Books like Girl in translation by Jean Kwok
Kimberly Chang, a bright student with a secret double life, navigates the contrasting worlds of elite American schooling and a Chinatown sweatshop after immigrating from Hong Kong with her mother. While excelling in class, she secretly works nights for Aunt Paula’s factory, grappling with poverty, responsibility toward her family, and a hidden affection for a fellow worker. Through Kimberly’s journey, author Jean Kwok—who shares a similar immigrant past—captures the tension between the pursuit of success in America, the weight of family duty, and personal aspiration, offering an intimate look at the often unseen challenges of the Chinese‑American immigrant experience.
First publish date: 2010
Genre: Coming of Age/Teen Coming of Age
Authors: Jean Kwok
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