Status
Available
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Family & Relationships. Multi-Cultural. Young Adult Nonfiction. HTML:More than 800,000 copies in print! From the author of critically acclaimed and bestselling memoir Falling Leaves, this is a poignant and moving true account of her childhood, growing up as an unloved daughter in 1940s China. A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In her own courageous voice, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph in the face of despair. Adeline's affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her, and life does not get any easier when her father remarries. Adeline and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled with gifts and attention. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for â?? the love and understanding of her family. Like the classic Cinderella… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member slamarca
It is 1942 andYe Xian is living in a time of great change and turmoil in China. She takes the nickname of CC, or Chinese Cinderella, as she identifies with this old Chinese story and this marks the beginning of her own journey, a journey of discovery and adventure.
CC’s father and stepmother exist
The society become her surrogate family as CC grows to appreciate the belief systems and way of life this new family offer her. The society provides CC with the support and opportunities that she has previously been unable to find with her parents. With the support of Grandma Wu and the other orphaned members of the society, CC begins to grow in confidence and ability.
This very personal story is set amidst the backdrop of great change within the world. The Second World War is underway, the Japanese have invaded and occupied China and the bombing of Pearl Harbour has led the US to enter the war. The Secret Dragon society are part of the resistance movement in China and vow to help when the Americans plan to bomb a number of Japanese cities. (Parts of this section of the story are based on actual historical events.) CC is a crucial member of the team and is integral to the society’s efforts in assisting with the American raid and the subsequent rescue of those American soldiers who were captured during its execution. All of these heroic efforts, though, come at a great cost to both the Chinese people and to CC personally.
CC’s father and stepmother exist
Show More
in a frame of mind that is a world apart from CC’s, though she does have her beloved Big Aunt as confidante; her life is difficult and strained. When CC is thrown out of her home after a series of confrontations with her stepmother, it is Grandma Wu and the Secret Dragon society to whom she must turn for support.The society become her surrogate family as CC grows to appreciate the belief systems and way of life this new family offer her. The society provides CC with the support and opportunities that she has previously been unable to find with her parents. With the support of Grandma Wu and the other orphaned members of the society, CC begins to grow in confidence and ability.
This very personal story is set amidst the backdrop of great change within the world. The Second World War is underway, the Japanese have invaded and occupied China and the bombing of Pearl Harbour has led the US to enter the war. The Secret Dragon society are part of the resistance movement in China and vow to help when the Americans plan to bomb a number of Japanese cities. (Parts of this section of the story are based on actual historical events.) CC is a crucial member of the team and is integral to the society’s efforts in assisting with the American raid and the subsequent rescue of those American soldiers who were captured during its execution. All of these heroic efforts, though, come at a great cost to both the Chinese people and to CC personally.
Show Less
LibraryThing member unlikelyaristotle
This was the first book I ever read about life in China, and I think it was a pretty good introduction to the vast country and the many, many intricacies of its cultures. The author doesn't plead for the reader's pity, but I sympathized and felt for naturally, which I really enjoyed.
LibraryThing member Bookshopaholic
When Adeline Yen Mah's mother dies giving birth to her the family considered her bad luck and was made to feel unwanted for all her life. Chinese Cinderella is the story of her struggle for acceptance and how she overcame the odds to prove her worth.
LibraryThing member sara_k
Chinese Cinderella is the true story of Adeline Yen Mah. Adeline's mother died shortly after Adeline was born. Adeline's sister and brothers partially plame her for the loss of their mother and the situation is not helped by her father's remarriage and the appearance of two step-siblings. The
Adeline wants to be loved, she wants a normal family. She tries very hard to maintain the public image of a well loved child in a wealthy family.
It is a sad story with a murdered pet, family intrigue, war, and deliberate cruelty to children. The worst of the abuse to Adeline comes as neglect and paternal rejection.
The uplifting part is how Adeline learns to build her self-worth on her own terms...she finds what she values about herself and focuses on that.
Show More
fashionable step-mother resents the children of the first wife and relegates them to less than family status. The stepmother also manipulates the children in order to divide their loyalties.Adeline wants to be loved, she wants a normal family. She tries very hard to maintain the public image of a well loved child in a wealthy family.
It is a sad story with a murdered pet, family intrigue, war, and deliberate cruelty to children. The worst of the abuse to Adeline comes as neglect and paternal rejection.
