Also for anyone who needs a good new version of Cinderella. The story is of survival in the light of the mental and physical cruelty of her stepmother and the disloyalty of her siblings.

That is really important to Adeline because her father is proud of her for the first time.Ĭhinese Cinderella is a great read for anyone who likes biographies or historical fiction. More than 800,000 copies in print From the author of critically acclaimed and bestselling memoir Falling Leaves, this is a poignant and moving true account. The story, which appears in various forms in many cultures, appears to have originated in China approximately 1000 years ago. My favorite part is when Adeline first goes to school. Cinderella is one of the world’s best known and loved fairy tales. It was really sad to me when her American mother wanted to see Adeline get picked on. My favorite character is Aunt Baba, Adeline's aunt, because she helps Adeline to do her best. I thought the story was different than any Cinderella story I'd ever read. It is definitely not the old fashioned Cinderella. She treats all the kids badly, especially Adeline, except of course her own son and daughter. The mission of the Jasper County School District is to provide a safe environment, promote self-esteem, and educate all students to become independent. In her own courageous voice, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her. Her father remarries when Adeline is only two, to an American mother. THE earliest datable version of the Cinderella story anywhere in the w occurs in a Chinese book written about 850-860 A.D. A Chinese proverb says, Falling leaves return to their roots. The older kids believe that the youngest child brings bad luck, because the mother died when she had Adeline.

Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for - the love and understanding of her family.įollowing the success of the critically acclaimed adult bestseller Falling Leaves, this memoir is a moving telling of the classic Cinderella story, with Adeline Yen Mah providing her own courageous voice.Chinese Cinderella is a true story about Adeline's life. She and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled. Life does not get any easier when her father remarries. Adeline’s affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. The story of Ye Xian in this book is the oldest known Asian version, first appearing in a book of folk tales by Duan Chengshi in 860 AD. A riveting memoir of a girl’s painful coming-of-age in a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s.Ī Chinese proverb says, “Falling leaves return to their roots.” In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair.

A chinese cinderella story