This story is talking about a family life story, the main character is Adeline who suffered from here family but at the end she lived happily with here husband, children and career. But I didn't enjoy this story too much.
Mariam

I wasn't interested in this story because It was sad story contained lots of painful event. Although story was happy in the end, but most of Adeline's family member died!!!!!. In general this story about author life (Adeline) and her suffer in life.
00055

Falling Leaves is greet story because is talk about little girl which suffered in her life and you will a lot of things from a little girl.
Alya A.

I would like to recommend this book to other students because it's a great story of hopeful girl who faced terrible moments, and I felt all the moments while I was reading it. In addition it has a variety of new and interesting words which I learnt from reading this story. Also they can learn more about other countries culture such as China, so I would like to advise other students to read this book, I'm sure they will enjoy reading it.
Khuloud

I loved this book. Adeline writing comes from the heart; its genuineness is felt with every word and I found the story very helpful in understanding more about Chinese culture. In addition I learned from the story that no matter how tough life is, there is always a silver lining out there and the people should not to give up on their dreams. Furthermore, what I read in this story is real suffering and real pain of people in this life.
Fatima M.

I find the story interesting because it talks about a real thing which happen with a lot of families and it has a lot of unexpected events, but the end of the story was sad.
Shaikha

The story talks about a girl whose life is really sad, her family didn't like her and they were not treating her well, but when she win the writing competition her father sent her to study abroad and their she married twice, her second marriage was successful and she had two children. At last she will return to her country and will search for what her father will contain, so by finding the will she will discover that her father was still loving her by giving her a part of his will.
Anon.

Falling Leaves is a sadness story that I would recommended it to other students; because it shows you the painful and sadness life that this child suffer among her life. It make us learn how to feel and deal with our difficulties and personal problems. Also, it supported us to be hopeful, helpful, being kind and careful with all people around us and even our family. Moreover, it makes you learn that you have to be confident and don't trust anyone. Even this story contains sad and horrible events that somebody will face, but it contain of many lessons that you could benefit from it and feel of others.
Amna A.

It was a very interesting book and full of motions and different feelings. The way of the story begins in a way, but it changes at the end.
Al-Manny ( )

A quick read because it was easy to relate to the author's voice. She reminded me of my mother in her stubbornness to succeed academically. The descriptions of Niang's family politics were a bit foreign and were so petty and manipulative that I was almost wary of the dynamic halfway through the story. ( )

couldn't finish. didn't find the author interesting. ( )

Warning: This review has spoilers.

Falling Leaves is the autobiography of Adeline Yen Mah, born in 1937 in Tianjin, China. She was the fifth child. Her mother contracted puerperal fever and died weeks after her birth. Several years later her father re-married and with his new wife had 2 children. The new step-mother influenced her father so that this daughter was ignored, mentally abused, and sent away to substandard schools.

Some of the stories are heart-rending; a beloved pet set on the ground to test the training of a dog and injured, no gifts when all brothers and sisters got gifts, throwing away of all gifts given by friends, no money for trams for school unless she begged and humbled herself.

Adeline bore this unhappily but couldn’t do anything about it until she entered a play-writing competition. She won, and her father and step-mother allowed her to go to England to study to become a doctor. This she did, earning several degrees. She married, had a child, divorced, re-married, and had a second child. All the while she was building a successful career.

In the meantime she always anguished over family’s rejection of her, her step-mother’s influence and control over her father. Two sisters were disowned. At the reading of her father’s will, her step-mother’s influence was so strong that she told the children there was no money and not to read the rest of the will – and they obeyed.

When her step-mother died she and her husband went back to China. One of her brothers told her she was cut out of the will. Adeline didn’t care about the money so much as family unity. They found her father’s original will, suppressed by her step-mother, which had divided his money equally among his children and his wife. This inclusion and proof of his love for her helped her finally gain peace in her life-long quest for acceptance and love.

I loved this book. It was well written. I loved that each chapter title was in English and Chinese. When there is a Chinese word or concept, the symbol is included with the Chinese translation. Example: Shanghai’s two symbols are followed by the word Shanghai and then (city by the sea), a literal translation of the symbols. I found this to be very helpful in understanding more about Chinese culture. The book was captivating and immediately got me involved. It was also heartbreaking, and frustrating. Adeline’s almost pathological quest to be accepted by her family might have been understandable if that family wasn’t so dysfunctional, manipulative, and controlling. I hope the comfort and peace she found offset the very real cruelty and mental abuse she experienced. ( )

Fascinating glimpse into a painful past. Well worth the read. ( )