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alsist's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
zwachtel50's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
verafogel's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Clearly everything that happens in this book is extremely fictional Kim’s talent for school was simply too good for someone in her situation so it got hard to to actually believe the story while reading it. Nevertheless, it was very inspiring and motivated me to keep studying specially during term exams.
That being said I hated the ending. I agree that they wouldn’t have been happy together but she managed terribly the hole situation. She should have told Matt about the baby and given the opportunity to have a present dad in his life, even if they weren’t together.
That being said I hated the ending. I agree that they wouldn’t have been happy together but she managed terribly the hole situation. She should have told Matt about the baby and given the opportunity to have a present dad in his life, even if they weren’t together.
reader4evr's review against another edition
5.0
I am surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book. I can tell you that I wasn't super excited when I saw this on my list of 10 to read but once I got into the book, I feel in love with Kimberly and her ma.
This is a great book of overcoming obstacles and family. I was totally happy with how the book ended as well (although you don't find out about what happened 12 years to her Aunt Paula who was TOTALLY taking advantage of them).
I don't think this would have an wide appeal to teenagers but if they were looking for the topics within this book, it would be a perfect choice.
This is a great book of overcoming obstacles and family. I was totally happy with how the book ended as well (although you don't find out about what happened 12 years to her Aunt Paula who was TOTALLY taking advantage of them).
I don't think this would have an wide appeal to teenagers but if they were looking for the topics within this book, it would be a perfect choice.
pheocore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
daniellejb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A tough story on the challenges of one Chinese immigrant family to the US - the poverty, the language barriers, the need to do well in school to better your living - combined with a coming of age narrative and a pinch of romance. My biggest qualm is that the ending felt a little rushed (however I’m reading an uncorrected proof so perhaps there were changes). This felt like a deeply personal story and will have moment that stick with me but I’m left lacking in a way that I can’t put my finger on.
madzmadz's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bellsss's review against another edition
3.75
I enjoyed following her story. I liked this one, although the overall atmosphere may have felt a bit flat.
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.