SETTING

 Place Setting

Chinatown in 1890, Brooklyn

Clothes Factory in Chinatown

Place settings in this novel is mainly at Chinatown located in Brooklyn. This is where Kimberly and her mother stayed in their poor apartment. The factory where they worked also situated in Chinatown. Most of the people that live in this place are Chinese immigrants and it is not a very safe place. For me, living here can make you become creative in many different ways. Kimberly and her mother live in a small apartment full of rats and cockroaches. They had tried many things to chase all these pests. You have no other choice to become comfortable unless you get rid from all of them. Living here also trained you to be more careful toward your surrounding. This is because the security system is not good and there are many crimes taking places around you. Besides, you must also be careful when working in the factory. Sometimes, sewing machines can cause injury and the place to dry the clothes can make your skin burn. 

Hunter High School, Brooklyn

This is the school where Kimberly had been admitted based on her excellent result. At first, she did not so sure to enter this school because she did not have enough money to pay the fees. In the end, the school offered her a full scholarship when they saw her result. Therefore, this shows that with knowledge and good achievement we will be accepted by people. Furthermore, we will also been given opportunity to continue our study if people know that we are the excellent one. Then, entering a new school with new surrounding can also give us an opportunity to mixed around with new people. Each of us has a different way of thinking, so if we can share our ideas it will be good for us.

Time Setting 

The time setting was not mentioned in this novel. But according to the history, Chinese immigrants start to settle in United States in the early of 19th century. Most of them worked as laborers in factories and mining industry. In my opinion, they came to United States to find a better life because there are a lot of job opportunities there. Some of them started to involve in business and marketing until they can opened their own factory.