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emmaas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An absolutely lovely book about generational trauma, immigration, racism, language barriers, poverty, and growing up in the US. I love the way this book is written and how the author portrays Kim. I love the artistry in that we get a glimpse into what it’s like to learn English as a second language.
This story is moving, heart wrenching, and wholesome. I loved everything about it.
This story is moving, heart wrenching, and wholesome. I loved everything about it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
rhodaj's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
licurl64's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book awhile ago, yet it still has me thinking. The main character, Kimberly, is so strong throughout the story and at the end makes a very tough decision. Ultimately I think she made the right - and least selfish decision - and I wonder if I could have done the same myself?
The few characters in the story are well thought-out from Ma to Mike to Annette. It's fun seeing Kimberly progress from 11 or so with very limited English abilities and new to the country to a fully integrated and confident teenager to a successful adult that had fulfilled her goal of providing a better life for herself and her family.
I loved watching Kimberly's relationship with her mother unfold. I enjoy reading stories about generational cultural clashes {my all-time favorite is Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri} and generally these stories are filled with angst on behalf of the child when dealing with their parent's language limitations or cultural insecurities. In Girl in Translation, Kimberly rarely seems to experience that frustration and doesn't seem to begrudge taking care of her mother and making sure they eventually have a better life. She goes to a fancy private school and receives the best education among Brooklyn's elite during the day, and then works in the factories all night to help her mom earn more money. When they earn just 1 cent per garment that they work on, they need all of the extra hours they can get. Kimberly lives this double life until she goes off to college and rarely complains; instead, she's just thankful that she even has the opportunity to receive the good education and that they're making those pennies at the slum factory that's run by her own aunt and uncle.
All of the odds are against Kimberly and her mother after their move to the United States, and yet they make it through by having faith that things will get better and being resourceful when necessary. I'm not sure I'll ever forget them finding the leftover stuffing and coverings from stuffed animals and using those to sew robes and sweaters so that they could keep adequately warm during the winter when their slum apartment had no heat. This scene was alternately happy and heart-breakingly sad. It was happy because finding the fabric ensured they would survive the winter and not freeze to death and heart-breaking because without the find they surely wouldn't have made it through the winter, as they didn't even have enough money to buy a proper winter coat or get an apartment with heat.
As for the romantic elements of the book, I couldn't help but root for Kimberly because she was always in control. She made the choices in her relationships, and it was refreshing to see that she wasn't passive in this regard.
It's cliche, but this is one book I could not stop reading once I started.
The few characters in the story are well thought-out from Ma to Mike to Annette. It's fun seeing Kimberly progress from 11 or so with very limited English abilities and new to the country to a fully integrated and confident teenager to a successful adult that had fulfilled her goal of providing a better life for herself and her family.
I loved watching Kimberly's relationship with her mother unfold. I enjoy reading stories about generational cultural clashes {my all-time favorite is Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri} and generally these stories are filled with angst on behalf of the child when dealing with their parent's language limitations or cultural insecurities. In Girl in Translation, Kimberly rarely seems to experience that frustration and doesn't seem to begrudge taking care of her mother and making sure they eventually have a better life. She goes to a fancy private school and receives the best education among Brooklyn's elite during the day, and then works in the factories all night to help her mom earn more money. When they earn just 1 cent per garment that they work on, they need all of the extra hours they can get. Kimberly lives this double life until she goes off to college and rarely complains; instead, she's just thankful that she even has the opportunity to receive the good education and that they're making those pennies at the slum factory that's run by her own aunt and uncle.
All of the odds are against Kimberly and her mother after their move to the United States, and yet they make it through by having faith that things will get better and being resourceful when necessary. I'm not sure I'll ever forget them finding the leftover stuffing and coverings from stuffed animals and using those to sew robes and sweaters so that they could keep adequately warm during the winter when their slum apartment had no heat. This scene was alternately happy and heart-breakingly sad. It was happy because finding the fabric ensured they would survive the winter and not freeze to death and heart-breaking because without the find they surely wouldn't have made it through the winter, as they didn't even have enough money to buy a proper winter coat or get an apartment with heat.
As for the romantic elements of the book, I couldn't help but root for Kimberly because she was always in control. She made the choices in her relationships, and it was refreshing to see that she wasn't passive in this regard.
It's cliche, but this is one book I could not stop reading once I started.
gingerliss's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully honest book. Couldn't put it down. I would have given it five stars but from a certain point the plot concentrated on romance, when before that it had been so much more. Still loved it though and would definitely recommend.
bookish_brenna's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
allysonbogie's review against another edition
5.0
by Jean Kwok
AR Level 5.7
I should start by saying I just read this book in about 32 hours--I couldn't put it down! The story was so interesting and compelling, and I just really wanted to know what would happen to Kimberly. Kimberly and her mom immigrate to Brooklyn, NY from Hong Kong when Kimberly is in 5th grade. She and her mom are so poor that they live in an apartment in a condemned building--for 7 years! No one is supposed to be living there. Their apartment has no heat, and many broken panes of glass in the windows. They are freezing, and they face roaches, mice, and rats every day.
Kim's mom works at a clothing factory in Chinatown, earning 1 or 2 cents for every skirt that she finishes. Kim also works there after school, even though sweatshops are illegal in the United States, and she is also too young to work. Kim has to hide her poverty and work in the sweatshop from all of her friends and teachers.
Kim reads English pretty well but has trouble understanding spoken English. However, she excels at math and science and is awarded a full scholarship to an exclusive private school for her work. Her English steadily improves. She, and the reader, know that her only chance of helping her mother and making a change in her life is to be successful in school. She goes to lengths that many of us couldn't even dream of to help her mother earn money and also succeed in school. Read the book to find out what her future holds--and whether she ever gets away from the freezing apartment and the cockroaches.
This book was very good, and I highly recommend it. The story is excellent, as is the writing. It does a great job of communicating cultural differences through language and translation. I am not an immigrant so I don't know what the experience is. However, there are some parts of the book that seem so extreme that they are unrealistic. Overall, it's wonderful!
AR Level 5.7
I should start by saying I just read this book in about 32 hours--I couldn't put it down! The story was so interesting and compelling, and I just really wanted to know what would happen to Kimberly. Kimberly and her mom immigrate to Brooklyn, NY from Hong Kong when Kimberly is in 5th grade. She and her mom are so poor that they live in an apartment in a condemned building--for 7 years! No one is supposed to be living there. Their apartment has no heat, and many broken panes of glass in the windows. They are freezing, and they face roaches, mice, and rats every day.
Kim's mom works at a clothing factory in Chinatown, earning 1 or 2 cents for every skirt that she finishes. Kim also works there after school, even though sweatshops are illegal in the United States, and she is also too young to work. Kim has to hide her poverty and work in the sweatshop from all of her friends and teachers.
Kim reads English pretty well but has trouble understanding spoken English. However, she excels at math and science and is awarded a full scholarship to an exclusive private school for her work. Her English steadily improves. She, and the reader, know that her only chance of helping her mother and making a change in her life is to be successful in school. She goes to lengths that many of us couldn't even dream of to help her mother earn money and also succeed in school. Read the book to find out what her future holds--and whether she ever gets away from the freezing apartment and the cockroaches.
This book was very good, and I highly recommend it. The story is excellent, as is the writing. It does a great job of communicating cultural differences through language and translation. I am not an immigrant so I don't know what the experience is. However, there are some parts of the book that seem so extreme that they are unrealistic. Overall, it's wonderful!
veronicahoffman's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
3.5
amandahow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0