Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter

When Yen Jun-ling is born her mother dies soon after which sets the scene for her childhood. Her father, three brothers and sister all blame her for her mother's death. When her father remarries, he neglects the five children from his first marriage, and has two with his new wife. Yen's new stepmother treats her badly, and her story is one of neglect and loathing while she struggles to keep up the pretence that she comes from a normal, loving family. She is afflicted by anxiety and a feeling of impending doom. She has an outstanding academic record, and winning an essay competition eventually give her a way out of her family.

This autobiography is set against a background of life in Japanese-occupied China and the civil war between the show more communists and nationalists which followed Japan's defeat at the end of the Second World War. There are some wonderful insights into the old way of life in China which include the binding of Grandmother Nai Nai's feet, a custom in China for over a thousand years. Hearbreaking in places, this is a valuable story that is read by many teenagers that I know. show less

I first read this book when I was in 7th or 8th grade. I found my old paperback copy yesterday at my parents' house and I read it this afternoon in just a few hours. This is such a sad story! I could definitely tell that Adeline Yen Mah was writing toward a younger audience (this is a young adult book). I remember reading her other book [b:Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter|54529|Falling Leaves The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter|Adeline Yen Mah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386921662s/54529.jpg|1429862] and being struck by how it was essentially the same story but somehow
"smarter," probably because it was written for adults. I can't help but look down a little bit on the author for writing the same book show more twice for different audiences. show less

In her novel "Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter," Adeline Yen Mah describes her childhood growing up in a traditional Chinese family. Yen Mah is deemed "bad luck" by her siblings, after her mother dies in labor. Once her father remarries, her life becomes even harder, and she is neglected and disrespected by her entire family while her younger step-siblings are spoiled and praised relentlessly. While she wins a multitude of awards at school for her academic prominence, nothing she does seems to change the opinions of her family. Yen Mah describes her journey through childhood, friendships, academics, and family life during the 1940s.
"Chinese Cinderella" is a powerful illustration of the different treatments of show more children at different time periods and different cultures. Yen Mah's story is inspiring and motivating, and provides a new perspective for readers to reflect upon. show less

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 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 show more 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

This sad story of a Chinese Cinderella is based on the life of the author, Adeline Yen Mah. As her mother died giving birth to her, she was considered a bad luck child, but when her father remarried, her life took a turn for the worse. As her stepmother gives birth to both a son and a daughter, the children of the first marriage are in turn mistreated and ignored.

The abuse that these children suffer is appalling, all the more so, as their father stands by and lets it happen, in fact, he even seems to encourage them to be pitted against each other. At first the grandmother is alive and exerts a slightly controlling influence over this uncaring stepmother, but upon her death, stepmother appears to be in full control. Even the Grandfather show more suffers and lives in fear. Adeline seems to come in for the worse of treatment due both to her position in the family and the fact that she is considered a worthless girl. Shunted from boarding school to boarding school, Adeline makes the most of her time and finds refuge in education. Using this education she finds a way to escape and create a new life for herself.

Aimed at a YA audience, the book is interesting not just for the sad story it tells, but it’s historic references and linguistics as well. As an adult, I would have like a more in-depth look at these strange parents and, in particular, why the father allowed this woman such control over the life of his family, but overall this was a well-written, simple account of how it feels to be an unloved child. show less

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

This Memoir is about the early life of a young Chinese girl set in the 1940's to early 1950's. Although Adeline was born into a wealthy family, she was not treated fairly by her Stepmother and Father. She tells how her Mother died right after her birth making her a family outcast. Told with vivid details, raw emotions, including Chinese culture and History.

I was able to feel what she went through and relate to her personal struggles. Chinese Cinderella tells of one young girls yearning to be accepted and her (eventual) accomplishments despite her lack of parental love. I highly recommend to Y/A as well as Adult readers.

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah was an odd read. The story was very depressing and extremely one sided and very focused on the narrator (the author). The story follows Adeline’s life from 4 years old to 14, throughout the story she is emotionally abused and suffers because she is the least favored out of 7 children.

and yet

she’s smart, respected by her classmates and teachers, and in the end she gets sent to school in England, which at the time was a very rare privilege. (not to mention the fact that her father sends her there).

Throughout the entire book we only see her point of view, her side of the story and almost no context whatsoever. During a time of war and hardship for China and show more the rest of the world, she is only focused on herself and how horrible life seems for her, and just glosses over major events as if they were unimportant. Throughout the whole book she never looks on the brightside of things…in fact even victories are defeats! It gets very depressing and I would not recommend this book.

Happy (please!) Readings!


The Book Worm show less