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girlintranslationTechnology Connects Author, Schools For Global Conversation

On Thursday, December 1st, over 200 educators, students, and community members joined author Jean Kwok for a live, online discussion of Girl in Translation, the story of a young girl who struggles to fit in after immigrating to New York from Hong Kong. This entirely online discussion featured remarks by Ms. Kwok, who was visible on screen via webcam, and questions from students and educators across the country. Readers of all ages were engaged in thinking about critical global issues such as immigration, child labor, race, and identity. Educators were inspired to consider ways to incorporate Girl in Translation into their curricula in order to foster a deeper understanding of global issues.

View a recording of the Global Read discussion.

Registrations for the Global Read came from 21 states. In addition to individual readers, over fifteen reading groups participated, including an intergenerational book group in Arlington, Massachusetts, a group of 60 high school seniors from Bedford, Massachusetts, and student book clubs at the Global Learning Collaborative School (New York) and the University High School of Science and Engineering (Hartford, Connecticut). Thanks to a generous grant from the Pearson Foundation and the Penguin Group, 37 schools across the country received a total of 200 copies of Girl in Translation to be shared among staff and students. An educator in Ohio wrote, "This book is a perfect read for our students. The webinar was informative, fun, and insightful and I am more convinced than ever that we should incorporate this novel into our required reading."

This Global Read featured a unique partnership with We Give Books, an initiative of the Pearson Foundation. We Give Books allows anyone to read a children's book online to trigger the donation of a hardcover or paperback book to a child in need. The Primary Source We Give Books Campaign reached its 500-book goal in just five days.

In addition to hosting an online discussion of Girl in Translation, Primary Source made available a Teacher Toolkit designed to support teachers and students in their reading of the book. This free online resource includes discussion questions, classroom activities, supplemental reading recommendations, and writing prompts. An ongoing discussion forum is also available and readers are encouraged to continue the conversation with educators and students from across the country.

Global Read by the numbers

  • 37 schools received a total of 200 donated copies of Girl in Translation
  • Registrants came from 21 different states (AR, CA, CT, DC, FL, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, VA, WA)
  • Over 200 educators, students, librarians, and community members participated in the live discussion
  • 500 books donated at WeGiveBooks.org as part of the Primary Source Global Read Campaign