Jean Kwok's Reviews > Girl in Translation

I thoroughly enjoyed your book. You have a refreshing, clear voice. I look forward to recommending your book in May as a bookseller. Thank you.

Thanks so much -- it really means a lot to me!

I'd never actually used the "recommend this book" feature on Goodreads before, but for this book, I had to try it out. Wonderful book; you've got a bestseller here! Thanks for writing a good one.

Jean wrote: "Thanks so much -- it really means a lot to me!"

Hawktail, thank you!

I am an audiobook junkie and listen to about 2 books a month. That adds up quickly and I've listened to hundreds of books. Your book is in my rare 5 star rating category. I just loved it. It came alive for me. If I have anything negative to say, it was that it was too short, I could have gone on and on. I wrote a review on Audible, Facebook, Amazon and here. Great work and thanks for writing it.

Ella, thank you so much for your message! It is so wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the novel and I appreciate your taking the time to let me know.

Best,
Jean

A truly amazing book! Thank you for writing such a compelling story. I hope you write many more :)

Laura wrote: "A truly amazing book! Thank you for writing such a compelling story. I hope you write many more :)"

Thanks so much, Laura! It's so nice to hear from you and I am deep in the midst of my next book, which is set both in Chinatown and in the professional ballroom dance world. I post updates on what I'm doing on my Facebook fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Kw...

Very glad you liked the book and I appreciate your taking the time to get in touch!

Best,
Jean

I am eagerly awaiting your next novel. So glad to hear it is in the works.

Thanks, Mysti! Very encouraging to hear when I'm typing away...

I gave you five stars too. I loved your book and now I understand more of the immigrant experience like why many still work in sweatshops.
Good Luck to you with your future book, I will be looking forward to reading it.

Carol Wong

Carol, so glad to hear you enjoyed the book -- that we would gain a bit better understanding of each other was my greatest hope when I wrote it. Thanks for getting in touch!

Seriously Jean, I reserve my five star ratings for books that I truly love ... and your beautiful novel qualified. :)

Pattie, I am so honored! Thank you!
Best,
Jean

Thanks for a well- written and truly enjoyable book. It not only gave me a new perspective on immigration, and the difficulties inherent in that, but also demonstrated the importance of staying strong and true to yourself.
One question though-- do you have another book coming anytime soon?

Nicola wrote: "Thanks for a well- written and truly enjoyable book. It not only gave me a new perspective on immigration, and the difficulties inherent in that, but also demonstrated the importance of staying str..."

Nicola, I'm so glad you enjoyed my book! Thanks so much for writing and letting me know. I am very close to done on the next book, which is set both in Chinatown and in the professional ballroom dance world. If you're on Facebook or Twitter, I post updates there pretty regularly:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-K...
http://twitter.com/#!/JeanKwok
Thanks again!

A brilliant work from start to finish. The beauty of great writing is the way the writer creates a character that is relatable to everyone, across cultures. And this book has done that. Often, when I read books about Chinese families, the mother is usually portrayed as stern and cold to her children, especially daughters. I love that the author was able to give the mother a voice and multiple layers. And how the mother and daughter were each other's champions added to the believability of the story. I would have been sad if Kimberly had given up Yale to be with Matt. I liked the complexity of the relationship but I would have been heartbroken if her life had not gotten beyond jewelry making in Queens.

Melissa wrote: "A brilliant work from start to finish. The beauty of great writing is the way the writer creates a character that is relatable to everyone, across cultures. And this book has done that. Often, when..."
Melissa, thank you for taking the time to write this review - you've made my day! :-) You name exactly the hopes I had when I was writing the novel. I hoped the book would be enlightening, yet entertaining, and I wanted the readers to understand Ma's love and compassion. And indeed, Kimberly needed to be true to herself at the end of the book. In fact, she makes a very brief appearance in my new novel Mambo in Chinatown (pub date June 24, 2014), which isn't about Kimberly at all, but we can see how she's doing. Rest assured that Kimberly and Ma are just fine.

Looking forward to your upcoming book. I found Girl in Translation when I got it for my wife after finding it on a list of "Top Twenty Books Women Should Read". I ended up reading it before her and can say that this certainly a story that BOTH women and men should read.

Tim "The Enchanter" wrote: "Looking forward to your upcoming book. I found Girl in Translation when I got it for my wife after finding it on a list of "Top Twenty Books Women Should Read". I ended up reading it before her a..."

I love hearing that, Tim, thank you! :-)

I am at the beginning of the book, and I have already given it 5 stars. As an immigrant myself (not from Hong Kong), I could relate a bit to Kimberly and her struggles. It's very well written. I look forward to finishing it.

That's so nice to hear, Lorna! I really hope you enjoy it all the way to the end. :-)

I just finished your book, and loved it very much! It was an absolutely brilliant love story, and carried a strong message. I find my life incredibly similar to Kimberly's, just the other way round, because I moved to Hong Kong from America. Keep it up!

Rachel, so interesting that you moved the other way! So glad you enjoyed my book and thank you for letting me know! Kimberly makes a tiny cameo in my new book with a mystery love interest... ;-)

Jean wrote: "Rachel, so interesting that you moved the other way! So glad you enjoyed my book and thank you for letting me know! Kimberly makes a tiny cameo in my new book with a mystery love interest... ;-)"
I'm glad to hear that there will be more of her in your new book! Can't wait until it comes out in June!

