Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

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Kim and her mom arrived in NY in search of a better life,
with the help of her mom's older sister. She got them an unlivable apartment, without heating in cold NY winters, with broken windows and no furniture. She made them both work at a sweatshop for very, very little money and then she took most of it.

Kim had to go to school in a new country, barely knowing the language and not knowing the culture. She stuck out and the school that she once loved, because very hard. It was hard to make friends when you could never invite anyone back home, or spend all of your afternoons and evenings working.

But she didn't give up, she continued to try and learn and soon got a spot in a prestigious private school. It didn't get much easier for her, especially when you top the struggle with teenage angst and problems, but she never gave up.

I loved the first half of the book. It's a very beautiful, realistically written story of the struggle of growing up not knowing the culture, not knowing the language, and living in an impossible situation, but still somehow finding your way to the top.

I couldn't put it down. It is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. But the story and message kind of got lost in the second half of the book, especially toward the end. It felt like I was reading about a different character.

rating ❤❤❤❤
cover ❤❤❤❤


happy reading,
anie


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