While learning to read her husband, Ki Lim, was very doubtful that she would be able to learn. Sang Ly dedicates all her time to studying and reading. Many times throughout the novel her teacher does not show up. This does not stop her from reading or writing. In her everyday life, she looks for flyers and papers in the dump to analyze and read. This is important to Sang Lys future because she can now teach her son how to read and has an amazing skill that will stick with her for the rest of her life. This is also important to her future because this ability will help her be able to move out of the dump and provide a better life for her