Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

Book review by Cos Barnes

Jean Kwok’s “Girl in Translation” was a book I really enjoyed reading. It was a fast read although grim in the description of Kimberly Chang and her mother’s living conditions. They came from Hong Kong to live in the United States and settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. Beholden to Mrs. Chang’s sister, Aunt Paula, who paid Mrs. Chang’s tuberculosis bills and financed their trip to the U.S., they are employees of her Chinatown sweatshop. They are paid a pittance and overworked with much take-home work to finish at night.

Home is a rat- and roach-infested, heatless apartment with a boarded up storefront, broken windows, makeshift furniture and no other tenants.

Eleven-year-old Kimberly is ridiculed by both teachers and students for her accent. Her clothes are sewn by her mother and are ill-fitting and tacky. Her mode of respect for her teacher because she has been carefully taught to respect elders is to skip school until she is found out. She is exceedingly bright and excels at math and science. She studies in the apartment at night, which is certainly not conducive after long hours at school and work.

Because of her brilliance, she is admitted to a prestigious private high school. She makes new acquaintances there, but has only one friend, Annette, because she can never reciprocate when invited to visit other classmates. Of course, there is a love angle with Matt, who is also an immigrant from Hong Kong and a worker in the sweatshop. As Kimberly matures, she has tough decisions to make but is always respectful to her mother and her care.