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Paperback Girl in Translation Book

ISBN: 1594485151

ISBN13: 9781594485152

Girl in Translation

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Format: Paperback

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Book Overview

From the author of Searching for Sylvie Lee , the iconic, New York Times -bestselling debut novel that introduced an important Chinese-American voice with an inspiring story of an immigrant girl forced to choose between two worlds and two futures. When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life--like the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family's future resting on her shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition--Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles. Through Kimberly's story, author Jean Kwok, who also emigrated from Hong Kong as a young girl, brings to the page the lives of countless immigrants who are caught between the pressure to succeed in America, their duty to their family, and their own personal desires, exposing a world that we rarely hear about. Written in an indelible voice that dramatizes the tensions of an immigrant girl growing up between two cultures, surrounded by a language and world only half understood, Girl in Translation is an unforgettable and classic novel of an American immigrant-a moving tale of hardship and triumph, heartbreak and love, and all that gets lost in translation.

Customer Reviews

13 customer ratings | 9 reviews

Rated 3 stars
3.75 stars

GIRL IN TRANSLATION by Jean Kwok This fictional story reads much like a memoir. The author wrote so vividly about Kimberly and her mother’s immigrant experience. From their condemned apartment, the terrible (and illegal!) factory conditions they endured and Kim’s experience at public school. Their perseverance, determination and courage under such dire circumstances was inspiring. However, I’m not fond of how the story...

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Rated 5 stars
Ms. Kwok tells a wonderful story

Wonderful story, well written. A story of Mother and daughter's journey from Hong Kong to America. Their life working in a sweatshop owned by the mother's sister. A story of strength, intelligence, perseverance, and jealousy. A must read. I had to look up Jean Kwok and order her other books.

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Rated 5 stars
A Terrific Novel

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so well-written. I didn't know there were still sweat shops in NYC in the 1980's. This book gave me a renewed appreciation for the struggle immigrants have.

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Rated 5 stars
Girl In Translation

Girl In Translation is a well written book that tells such an interesting story. The characters are presented in a unique way; thus creating such an enjoyable book to read.

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Rated 5 stars
WOW!

WOW were the first words out of my mouth after finishing Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok. I had only meant to read for a bit but before I knew it I had raced through the book. From the first page to the last, Kimberly's story just grabbed me and wouldn't let go. "There's a Chinese saying that the fates are winds that blow through our lives from every angle, urging us along the paths of time. Those who are strong-willed may...

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Girl in Translation Mentions in Our Blog

Girl in Translation in 21 October Releases We're Excited About
21 October Releases We're Excited About
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • September 21, 2023

No matter how long our TBR list gets, we're always finding new titles we want to add! Here are 21 exciting October releases available for preorder, along with suggestions for similar reads you can enjoy right away.

Girl in Translation in 15 Book Releases We're Excited About This Month
15 Book Releases We're Excited About This Month
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • July 29, 2021

Our TBR shelves are already packed, but that doesn’t stop us from browsing (and buying!) new books! Here are 15 August releases you can preorder, along with suggestions for similar books you can pick up right now.

Girl in Translation in 23 Years of the Alex Awards
23 Years of the Alex Awards
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • December 21, 2020

Have you heard of the Alex Awards? Established in 1998, they celebrate books written for adults that have special appeal for younger readers, aged twelve to eighteen. These intergenerational, or crossover, books can serve as wonderful connection points between parents and teens.

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