Girl in Translation

By tenth grade, Kim is one of the best students at her school. One evening, Annette asks Kim on the phone how she manages to do so well, given that she does all her studying at the last minute. Kim suggests it's like being born with an extra head. However, Kim doesn't see it as particularly remarkable; she believes she's simply doing as she's told. What's more, she knows that doing well, securing a scholarship to a prestigious college, and getting a good job afterwards is the only way to get out of poverty. Though Kim receives top scores on her Advanced Placement tests, the other kids at school still don't want to be friends.

Ma finally allows Kim to grow out her hair, and since her body settles in a perfect size six, Kim is able to take samples from the factory and not stand out so much at school. Regardless, other kids view her as too serious. Even when Kim is invited places, she makes excuses and doesn't even ask Ma, as she knows she'd eventually have to invite them to her apartment.

Annette accepts Kim's limitations for the most part. As the year goes on, Annette develops an admiration for Mr. Jamali. Annette’s crushes continue to be more of a way to pass the time than actual feelings, and Kim enjoys pretending she's normal as she talks about crushes with Annette. She tells the reader that she gave up long ago that Aunt Paula would move them, and she knows there's little chance that anything will change.

At the factory, Kim is tuned into Matt's every move. One afternoon, she mistakenly comments that his pants look different. He admits he's not wearing underwear, and Kim explains to the reader that she spends so much time staring at Matt's backside, she's sure he's telling the truth. One day, as Kim takes a break outside, she comes across Park fixing Matt's bike chain while Matt watches. Matt flirts with Kim, which she ignores. Kim's feelings for Matt are so intense that she avoids contact with him. She feels halfway as though giving into her emotions would make her lose everything she'd worked for academically. As an adult, she recognizes that she simply didn't know what love was, and should've taken Matt when she had the chance.

One afternoon, a girl named Vivian is waiting for Matt outside the factory. She's gorgeous, kind, and perfect in every way. Kim learns that Vivian's father is a tailor from Singapore who runs a shop near Matt's apartment. Though their relationship begins when she's taller than Matt, he soon grows tall and broad. Kim watches them together and aches with regret.

Curt breaks a leg skiing right after Kim turns sixteen. They haven't spoken at all since he defended her to Dr. Copeland in eighth grade. Because of this, Kim is surprised when he calls her late one night. He explains that he's stuck in bed for a month and will fail out of school if she doesn't help him. He admits that he's in trouble for all sorts of reasons and has to keep his grades up, and he insists that nobody at school is smarter than Kim. Kim agrees to let Curt borrow her notes and sends them home every day with his brother. Curt calls occasionally late at night and never asks why she's not home earlier. When he returns to school, he doesn't hide that Kim helped him. Because of this, the popular group finally accepts Kim.

As Kim's popularity rises, boys begin to take interest in her. She feels liberated now that Matt is no longer available. She spends most of her weekend evenings on the phone with boys, which drives Ma crazy. Kim recognizes that she's not pretty, funny, or a good listener—all the things girls think boys want—but she understands that the boys really want freedom from their parents and expectations. This is exactly what Kim wants too. This makes her extremely attractive to them, and she spends most of her free periods kissing them. Kim relishes the freedom she has with her body, as it's the only place in her life she has such freedom. Kim remains detached emotionally from these dalliances, as she recognizes that they're just a dream. Her reality is poverty, cold, the factory, and Matt.

Kim begins tutoring Curt once per week, which she's initially happy to do. However, as Curt's grades recover, he stops taking it seriously. He often forgets appointments altogether or comes with marijuana. Kim learns that he forgets about time when he's working on a sculpture. Finally, she confronts him and insists that he should do his homework and possibly, get a different tutor. This improves things somewhat, and things get even better when they begin holding their sessions in Curt's studio.

Curt makes polished woodcarvings, all of which are abstract. Kim studies one that looks almost like the Chinese character for water and asks why he never sculpts things from real life. Curt cracks a joke about Kim modeling for him, but then seriously says that the abstract shapes can mean or be anything the viewer wants. Kim doesn't like having so much choice; she insists that she needs purpose. Curt laughs that Kim doesn't care about superficial things. Kim insists she does—she wishes she could look like the other girls but doesn't know how. Curt declares she's too busy saving the world to care, and Kim insists that she's not a "paragon of virtue."

Curt asks about her phrasing, and Kim asks if Curt's parents don't talk that way. He explains that his parents are editors and they absolutely talk that way, and Kim admits that she doesn't speak like that at home. She returns the subject to Curt's sculpture. The next week he brings a small carving of a swallow. Kim compliments it but refuses to take it when Curt offers.

Annette gets involved in theater in eleventh grade. Mr. Jamali comments on her love of the dramatic and convinces her to try out. Kim loves to watch Annette during rehearsals, as she never gets to see the evening performances.

Aunt Paula and Uncle Bob invite Kim and Ma to accompany them to see Nelson's debate competition. Apparently, he's very good. In Bob and Paula's minivan, Ma and Kim sit in the very back and listen as Nelson and Godfrey make fun of Bob's Chinese silk shirt. They turn around so Bob can change and Nelson also makes Paula take off her "tacky" gold jewelry. Paula makes a point to ask Kim about her extracurriculars and remind her how important they are to colleges. Kim continues to let Paula think that she's still doing poorly in school, as it seems to make Paula abuse her less. Nelson starts to shame Ma for her simple clothes, but Kim stops him. His debate team loses.

That winter, Ma and Kim's stove finally breaks. After a few nights huddled together under blankets, Ma calls a man recommended by a lady at the factory. The man doesn't have certifications to work in the U.S. After a while, he deems the stove unfixable and asks for $100. Kim accuses the man of taking advantage of them and ignores Ma's pleading for her to stop. She notes that she had the confidence that comes from having to act like an adult for too long. Kim asks the man for his passport and papers and when he attempts to intimidate her, she dials Annette's phone number but says to the man that she's calling the police. The man races away.