I love your book it is so starkly real and captivating! I related to Kim very well as a fellow Chinese who moved here at age 9 and half.

I skipped school to finish the book; it was so hard to put down!

Thank you for sharing such an inspiring and unique story with us! It has greatly inspired me to do well in school and become motivated again. I used to only care about school and education, for I thought that was the sole way I'll have a future. Ever since I came to the United States I have been becoming less motivated to work hard at school, I am glad to see a reflection and a reminder of my old self again in your book.

I will certainly add Mambo in Chinatown in my "to read" list!

I haven't finished yet (only 3 chapters) but I really liked.

Thank you so much for the book and many hugs from Istanbul,Turkey.

Mia, I'm so glad my book motivated you and I wish you all the best in school and elsewhere! I really hope you'll enjoy Mambo in Chinatown too! :-)

Linda, I hope you enjoy the rest of the book as well - and exciting you're reading it in Turkey! I loved Istanbul when I was there!

Ms. Kwok, I thoroughly enjoyed your book! The way you developed the characters, their relationships and the trials and tribulations they had to face was so well-done. I think this story would make a great motion picture one day. Is that something you would consider?
I am excited to hear about your next book, Mambo in Chinatown, and can't wait to read it. Best of luck in all your endeavors!

The end! THE END! I fell upon my bed with a smile. This was an amazing book, five stars for sure! I love reading about the difficulties of coming to a new country and working hard to fit in and find one's self. This was an excellent book!

Marie wrote: "Ms. Kwok, I thoroughly enjoyed your book! The way you developed the characters, their relationships and the trials and tribulations they had to face was so well-done. I think this story would make ..."

Marie, please call me Jean and thank you for your very kind words. There is interest in making it into a film, so fingers crossed! I hope you enjoy Mambo in Chinatown as well - Kimberly makes a cameo in it! :-)

Krystal wrote: "The end! THE END! I fell upon my bed with a smile. This was an amazing book, five stars for sure! I love reading about the difficulties of coming to a new country and working hard to fit in and fin..."

So happy you were smiling as you finished my book! :-)

I really loved your book. I am always looking for good books to give my mom for her birthday and Girl in Translation will be perfect. I know she will find it interesting.

I really enjoyed reading this book. As a teacher who works with second language learners this book was interesting to read from the perspective of the student and what she was going through (even though it is fiction.) I really love the characters and how relatable they were. My book club discussed this book and most people very much enjoyed this book. Thanks for the enjoyable story! I am currently reading Mambo in Chinatown now.

I LOVE that you truly care what we think. I have not read this book yet but u can bet you butt I'm going to go download it as soon as I'm done writing this!!! Soooo excited that u care....

Thank you for such a lovely book.

I really want to read this book but this book doesn't available yet in my country. And I don't know how to buy online. because I don't have pay pal.

I'm an old lady, it takes superb writing to move me to tears and laughter but Girl In Translation made me cry, grin and laugh. The emotion pours off the pages, the characters are real, the experiences very much a part of the American fabric that we don't acknowledge. Thank you for a wonderful book.

I had to read your book for school. We had a month to read it but I finished it in three days. I loved it so much. I gave it to my grandma for her birthday abd she loved it as well. I can't wait to read your new book that entered our bookstores in July.

Dear Jean Kwok,

You book is amazing I finished it a week or two ago and I love it so much I'm hoping to find a copy of your other book and read it I'm hoping my school library has it . I just wanted you to know that have done an amazing job writing books and I for one hope continue writing tons and tons more books. I also hope yon get the chance to read this if so thank you for your time.

Your biggest fan,
Krystyn Johnson

Beautiful, powerful story! I could not put this book down mostly because I loved the characters so much.

This book was absolutely perfect but I just still dont get it ....kim didnt want her child to suffer but she managed to become a doctor even without matt's help so why she couldnt do the same with him??? He could just help it wouldnt get any worse anyway...and matt knew that she was going to go on a university he didnt have a problem with that....and if they really loved each other it didnt matter who had more money just like kim said many times and many couples live like that nowadays ....I just dont get it what was the problem with matt being in the picture???

I just finished the book, and I must say I loved it! I saw myself in Kim here and there and even though the ending was very upsetting, i understand her decisions! Though I sincerely hoped that Matt and Kim were to be together in the future. Jean you did a good job writing this book, you're awesome

Loved your book Jean!! Loved the way it ended even though it was heartbreaking . Glad you didn't go the easy route on that and more of what I personally wanted for her!!!

Loved your book Jean!! Loved the way it ended even though it was heartbreaking . Glad you didn't go the easy route on that and more of what I personally wanted for her!!!

I have not read many books as brilliantly written as this one! I loved the beginning, the middle, and especially the end. Kimberly is such a strong character. Love her!

Very involving and affecting book. I also read your other one;"Mambo In Chinatown" and got into that one as well(& learned a lot about ballroom dancing!)

This book is one of the best I had read, the story is involving and I really like the book, wonderful work

My husband and I listened to this book while traveling. We loved it until the last couple of chapters. The things she did seemed out of character, and we wondered if someone else had written the ending. Again, up to there we loved it. Thank you for sharing your talent.