Adeline Mah Yen

Advantages: True story.Enjoyable read. Very interesting
Disadvantages: Very emotional which can be a bit upsetting.

...I recently read this book at part of a school project. I enjoyed it thoroughly and once I had started reading it was difficult to put down. The book is a sad and emotional biography by Adeline Yen Mah. Adeline’s mother tragically died because of complication’s with Adeline’s birth. Her father blamed Adeline for the death and considered her to be bad luck. Her father then re-married and had 2 more children with his new wife, Niang. Niang treated her own children well and they got whatever they wanted but for Adeline and the rest of her siblings they could only eat at certain times and only had a few clothes and got last pick in everything. The only members of her family who she feels close to is her Grandfather, Ye-Ye and her Aunt Baba. Ye-Ye later dies and Adeline isn’t told about the death until she was on the way to his funeral... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Very descriptive
Disadvantages: Only goes up to when Adeline was fourteen - There is another book called 'Falling Leaves' about whan she became an adult.

...I read Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah about a month ago and, as they say, it was one of those books that you just cannot bear to put down. It is the story of Adeline's childhood. It is so descriptive you see everything as if you were remembering the whole book with Adeline - That you had known all of her friends and relatives. Her mother died when she was born and so her older brothers and sisters made out that she was bad luck and they made her feel unwanted all of her life. All through this wonderfully told book Adeline is rejected by practically everyone who knows her. Her father re - marries to a cruel but beautiful and rich woman who he has two children with. It is amazing how obvious they made it that these two children were more important to them than Adeline and her mother's children - They got much... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: None.
Disadvantages: None.

...Chinese Cinderella is about one of the most neglected and mentaly abused girls in China. Adline Yan Mah tells the reader what it was like being unwanted, neglected, and considered a bad luck charm, through your own eyes. This book is pure beauty and joy. Any unwanted little girl will really love and connect to this book. Adeline's Dad and Niang (stepmother) sent her off to boarding school and forgot about her. Then when her Niang's sister comes and rescue's her she is shipped of again, but to an orphanage. After Adeline starts to enjoy her time at school her parents pull her out and bad things happen. The ending is truely unforgetable. I connected to this book because Adeline and I both got pulled out of a place we love, to get used to a new place.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful