'The Interpreter' is a story about children who act as translators for their parents

Summary

Summary of NPR's Book of the Day Episode: "The Interpreter" by Olivia Abtahi

NPR's Book of the Day, hosted by Andrew Limbong and Scott Tong, delves into compelling literary works, offering listeners insightful discussions and deep analyses. In the February 6, 2025 episode, the focus is on Olivia Abtahi's poignant picture book, "The Interpreter", which explores the nuanced roles children often assume in immigrant families as translators and cultural mediators.

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Introduction to "The Interpreter"

Andrew Limbong opens the episode by sharing a personal anecdote that sets the stage for the book’s central theme. He recounts how, growing up, his non-English-speaking mother would rely on him to translate medical reports, highlighting a common experience among children of immigrants:

Andrew Limbong [00:02]: "That experience of being the voice for your non-English speaking parents is a pretty universal one among kids of immigrants. And it's the plot of the new picture book titled The Interpreter written by Olivia Abtahi."

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Exploring Cecilia’s Role

Scott Tong introduces Olivia Abtahi, the author of "The Interpreter," and delves into the main character's responsibilities within her family. Cecilia, a young girl, serves as the bridge between her Spanish-speaking parents and the English-speaking world, taking on tasks typically handled by adults.

Scott Tong [01:24]: "Olivia Abtahi explores this theme of kid translators and interpreters in her new picture book debut. The book for children is called The Interpreter and it's out today."

Olivia elaborates on Cecilia's duties:

Olivia Abtahi [02:17]: "Cecilia is an interpreter where she's translating English to Spanish for her parents and the rest of her family. So she is basically having what is a very adult job in the body of a child."

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Author’s Personal Insights and Inspirations

Olivia shares her personal background, enriching the narrative with her own experiences as a child interpreter in a multicultural household. Her father hails from Iran, and her mother from Argentina, creating a rich tapestry of languages and cultures that necessitated Cecilia's role.

Olivia Abtahi [04:38]: "My dad is originally from Iran and my mom is originally from Argentina. There were still a lot of cultural things between all three of the languages our household had that definitely needed a little bit more clarification."

She recounts a childhood memory that mirrors Cecilia’s challenges:

Olivia Abtahi [05:08]: "When it came time to change, I basically had what's we would now call a nightgown or a dressing gown. And the other troop leaders looked at me like, sweetie, we meant like long johns or thermals."

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Themes of Cultural and Language Barriers

The conversation highlights the intricate balance children like Cecilia must maintain between their cultural heritage and the demands of their new environment. The green suit Cecilia wears symbolizes the oversized responsibilities thrust upon her.

Scott Tong [07:46]: "Cecilia is telling the world that this is too much. This is a full-time job for adults."

Olivia expands on the societal expectations and pressures:

Olivia Abtahi [07:58]: "Having parents who don't speak English or like, you know, good American English, if you will, can definitely give you a lot of anxiety."

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Emotional Impact on Child Interpreters

The episode delves into the emotional toll these responsibilities take on children. Feelings of anxiety, shame, and guilt are prevalent as they navigate adult tasks while yearning to embrace their childhood.

Olivia Abtahi [07:58]: "Having parents who don't speak English or like, you know, good American English, if you will, can definitely give you a lot of anxiety."

Cecilia's frustration culminates in a powerful moment where she expresses her desire to simply be a child:

Olivia Abtahi [07:46]: "At that moment, Cecilia is telling the world that this is too much. This is a full time job for adults."

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Depiction of Parents and Family Dynamics

A pivotal aspect of "The Interpreter" is its respectful portrayal of parents. Olivia ensures that Cecilia's parents are depicted with dignity, emphasizing that their reliance on their daughter does not stem from incompetence but from the challenges of assimilation and cultural translation.

Olivia Abtahi [11:10]: "These parents aren't clueless. They know what's going on, but they just need that extra push, you know, for some of these cultural and language moments."

The illustrations by Monica Arnaldo further reinforce the parents' agency and strength, presenting them as capable individuals who are navigating a new world alongside their children.

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Conclusion: A Reflection on Filial Piety and Growth

The episode concludes by addressing the sense of duty children feel towards their immigrant parents, a theme deeply embedded in many first-generation families. Olivia emphasizes the importance of support systems in alleviating the burdens placed on young interpreters, allowing both children and parents to grow and adapt together.

Olivia Abtahi [09:51]: "For a lot of children of immigrants, just having parents who came to the United States to give us a better life gives us such a sense of duty and of feeling like we owe our parents everything."

In "The Interpreter," Olivia Abtahi masterfully captures the delicate interplay between duty and the innocence of childhood, offering a narrative that resonates with many and fosters empathy and understanding.

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About the Book: The Interpreter is Olivia Abtahi's debut picture book, beautifully illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. It poignantly portrays the lives of children in immigrant families who navigate the complexities of cultural and language barriers, balancing their roles as translators with their desire to embrace childhood.

