katreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I inhaled this novel in two days. It was a compelling story of growing up amidst challenging circumstances. It really opened my eyes to another world. I hoped for a different ending, but I think it fit perfectly for Kimberly.
marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
3.0
What I found most interesting about this book was my realization that the squalor described that Kim and her mother worked in, lived in, and were oppressed into by family no less, is the true, every-day situation for a lot of people in this country. That is depressing, but good to be aware of because without awareness nothing else can happen.
I was inspired by Kim rising above her at-home reality to truly excel in schoolwork and seeing that as an escape method to create a better life and situation for her family. While she certainly struggled to balance out her two lives - because I wouldn't say they coincided very well at all - I at times felt like the ease of her school-live was almost a little too much. Okay, you have to hide from your best friend the fact that after school you go straight to your aunt's factory where you help your mom put dresses on hangers and in plastic bags, getting paid 1 cent or less per dress, getting home very late at night and still having to do homework, but you have a full-ride scholarship to the most prestigious private school in the city because you're super smart and impressed the administration, and you got away with it because your aunt told you to use a fake address. That fascinates in fiction, but doesn't really add up to me. Of course, there are always outliers who break the bonds that try to hold them back. In this book, it just seemed like while the hard was definitely hard, the easy was almost too easy.
Also, Kim's choices in the end did not impress me at all. Talk about booksmarts vs. streetsmarts. She had one set in spades, tackling with ease any school subject (with the only exception being English, perhaps) and sailed straight to the top of the class. She recognized that education would be her one way out of her situation. But she misplaced her trust in friends who didn't have her best interests at heart, were hurt by the fact that she wanted to achieve something beyond the factory and other odd jobs. Matt was offended that if they were going to be together, he wouldn't be the breadwinner by some random compilation of odd jobs, and didn't see why she would even want to continue to improve her position by pursuing the education to become a surgeon. And she hung around with him anyway. Well, for one night at least. Smart girls aren't smart at everything. This reaction of hes just didn't match up for me with her approach to anything else she was doing or working for. She skipped a grade or two, but couldn't figure out where hanging out with Matt would take her.
I was inspired by Kim rising above her at-home reality to truly excel in schoolwork and seeing that as an escape method to create a better life and situation for her family. While she certainly struggled to balance out her two lives - because I wouldn't say they coincided very well at all - I at times felt like the ease of her school-live was almost a little too much. Okay, you have to hide from your best friend the fact that after school you go straight to your aunt's factory where you help your mom put dresses on hangers and in plastic bags, getting paid 1 cent or less per dress, getting home very late at night and still having to do homework, but you have a full-ride scholarship to the most prestigious private school in the city because you're super smart and impressed the administration, and you got away with it because your aunt told you to use a fake address. That fascinates in fiction, but doesn't really add up to me. Of course, there are always outliers who break the bonds that try to hold them back. In this book, it just seemed like while the hard was definitely hard, the easy was almost too easy.
Also, Kim's choices in the end did not impress me at all. Talk about booksmarts vs. streetsmarts. She had one set in spades, tackling with ease any school subject (with the only exception being English, perhaps) and sailed straight to the top of the class. She recognized that education would be her one way out of her situation. But she misplaced her trust in friends who didn't have her best interests at heart, were hurt by the fact that she wanted to achieve something beyond the factory and other odd jobs. Matt was offended that if they were going to be together, he wouldn't be the breadwinner by some random compilation of odd jobs, and didn't see why she would even want to continue to improve her position by pursuing the education to become a surgeon. And she hung around with him anyway. Well, for one night at least. Smart girls aren't smart at everything. This reaction of hes just didn't match up for me with her approach to anything else she was doing or working for. She skipped a grade or two, but couldn't figure out where hanging out with Matt would take her.
bookaddictpnw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
alliereneau's review against another edition
5.0
Great, great, great book. About a young girl and her mother coming to America with nothing. Book goes through the young girl's whole school career and then some. Talks about her adjusting to attending school without knowing any English and then going to help her mom at a clothing factory daily. Really good!
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
4.0
What I Liked
I really enjoyed - and learned a lot from - this read. Since this book is apparently semi-autobiographical, I was so impressed by the resiliency, perseverance, and innovation of the Chinese-American immigrants in this story.
One of my favorite techniques of the novel was how Kowk writes English as heard from the ears of a girl who only speaks Cantonese. I struggled to glean what people were saying in my own language, and this helped me understand the perspective of an ESL student, possibly for the first time.
Friendships in the two different worlds were beautiful and intriguing.
What I Didn't Like
The ending wrapped up a little too neatly for me. I feel like it could have been fleshed out so much deeper, as the relationships were complex and so full all up until that last wrapped-up chapter.
I really enjoyed - and learned a lot from - this read. Since this book is apparently semi-autobiographical, I was so impressed by the resiliency, perseverance, and innovation of the Chinese-American immigrants in this story.
One of my favorite techniques of the novel was how Kowk writes English as heard from the ears of a girl who only speaks Cantonese. I struggled to glean what people were saying in my own language, and this helped me understand the perspective of an ESL student, possibly for the first time.
Friendships in the two different worlds were beautiful and intriguing.
What I Didn't Like
The ending wrapped up a little too neatly for me. I feel like it could have been fleshed out so much deeper, as the relationships were complex and so full all up until that last wrapped-up chapter.
rwidiani's review against another edition
4.0
You know you really like a book when you carry it wherever you go instead of leaving it behind on the places where you have time to read it. Instead, you make time reading the book and use as much time as possible to read it. I have it with this book.
It's such an inspiring book. Just realized that immigrant life experience is one of the topics that I enjoy reading. Can learn a lot from this kind of books, where struggle and determination is the only way to reach your dream and goals in life.
I was surprised to find out that the writer lives in the Netherlands. I hope her next books will be in the same subject again.
It's such an inspiring book. Just realized that immigrant life experience is one of the topics that I enjoy reading. Can learn a lot from this kind of books, where struggle and determination is the only way to reach your dream and goals in life.
I was surprised to find out that the writer lives in the Netherlands. I hope her next books will be in the same subject again.
pmatijevic's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kansas_b's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0