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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 �?? the love and understanding of her family. Like the classic Cinderella… (more)
User reviews
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.
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.
This book made me see how lucky I was for having a loving family-my mom, dad and my sometimes annoying sister.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.....