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Transcript

[Andrew Limbong]

Hey, it's a bear's book of the day. I'm Andrew Limbong. Growing up, my mom was a nurse in the er and sometimes when she needed to write a report or something, she'd call me and whisper like, hey, Andrew, how do you say XYZ in English? And I'd talk her through on what to write, tell her I had homework to do and then go back to playing Crash Bandicoot or something. That experience of being the voice for your non English speaking parents is a pretty universal one among kids of immigrants. And it's the plot of the new picture book titled the Interpreter written by Olivia Abtahi. She spoke with here and now Scott Tong about how kids are filling the role. That's actually a job that grown adults are paid to do and are somehow still doing it while doing regular kid stuff. And it can sometimes be too much. That's coming up.

[Scott Tong]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Sony Pictures Classics. From acclaimed filmmaker Walter Salas, I'm Still.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Here is the untold true story of.

[Scott Tong]

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[Olivia Abtahi]

To tear them apart. Led by a breathtaking Golden Globe winning.

[Scott Tong]

Performance by Brazilian icon Fernanda Torres, I'm.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Still Here reveals an important part of Brazil's hidden history. The Hollywood Reporter calls it a gripping, profoundly touching film and one of Salas best. Now playing select cities.

[Scott Tong]

Have you ever been in a restaurant or, you know, waiting at the car dealership at the doctor's office and notice it's not the adults always speaking to the professionals, but instead one of their children. Well, the U.S. census Bureau says about 11 million children in America act as interpreters and translators for their families. This is because, of course, of language barriers. Olivia Abtahi explores this theme of kid translators and interpreters in her new picture book debut. The book for children is called the Interpreter and it's out today. Olivia, welcome to Here and Now.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Thank you so much for having me, Scott. Pleasure to be here.

[Scott Tong]

Good to have you. Congratulations on this project. This book follows Cecilia, a young girl who serves as an as an interpreter for her Spanish speaking parents. Just tell us briefly what her job is for her family. What does she have to do?

[Olivia Abtahi]

Yeah, Cecilia is an interpreter where she's translating English to Spanish for her parents and the rest of her family. So she is basically having what is a very adult job in the body of a child.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah. And she wears a suit when she's doing her job in the book, a green suit with a tie, which is, which I love. All right. Do you have a couple Pages you can read from.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Yeah, for sure. I'll start at the beginning. Some kids had one job to be a kid. Cecilia worked two.

[Scott Tong]

And let me pause you and explain that. The picture is of a girl with a suit and a tie, and she's multitasking. She's pouring a cup of coffee. She's got food in her mouth. She has these stickies. She has all these things she needs to do. All right, Paige, turn. Go ahead.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Nobody talked about Cecilia's second job. The intercom says, cecilia, you're up. They didn't even acknowledge it. That's how special it was. It's nice to meet you, Cecilia, says a doctor. On the page, the doctor says, this baby is very sick. It's not going to be an easy recovery. I need you to explain the treatment to her parents. Cecilia says, la bebes San Ferma y e va necessitar medicamento. On the next page, we see Cecilia at the dmv. And it says, Cecilia went to all kinds of grown up places, places her classmates had never been. No smiling, says a DMV attendant to her father. Sin son risa, says Cecilia. Here we cut to an accountant. Did you include all the receipts? Cecilia says, inclusio todos los recivos. Next, at the mechanic, a mechanic asks, when was the last time you had an oil change? Cuando fueltimo cambio de hacete? Cecilia used to have a co worker, but he got promoted.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah, no, that's a good place to pause and talk about this. Clearly, in all these walks of life, she has to be an interpreter. And I gather this is somewhat based on your own experience. Your parents spoke English when your family came to this country, but they needed kind of help with cultural translation. Was that your experience?

[Olivia Abtahi]

That's right, Scott. My dad is originally from Iran and my mom is originally from Argentina. And even though the two learned Spanish or learned English in school and they eventually learned Spanish together, that's the language that they speak with each other as well. There were still a lot of cultural things between all three of the languages our household had that definitely needed a little bit more clarification.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah. I wonder if you have an example that you remember. Cause some of it is just kind of avoiding awkward moments. Yeah.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Oh, my gosh. So many, Scott. The first one that comes to mind is once when I was a Girl Scout, we were going on a camping trip and there was a list of things to bring. And, you know, my parents didn't really grow up camping. Like my mom, when she wanted to go camping, Back in Argentina, would go hitchhiking up, you know, to the Amazon and, like, stay in a farmer's tobacco field. Like, that's how she would camp with her friends. And, you know, my dad, he grew up, his dad was a medic with the army. So they would go around to villages in Iran to the point where some of these villages had never seen a car before. So villagers would leave hay in front of the car at night, thinking that the car had to eat food. So they were already very, you know, rural situations. So when it came to camping, for me, it was very exotic. And on the list was pajamas. And my mom was so proud. She bought me, you know, the tin cup, the metal utensils, the sleeping bag and the pajamas. And I rolled up to this cabin so, so thrilled to, like, show off my new Looney Tunes pajamas. And when it came time to change, I basically had what's we would now call a nightgown or a dressing gown. And the other troop leaders looked at me like, sweetie, we meant like long johns or thermals. You know, we're going to need to cobble together something for you. Yeah. And so, like Cecilia, in the book, I'm wearing this very oversized set of adult sweatpants for the rest of the camping trip. But that was, that was just a moment where, you know, they never would have known and they know what pajamas are. They just didn't realize camping pajamas are different.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah, yeah, right. I mean, and it is cultural interpretation, you know, that's kind of at the center of this. And in your book, your kid's book, there's a moment where Cecilia, the main character, is counted on to do all these adult things and then she explodes in frustration. Right. She kind of screams at the world, I just want to live my life as a kid. I don't want to do this. What is she telling us? What is she telling the world, the reader?

