Unpolished Gem

This book shows a powerful insight into the struggle of finding your feet in a new country. The true story of Alice Pung is written in a way that keeps you coming back for more. The story begins by telling of the wonder her father and mother felt when they came to Australia and how amazed they were by how bright, colourful and cheap everything was. Alice tells of how she grew up with her grandmother living in her house and how her mother hated that she would try and steal Alice from her. Alice shows an insight on how it feels to live with depression and she says quite often that she goes out wearing a rubber mask. The rubber mask meaning that she put on a happy face even though she felt terrible. She learns to love and lose the people she loves. But mostly she becomes an independant young woman.