Update: "Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok

Girl in Translation is the story of Kimberly, a Chinese immigrant from Hong Kong who moves to New York City with her mother.

So far, I'm pleasantly surprised by Girl in Translation. Usually, I'm not the greatest fan of historical fiction (even though this is not that far in the past) or immigrant stories. I usually feel like they're too played out and a lot of the time, not that well written. It's really hard to relate to these characters because of their situation for me, which makes me not enjoy the book as much.

In Girl..., possibly because of the relative modern-ness of the story, I can pretty easily relate to Kimberly as a character. She is a smart, aware character who still has normal wants as an eleven or twelve year old, but is not taken over by these actions. She knows the importance of family, another thing I like about Kimberly.

Also layers of the story are interesting. Kim wants to be accepted by her peers at school and in the factory, but her strong Chinese upbringing is keeping her from totally assimilating. She also wants to please her traditionalist Chinese mother, but at the same time it's hard to do that when you're trying to become more American so you can do well in school and make new friends, even talk to your crush. Kim is a torn character, and I can't wait to watch her as she grows and sees which path she takes.

I was also interested in the Aunt's role in this. Kim's Aunt, Paula, seems very reluctant to help her sister and her niece, for reasons that have been hinted at, but not totally explained. The customs of the Chinese don't let Kim's mother complain about her sister not helping them as much as was promised, but I want to see if the sheer terribleness of Kim and her moms condition makes Kim's mother break away from their customs for a little while.

Update: "Maus I..." by Art Spiegelman

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History is a book chronicling the true story of the author's father's life during the Nazi occupation of Poland and the Holocaust during World War II.

I love this book so far. I really can't wait to read the next on, and I'm sad that I'm almost done with this one. The art is so detailed and enthralling, and the story is so real. The illustrations make obvious symbols that somehow don't make the story as disturbing, but still holds that terrible truths behind it.

For example, the clear "cat and mouse" illustrations represent the way the Nazi's came after the pretty much helpless Jews. They played with them when they were around them like a cat plays with it's prey. This symbol, and others like it, make the story have a deeper meaning, but also, in my opinion, make the book slightly less disturbing for younger readers who may not be comfortable with the Holocaust in detail.

The animals playing the parts of humans also make the book easier to read and follow for younger readers like me, and engaging. Though I think I would be able to understand the plot okay, the physical change in appearance helps me distinguish and label characters in the story.

I would like to know why the other nationalities and ethnicities are represented as such. Like why are the Poles pigs? Was there any specific reasoning, like with the cats and Nazi's and Jewish people as mice (or rats, I can't really tell). I also thought I saw a frog and a lizard in a scene where a party was happening. Maybe more animals will be featured in the next book, or at the end of this one. Until then, read on!

"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, by Ray Bradbury, is a short story about a young drummer-boy, named Joby, the night before the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. It describes his nervousness and anxiety over fighting in a war at his age of fourteen, and how a general helps him overcome his fear. I think one of the themes in the short story is that often we, people, or armies, are usually more alike than different.

           

One example of the theme in the story is that people are usually more alike than different is that that Ray Bradbury never gives the protagonist, Joby, a side in the Civil War. The author talks about the soldiers and all their nervousness, hopefulness and feelings, but no one ever even briefly mentions the North or South. The author did this intentionally, as this lets us, the reader, a clear view of the emotions of both sides of the War without letting our personal opinions of the motives of either sides. The story is not a judgment of the North of the South, but just telling the story of a boy at war. This is one reason a theme in this short story is that we are more alike than different.

           

Another example the theme in the story is how people are more alike than different is that the author describes the soldiers in the same way. For instance, the general relates the soldiers, saying that, “I fear it will be full of boys again…”, representing each side as only boys, also showing the innocence in both sides in the Civil War. The general also says, “Counting both sides, there’s a hundred thousand men- give of take a thousand- out there tonight, not one as can spot a sparrow off a tree, or knows a horse clod from a Minie ball.” The author is trying to relate the sides further by using their innocence, again, and their inexperience.

           

In conclusion, one of the major themes of The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, by Ray Bradbury, is we are more alike than we are more alike than we are different. This is clearly represented in the story as referring to two sides of a battle, or two armies, but this can also apply to everyday life. People of different religions, morals or lifestyles are probably more alike than they think. I think that this feeds into a really important lesson in tolerance. Even when you’re ‘at war’ with someone, literally shown in the short story, you can still be quite a lot alike. If people can find common ground with each other, they can build up tolerance for all the things they have different. I don’t exactly know if that was a lesson the Bradbury was trying to teach, but it’s really helpful lesson to take out of the story.

           

I can really relate with this story. I argue a lot with my brothers, and when I try to calm down and look at the argument in a more responsible and calm way, I have to thin about how they could just be expressing their opinion, just like I am. I have to find common ground, either to base a further argument on or to stop the argument all together. When I get angry with someone for something, I have to think about why they did it. I could have the same idiosyncrasies that they have, and can be awkward or annoying in the same way. I just don’t realize it because I’m myself. We all have to find common ground with people so we can get along. That’s how we all build relationships and friendships.