The uplifting part is how Adeline learns to build her self-worth on her own terms...she finds what she values about herself and focuses on that.
Show Less
LibraryThing member angieh1
This book is so sad! I cried at some parts. It is a really really good book, showing how Adeline Yen Mah was treated by her family, step brother & stepsister, her father & her stepmother. Her story is just like the story of Cinderella. After being treated unfairly and being left at many boarding
Show More
schools, her father lets her go to college in England, but has to learn to deliever babies. Now, she is a physician and a writer. Her life changed a lot from being "hurt" by her stepmother and having to follow lame rules to a Cinderella fairytale. Show Less
LibraryThing member the1butterfly
I thought this covered half the Cinderella fairy tale motif- yes she was neglected and denied constantly, but she wasn't treated so much as a servant (mostly because there were so many servants that she wasn't needed in that capacity). I wanted a lot of things in this story- I wanted her aunt to
Show More
tell her friends what happened, I wanted her to tell her stepmother just once that she was a bitter old woman who was jealous because her children weren't as intelligent as she was (in fact, I wanted to yell at her stepmother myself), and I wanted her to tell people her story- tell them that she was getting the short end of things. I admired her intelligence and her strength, and I was really riveted. I might pick up her later autobiography because I just wanted more and more. Show Less
LibraryThing member dmorrison
What a great book. What a story, so worth the time! Can't believe parents could treat a child like that!
LibraryThing member cmbest524
This was a cute and inspiring story. That it's true makes it a million times better.
LibraryThing member hellobooks45
I don't read a lot of children's non-fiction, but this one was a compelling read. It's hard to understand how a parent can treat their child so terribly after the new kids (with a stepmother) come along. There is also an adult edition, "Falling leaves : the true story of an unwanted Chinese
Show More
daughter". Show Less
LibraryThing member jsresource
A beautiful true story about an unwanted Chinese girl. Definitely worth reading.
LibraryThing member samanthapx2014
I think this book is very good, and I would recommend anyone to read it. Even though it is sad because Adeline's parents don't even care about her, but it's very realistic. Most people don't realize how much things like this happen in the world, but they do. After I read this I knew how lucky I am
Show More
to have a family who loves me. Show Less
LibraryThing member NicoleN
It's about a girl named Adeline and her mother died giving birth to her so her brothers, sister, dad and step mother treat her like a servant and always blame her for her mother's death. She finds it hard to find friends and have a normal life. Chinese Cinderella is about being brave, strong and
Show More
never letting anything get in the way of achieving your goals. I really enjoyed this book! I strongly recommend to everyone!! Show Less
LibraryThing member tse882002
i really don't like the style of this book
LibraryThing member OneLuckyMom
This book is considered Young Adult. I suppose it is. Sad to think a step mother could be so cruel.
LibraryThing member emilyl31395
This book touched my heart so much. I tried as much as I could to imagine being in her place. I cried when the duck died, I hated the stepmother for slapping her. I kept on thinking why didn't she do anything? I wouldn't have been able to keep quiet and obedient like she was. Also this book kept on
This book made me see how lucky I was for having a loving family-my mom, dad and my sometimes annoying sister.
Show More
making me think what would have happened if things turned out differently? This book made me see how lucky I was for having a loving family-my mom, dad and my sometimes annoying sister.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brooklynj
Fantastic enlightening read of Adelines' unique childhood growing up in China.
This book was so heartfelt, i couldnt help but feel emotionally attached to her as she was growing up through the book.
It's one of those stories that you never forget and once finished, the experiences never leave you.
I
This book was so heartfelt, i couldnt help but feel emotionally attached to her as she was growing up through the book.
It's one of those stories that you never forget and once finished, the experiences never leave you.
I
Show More
would reccomend this book to all children from the ages of 12 and up. Girls will most probably enjoy this but i did it for a class study and all the boys were actively involved in the disscusions just as much as the girls. Show Less
LibraryThing member kkcrossley
The true story of a girl blamed for her mother's death. Her father remarries and thus begins the the Cinderella story. This story ends well because this Cinderella was able to stay in school where she excelled. She later became a doctor and author.
