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Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok was a true expression. It is a real treat to follow line by line. Kwok writes in such a manner that it is easy to become engulfed in her knack for literary brilliance. You turn pages not even realizing that you are in a book, for hours you are taken in which is my capstone for a good read.
Kwok tells the tale of "A-Kim" Kimberly Chang and "Ma" who travel from Hong Kong. They survive a bitter arrival to New York City, USA, ensconced in their dreams of a better existence. Unfortunately they were not met with the welcome they sought. The nemesis of the tale is Ma's sister Aunt Paula who deposits them in a dilapidated, roach infested, critter contained, condemned building. She then enslaves them to a tour of duty at her clothing sweatshop where they earn pennies in unspeakable conditions.
Jean Kwok's Girl In Translation vividly, and markedly, details what I would expect coming into a new surrounding, a new land, where new words abound. She captures the language barrier uniquely emphasizing words sometimes as they sound, or as we hear them, ultimately the reader feels out of place right along with the characters.
Like a true heroine, Kimberly stands firm to Aunt Paula's attempts to maim by emotionally and physically distracting her from success. Ma works tirelessly as Kimberly excels and moves beyond their circumstances. Kwok makes sure that her readers become deeply moved by her phrases and her characters' progressions. When I read "all the pieces that composed me would scatter and I would find nothing left of myself" I knew that this book would be with me for a long, long time.