[Olivia Abtahi]

At that moment, Cecilia is telling the world that this is too much. This is a full time job for adults. I know adult interpreters, and I'm really lucky to have grown up with a ton growing up in the D.C. area who were interpreters for the State Department. And it is a full time job. And here we're asking children to take on this full time job while they are also having the very real job of being a kid and going to school and having fun and having these new experiences and joyful moments in their life. And I think Cecilia is at a point where she can't take it anymore and it's just too much.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah. And You, I mean, you've talked about the anxiety and in some cases the shame and guilt that these children face. Talk a little bit more about that.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Oh, my gosh, there is so, so much shame and guilt. Having parents who don't speak English or like, you know, good American English, if you will, can definitely give you a lot of anxiety. And something that I think a lot of children can relate to is just the school bake sale. Just those two words, bake sale, like strike fear into our hearts. And growing up, it was like, you know, your parents would say, okay, we'll go pick up something from the store. And it's like, well, no, like, you know, as the kid, as an American kid, it needs to be something homemade. Okay, well, then I'll make them something from our country. I'll make them Shirini, an Iranian sweet. Well, no, it needs to be cupcakes or brownies or cookies. And you just go through it. And the shame of explaining that there's some parts of the culture that you don't understand and that need to be done a certain way. And for Cecilia, you know, we see throughout the book that it really weighs on her. And she wears a green suit throughout the book. In the beginning, it's a little oversized.

[Scott Tong]

It's huge on her. Yes.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Yeah, it's huge on her. It's too big. She's trying to walk in shoes that are too big for her, literally. And it's a lot for a very young person.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah, yeah. Well, in the end, she and her family kind of grow into the right relationship. She gets help from other family members, and in the end, her suit is just the right size. Olivia. It's hard to imagine a seven year old, pretty young child having to explain a medical diagnosis right, to an adult at an appointment, or a 10 year old on the phone with a power company going over a bill. I mean, these are the things you show us in the book. But this, of course, is a reality for so many children in immigrant families. You said that there's a sense of filial piety, this duty to the family. Many of these children have. Can you talk about that? Duty?

[Olivia Abtahi]

Yeah. For a lot of children of immigrants, just having parents who came to the United States to give us a better life gives us such a sense of duty and of feeling like we owe our parents everything. And in a sense, we really do. This country has so many opportunities, you know, that also can kind of be toxic sometimes where you have children in these moments who are working themselves really hard to help them in these moments. To be on the phone with the power company, like you said, to kind of grease the wheels of every interaction that their parents are going to have to make sure that it's smooth. And this filial piety, this sense of obligation to parents is something that a lot of first gen kids in this country face.

[Scott Tong]

Yeah. And I want to ask you about, you know, how you tried to present the parents in this book. I've been there to myself. Right. Trying to explain, you know, what high school sports is. Right. To Chinese parents who don't really have a concept of it. And also not wanting them to be embarrassed. Right. I don't want to be embarrassed myself and also not embarrass them in front of whoever. Did you also think about that as you were writing this book?

[Olivia Abtahi]

Absolutely, Scott. And I really wanted to give these parents dignity. These are great parents in the book. These are not bad parents. They're a wonderful mother and father and they just need a little help. But that little help can add up. Right. So these parents aren't clueless. They know what's going on, but they just need that extra push, you know, for some of these cultural and language moments. And I love that the illustrations also portray these parents as great people. They are moving through the world with a sense of agency, even though they need to rely on their daughter for help. And that was just really important to me because this isn't just a book for kids in this situation, it's for the parents as well.

[Scott Tong]

Well, we're talking about the new picture book, children's book. It's called the Interpreter, out today and the author is Olivia Abtahi. It's a picture book about the translation interpretation duties children of immigrant families sometimes take up. And we should note that the illustrator is Monica Arnaldo. Olivia, thanks so much.

[Olivia Abtahi]

Thank you, Scott.

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