. Sometimes they do not finish until after midnight. But Kim and her mother pursue their dream – they know that the key is a good education for Kim and she puts all her energy into this.
I was completely caught up in this story at the outset. Kwok uses “phonetic” spellings to highlight Kim’s difficulties with immersion English and how she had to struggle to understand the most basic instructions from her teacher. This was effective at first, but I got tired of it over time. The same was true with her use of Chinese sayings and then “translating” them for the American reader. For Example “Aunt Paula … said, ‘Your hearts have no roots.’ She meant we were ungrateful.”
My main complaint is my disappointment with the last third of the book, especially the epilogue. I was quite engaged in the tale and was telling friends about it and then …. Well, it seems that Kwok ran out of story and the plot descended into a sort of romantic chick lit soap opera. The ending was rather abrupt, followed by an epilogue that one very serious flaw – the time span didn’t add up. Still, I think it was a good effort for a debut novel. I was pulled into the story and interested in the characters. I liked the way Kimberly matured and the strong relationship between mother and daughter.
Eleven-year-old Ah-Kim Chang and her mother arrive in Brooklyn in late autumn from Hong Kong. They’ve been sponsored by her mother’s older sister, Aunt Paula, and her husband, Uncle Bob. The original promise is a job for Kimberly’s mother as a nanny to Paula’s two boys, Nelson and Godfrey, and living in the family’s house on Staten Island. But after a week Aunt Paula says that she really needs her sister to help out at the factory, and moves them to an inexpensive apartment in a building owned by her father-in-law. The apartment is lacking windows in the rear, is without any heat, and infested with roaches, mice and rats. Paula does, at least, give them an alternate address to use so that, she explains, Kimberly can attend a better school (but really so that Paula can control their mail and authorities won’t know they are living in an uninhabitable and condemned building). Ma’s job at the factory is piece work and she quickly discovers that the only way to make deadline is for Kim to come to the factory after school and help. Sometimes they do not finish until after midnight. But Kim and her mother pursue their dream – they know that the key is a good education for Kim and she puts all her energy into this.
I was completely caught up in this story at the outset. Kwok uses “phonetic” spellings to highlight Kim’s difficulties with immersion English and how she had to struggle to understand the most basic instructions from her teacher. This was effective at first, but I got tired of it over time. The same was true with her use of Chinese sayings and then “translating” them for the American reader. For Example “Aunt Paula … said, ‘Your hearts have no roots.’ She meant we were ungrateful.”
My main complaint is my disappointment with the last third of the book, especially the epilogue. I was quite engaged in the tale and was telling friends about it and then …. Well, it seems that Kwok ran out of story and the plot descended into a sort of romantic chick lit soap opera. The ending was rather abrupt, followed by an epilogue that one very serious flaw – the time span didn’t add up. Still, I think it was a good effort for a debut novel. I was pulled into the story and interested in the characters. I liked the way Kimberly matured and the strong relationship between mother and daughter.
mariugonza's review against another edition
5.0
Dios mío, I loved this book. It's so beautiful, I couldn't stop reading
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
poignantly beautiful love story and coming of age novel.