Chinese Cinderella

Mah, Adeline Yen. Chinese Cinderella. Laurel Leaf, 2001. ISBN-13: 978-0440228653.

Plot
Adeline is the youngest of five children in a wealthy family in China during the 1940's. Her father has married again after Adeline's mother has just passed away. Since she is the youngest and a girl, Adeline is not considered worth much by society and her family. Her parents constantly neglect or forget about her while she endures being the victim of her older sibling's tricks. The readers follow Adeline as she strives to look for sources of comfort in this hostile environment.

Critical Evaluation
The narrative of this story is simple. Teens will appreciate the clarity of the writing and will be able to focus more on the story of the book. The story is depressing, however Adeline does show resolve in finding her own worth and rise above the trials she experiences.

Reader's Annotation
After Adeline's mother gave birth to her she passed away. Since then Adeline has been considered as bad luck and has been treated as such by her whole family. However, despite the bad treatment Adeline is determined to make something of herself and works hard to find a way out.

About the Author
Adeline Yen Mah was born in Tianjin China. At the age of fourteen she won a writing contest which helped convince her father to let her go to England to study. She later graduated from medical school as a physician and started her own successful practice in California.

She wrote her first book based after her experiences after her stepmother's death. This book, Falling Leaves became a hit and Mah quickly gave up medicine to pursue writing full time. She is married and has two children.

Genre
Nonfiction

Curriculum
Autobiography
Chinese culture
Coming of Age

Book Talking Ideas
Do you think a lot of our actions and perspectives are shaped by superstitions?
What helped Adeline find comfort and a sense of worth?
Why would you think Adeline's stepmother would segregate the family?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issues
Accounts of neglect and abuse are included in the text.

Challenge Answer
Mah writes what really happened in her life. Also, readers are able to see the negative impact of abuse and neglect of children.

Why Included in Selection
It is a well written autobiography that gives insight to another culture.