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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 A Real Chinese Cinderella, Apr 27, 2023
Chinese Cinderella is about an unwanted daughter whose mother died shortly after her birth. For this reason, Adeline is considered bad luck. Mah does a fantastic job in painting a clear picture of how miserable her childhood was. It's a shame she was blamed for her mother's death and has to live with the burden that wasn't her fault. Mah receives many rewards in school, but that doesn't make her happy. All she really wants is love and acceptance from her family, although, she is very close with her aunt who cherishes and cares for her. She is neglected so much, at one point; her father forgets her name and birth date. The reason the book is titled Chinese Cinderella is because she has an evil stepmother who treats her terribly. This stepmother spoils the two children she had with Adeline's father. She does anything that's in her power to make Adeline miserable, such as not allowing her to attend a birthday party. Adeline finds comfort in books to heal her lonely soul. She finds a strong voice in writing which is also a remedy for her emotional pain. When she wins a playwriting contest, her father finally takes notice in her existence. For this reason, she attends college in England and wishes to pursue in Creative Writing, but to her dismay, her father requests that she should become a doctor, but that doesn't mean she stops wiring. Through this book, one can see through the eyes of Adeline and know what it's like to be unloved and tortured. The author provides the reader with information about Chinese characters and the authentic story of the Chinese Cinderella, which I found extremely interesting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Unwanted and Lost, Mar 25, 2023
Chinese Cinderella is set in Tianjin. This is a city of the North-East Coast of China.
The book was sad at parts, but for children with step parents the story is particulary moving. It delievers a message of never giving up and no matter what happens always keep your chin up.
Chinese Cinderella also reveals alot of China's history of the Opium War.
The story is similar to the fairytale 'Cinderella'. The book is also an autobiography. Adeline Yen Mah is the character in the book so whilst you sit and read this book you imagine yourself in the story. You feel like you are in the book.
Adeline is thrown around by her family, with her own father not knowing Adelines name. When Adeline's real Mother died whilst giving birth to her, the family blamed her for the death and considered her bad luck. Father found a new half French, half Chinese wife called Niang. Niang and Adeline's Father had two more babies. The new children were treated special and different. The Father now had seven children.
Adeline tried helplessly to hide her true life from her school mates but gradually she couldn't hide it. Adeline was frightened about her future, would she get an arranged marriage like her older sister? The young girl eventually was sent to an orphanage and separated from her Aunt Baba. She later meets up with her Aunt Baba and gets sent away to several different schools and orphanages. She spent mot of her time reading and was soon to discover it wasn't ust for pleasure but also for later life......
This is a moving and sad tale but shows hope and a brighter future for those who try hard.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Chinese Cinderella, Mar 1, 2023
Imagine being the family's and school's smartest kid but then, when you go home, you get abused by words and actions from your family, especially your parents. Most of you never would've experienced getting abused by your parents but, Adeline Yen Mah had went through being one of the smartest and being the one in the family who gets hurt. Adeline Yen Mah went through a tragic childhood and was brave enough to go back to that childhood and write it out. Her story is now known to be Chinese Cinderella.
This story was a true story and the history of Mah's life. This story is a great story because it talks about Chinese history and not only she points out the sadness details of her life but when reading the book, it feels like you're there. You know what the people look like and see Mah get hurt by her family and you pretend and think it's you so then, when you think it's you, you feel the pain she goes through in her childhood life and understand that we are now lucky today to not have that kind of abusment.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Review for Chinese Cinderella..., Feb 19, 2023
I think this book is a touching autobiography about Adeline Yen Mah's life. Though sad it holds a lot of hope. To me it seems as if you are standing right next to Adeline, a spectator of her rather unhappy story, who can feel all that is happening. If,like me,you are half/fully chinese or an orphan then maybe you can relate to this wonderful book. I fully reccomend it...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
So Good, yet so sad, Feb 15, 2023
This book is so good, and yet so sad. I cried so much through this book, but I couldn't put it down either, becuase it was so well-written! This is a MUST-READ book. With much description, emotions, and details, this is an AWESOME book! Plus,the fact that it is a true story adds to the emotions people get from reading this novel.
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Based on 147 reviews.