Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

There's no way you can read this book without having your heart hurt at the poverty levels some immigrants endure, and the lengths they go to in order to stay in America. Kim is eleven when she and her mother come to America from Hong Kong--the book follows her through high school, then skips to her at age 26. I enjoyed the way Kwok injected just enough Chinese thought and sayings into the story without overwhelming the reader with unfamiliar names, traditions, and words. Although the book does not dwell on the American educational standard, it does examine our attitudes toward education. Kim knows that her only chance of breaking out of poverty is by getting an education, and she is determined to excel. Because she has this single driving thought throughout the book, the ending is a bit surprising. I liked the way Kwok handled the ending, though: she gives us enough hints, but still leaves some suspense about Kim's decisions. It was a good book for an adult to read, but high school students would enjoy it, too.