Jean Kwok - Girl in Translation

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 7/10/10.
WHEN I WAS FIRST READING THIS BOOK I THOUGHT IT WAS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY DESCRIBED AS A WORK OF FICTION, HOWEVER, THE DESCRITIONS ARE SO CLEARLY TRANSCRIBED SO MINUTE IN DETAIL I AM SURE THERE IS A LOT OF TRUTH IN THE STORY.
KIMBERLEY CHANG MOVES WITH HER MOTHER TO NEW YORK FROM HONG KONG. THEY GO TO STAY WITH HER AUNTIE PAULA, OLDER SISTER WHO HAS PROMISED THEM THEY COULD LIVE WITH HER, HER HUSBAND AND 2 SONS IN A GOOD HOUSE WITH KIMBERLEY ATTENDING SCHOOL AND HER MOTHER HELPING TO CARE FOR THE BOYS AS AUNTIE PAULA AND HER HUSBAND BOB, ARE IN BUSINES RUNNING A CLOTHES FACTORY.
THE REALITY IS VERY DIFFERENT, SHE PUTS THEM IN A VERMIN INFESTED APARTMENT IN BROOKLYN. THEY ONLY HAVE SOMETIME WORKING OVERN TO KEEP THEM WARM, THEY OWE PAULA FOR THEIR FARES, VISAS AND PASSPORTS SO MOTHER HAS TO WORK IN WHAT IS REALLY A GLORIFIED WEAT SHOP TO EARN THE VERY MINIMUM WAGE AND ALTHOUGH KIMBERLEY GOES TO SCHOOL SHE HAS TO HELP HER MOTHER AT WORK TO KEEP UP HER QUOTA OR ELSE SHE IS IN TROUBLE WITH HER ELDER SISTER WHO IS THE WORST KIND OF BOSS, EMPLOYING ILLEGAL WORKERS IN THE MOST PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS AND WHERE HEALTH AND SAFETY IS A JOKE!!
ALTHOUGH NEITHER KIMBERLEY OR HER MOTHER SPEAK ENGLISH SO HER FIRST DAYS AT SCHOOL ARE PRETTY GRIM BECAUSE SHE IS EXCEEDINGLY CLEVER SHE MANAGES TO GET THE HIGHEST MARKS AND FINALLY CAN GET HER MOTHER AND HERSELF TO A BETTER LIFE BUT NOT BEFORE TRAGIC EVENTS HAPPEN AND THEIR SUFFERING AND POVERTY IS TRULY CHALLENGED.
I LOVED THIS BOOK, ITS NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM THE WAY THE YOUNG GIRL FIGHTS AGAINST PREJUDICE AND THE INCREDIBLY FUNNY CHINESE INSULTS SHE USES AGAINST TH SCHOOL BULLY HAVE TO BE READ TO BE BELIEVED.
IT IS A MOVING TALE OF HARDSHIP AND TRIUMPH OF ALL THAT IS SAID WITHOUT WORDS AND ALL THAT GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION.
REVIEW BY MAGS