LibraryThing member renatak
In this gripping chronicle, Adeline Yen Mah relates the story of her touching yet inspiring childhood. The tale is set in China in the 1940s, and speaks of the abuse the young girl endures as the youngest child of her father's first marriage. It also shows her immense acts of courage in such harsh
When Adeline's mother dies a few weeks after giving birth to her, the older children blame Adeline. Their commanding father ignores Adeline, except when she achieves good grades in school. Soon after, Adeline's father remarries. Her new stepmother daily derides and debases innocent, young Adeline. The youngster never speaks of the abuse she endures day by day, because she is not willing to dishonour her family. Ultimately, with the help of her kindhearted grandfather and aunt, Adeline moves to England to eventually become both a triumphant doctor, and best-selling author.
Adeline Yen Mah writes this tale with the thought that anything can be achieved, no matter what the circumstances are. The brave, young girl fights for what she believes in and never gives up. She shows audacity even through the toughest of times. This is a lesson to be learned for everyone.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to shed a few tears, as it really is a heartbreaking story. Nevertheless, it is absolutely worth reading, and will allow you to feel grateful for the life you lead now. Anything is possible, and this novel is just one example of that.
Show More
times.When Adeline's mother dies a few weeks after giving birth to her, the older children blame Adeline. Their commanding father ignores Adeline, except when she achieves good grades in school. Soon after, Adeline's father remarries. Her new stepmother daily derides and debases innocent, young Adeline. The youngster never speaks of the abuse she endures day by day, because she is not willing to dishonour her family. Ultimately, with the help of her kindhearted grandfather and aunt, Adeline moves to England to eventually become both a triumphant doctor, and best-selling author.
Adeline Yen Mah writes this tale with the thought that anything can be achieved, no matter what the circumstances are. The brave, young girl fights for what she believes in and never gives up. She shows audacity even through the toughest of times. This is a lesson to be learned for everyone.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to shed a few tears, as it really is a heartbreaking story. Nevertheless, it is absolutely worth reading, and will allow you to feel grateful for the life you lead now. Anything is possible, and this novel is just one example of that.
Show Less
LibraryThing member OEBooks
"Though life has to be lived forward, you can only understand it backward." - Outstanding Golden Gem!
LibraryThing member mybookshelf
Adeline is the youngest of her parents’ five children, and her mother died soon after Adeline’s birth. The whole family blames Adeline for her mother’s death, and claims that she is bad luck. To make matters worse, there is Niang, a classic wicked stepmother who blatantly favours her own
There are a few people who care about Adeline: her grandparents, who live with the family, and her aunt, her father’s unmarried sister, dependent Father and Niang for support. However, none of these people have much power within the household, so all they can give Adeline is encouragement and love, rather than any tangible indulgence. Niang also decides that these people are a bad influence on her stepchildren, and determines to separate them.
Although Adeline is frequently successful at school, sometimes earning even her father’s praise, at home this serves only to make her siblings jealous, and they treat her more unkindly than ever. Her food is stolen, her pet abused, and her older sister pretends to be ill whenever Adeline is due to receive a school prize. No one from her family ever attends a single school event to support her.
Ashamed of the way her family treats her, Adeline tries at school to pretend that everything at home is normal. Yet she cannot do many normal things: she never has money for tram fare, and despite her popularity among her schoolmates, she can never visit their homes or receive visitors. As she grows older her friends at boarding school notice and pity her because she never receives any special treats for lunch, let alone mail or visitors.
This is a non-fiction (true) book, even though it is frequently difficult to believe that parents could treat their own child so cruelly. However, because of her deprivations, Adeline’s story makes more interesting reading than many people’s childhoods might.
In addition to the story, the book contains: a detailed dedication (“to all unwanted children…”); a preface in which the author explains some of her motivation for writing the story; notes on Chinese language, history, and writing; the original Chinese story (written in Chinese script!) that is thought to have inspired the Western tale of Cinderella; and a postscript in which the author explains a little of what happened in her adult life after the story told in Chinese Cinderella (up until she was aged fourteen).
I would recommend this story to any readers who, like me, struggle to get absorbed in reading non-fiction and as a great starting point for anyone wanting to find out about China and its culture.
Show More
children over those from her husband’s first marriage. In spite of inadequate clothing, limited food, and constant bullying from those who should love her most, Adeline retains her determination to succeed.There are a few people who care about Adeline: her grandparents, who live with the family, and her aunt, her father’s unmarried sister, dependent Father and Niang for support. However, none of these people have much power within the household, so all they can give Adeline is encouragement and love, rather than any tangible indulgence. Niang also decides that these people are a bad influence on her stepchildren, and determines to separate them.
