Girl in Translation

Girl in Translation is a book written by Jean Kwok. The novel is about a girl named Kimberly Chang, who is a young immigrant from Hong Kong. She is an excellent student; she excels in math. However, as soon as she sets her feet in Brooklyn, her life becomes interesting. She begins to live two lives: (1) life as an excellent student and (2) life as a factory employee. During the day, she goes to school; at night, she helps her mom in the factory. Kimberly and her mom do not know how to speak English. She struggles to interact with other students in Brooklyn; however, she is a quick learner. She is constantly pressured because she feels that she is obligated to support the family. However, she overcomes this adversity by studying hard. She graduates from an exclusive boarding school and begins her college life in Yale. She also experiences unwanted pregnancy; however, she handles it pretty well. Her mom is always supportive of what she chooses to do. After she graduates from Yale, she becomes a doctor. She supports her mom and her family. I thought this story was interesting to read because I love reading stories about how people overcome their adversities. The author wants to express that many Chinese immigrants back in the late 1900s were pressured to succeed in America and support their family. Kimberly and her mom lived in extreme poverty. They had no heater, hot water, or money. They worked in a factory near China Town. They also received little money. However, Kimberly succeeds.