Moving to the United States and not being able to speak English was difficult for young Kao Kalia Yang, a Hmong immigrant.
Yang talks about her isolation at school in her book The Rock In My Throat:
“Recess is the hardest time of the day…
I look at the sky.
I look at the ground.
I look at my feet.
I look at my hands.
I look all around so the people can’t see that I’m lonely.”
The story is filled with lovely prose about Yang’s feelings. In one situation, Yang explains how dreadful she felt when her mother went to purchase a light bulb. The clerk at the store was impatient and rude to her mother, who had trouble explaining what she needed because her English was not developed. Yang did not want to be offensive like the English-speaking salesperson, so she stopped talking at school. Unfortunately, her teachers did not understand how sad and frustrated Yang felt about not being confident speaking English. In contrast, the author inserts comments in Hmong to demonstrate that her family easily communicated with each other, though people at school were not able to understand them.
The author writes about the intimidation that she felt as a child. Her words explain the deep discouragement she suffered and how the rock in her throat became heavier and heavier.
“I am exhausted when I go home.
I am exhausted every day after that.
I am exhausted every time I go to school.
I am exhausted every time we are in the world that speaks English.”
Yang is not heard at school until later, when she befriends a classmate, Julia, who first exchanges written notes with her. Finally, someone hears her.
This is an excellent book to share with students to teach about how difficult it can be for new pupils who can’t speak English to connect with others and talk about the barriers they face. We can all help new English-learners feel included by being patient and helping them participate in community activities. Jiemei Lin’s illustrations add to the story with the use of beautiful pictures of Yang and her family.