Although Adeline is frequently successful at school, sometimes earning even her father’s praise, at home this serves only to make her siblings jealous, and they treat her more unkindly than ever. Her food is stolen, her pet abused, and her older sister pretends to be ill whenever Adeline is due to receive a school prize. No one from her family ever attends a single school event to support her.
Ashamed of the way her family treats her, Adeline tries at school to pretend that everything at home is normal. Yet she cannot do many normal things: she never has money for tram fare, and despite her popularity among her schoolmates, she can never visit their homes or receive visitors. As she grows older her friends at boarding school notice and pity her because she never receives any special treats for lunch, let alone mail or visitors.
This is a non-fiction (true) book, even though it is frequently difficult to believe that parents could treat their own child so cruelly. However, because of her deprivations, Adeline’s story makes more interesting reading than many people’s childhoods might.
In addition to the story, the book contains: a detailed dedication (“to all unwanted children…”); a preface in which the author explains some of her motivation for writing the story; notes on Chinese language, history, and writing; the original Chinese story (written in Chinese script!) that is thought to have inspired the Western tale of Cinderella; and a postscript in which the author explains a little of what happened in her adult life after the story told in Chinese Cinderella (up until she was aged fourteen).
I would recommend this story to any readers who, like me, struggle to get absorbed in reading non-fiction and as a great starting point for anyone wanting to find out about China and its culture.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sapphire--stars
Very unfair life lived by this character. Pretty interesting, made me think and want to discuss it. There are a lot of comparisons between Cinderella and the main character Adeline. Reading this peaks my interest in her autobiography Falling Leaves.
LibraryThing member creighley
Although I don't doubt the sincerity of the tail, I enjoyed McCourt's style of narrative in Angela's Ashes.
LibraryThing member nawapak
Chinese Cinderella is one of the most sad and evolutional books that I have ever read! The story is set in different parts of china, as a young girl (Adeline) has to struggle to survive from her stepmother, father and her siblings. It was truly the opposite of what most sad stories would have been.
Money for every one is something worship that can buy anything in the world, but why can’t it buy the warmth and love a 7-year-old girl should have had, to Adeline?
This book has truly shown how much a person can endure through their life; how Adeline (the main character) can fight through the barrier that her family has created. After reading this novel tears just sprang out of my eyes, it wasn’t because of sadness it was because the torment in myself at how helpless I was to help this strong yet intelligent girl past through her hardship, an experience that any person should never endure. It wasn’t because of money but it was because of her family’s cruel treatment. As I am typing this review now my hands are shaking, Adeline’s life has somehow changed something in me.
Show More
Instead of being set in a poor family, Adeline’s life was born into a very rich family. Money for every one is something worship that can buy anything in the world, but why can’t it buy the warmth and love a 7-year-old girl should have had, to Adeline?
This book has truly shown how much a person can endure through their life; how Adeline (the main character) can fight through the barrier that her family has created. After reading this novel tears just sprang out of my eyes, it wasn’t because of sadness it was because the torment in myself at how helpless I was to help this strong yet intelligent girl past through her hardship, an experience that any person should never endure. It wasn’t because of money but it was because of her family’s cruel treatment. As I am typing this review now my hands are shaking, Adeline’s life has somehow changed something in me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Venqat65
Excellent book that I was unable to put down. This story captivated me. The ending, however, left me hanging and now I am desperate to read Falling Leaves which supposedly fills in the rest of the story.
I loved the information about the Chinese language and the examples of written Chinese (and
I was appalled at how young Adeline was treated and how even her father did not love her. How can a father forget his own child's name and birthday? Absolutely appalling.
The book definitely brought out a lot of emotion in me.
Poor sweet girl.....
I loved the information about the Chinese language and the examples of written Chinese (and
Show More
their meanings). This was absolutely fascinating.I was appalled at how young Adeline was treated and how even her father did not love her. How can a father forget his own child's name and birthday? Absolutely appalling.
The book definitely brought out a lot of emotion in me.
Poor sweet girl.....
Show Less
LibraryThing member izzyx2397
This book was so sad! I couldn't stop reading after I picked it up. It really makes you think about how lucky you are to have a family that doesn't neglect you. Overall this book was really good.
Awards
Triple Crown Awards (Nominee — 2002)
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2002)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2001)
Kanga Awards (2005)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2000)