Friday, April 29, 2011

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

The novel “Chinese Cinderella” by Adeline Yen Mah is an inspirational autobiography. The story takes place in China during the Civil War. Adeline lived through a very rough life. When she was born, her mother passed away. Her brothers and sisters thought that Adeline was an unlucky child because she was the reason their mother died. Adeline was a very unwanted child. Her father remarried to a woman named Niang. Even Niang treated Adeline with much disrespect and did not show her love. Even though Adeline lacked a loving and caring family, she did not let that get to her. She was a very strong and confident girl. She believed in herself because she knew that if she did not then no one else would. Adeline really connected with her grandfather in which she called Ye Ye. When he passed away Adeline was torn apart, he was the only one she could talk to, the only one who supported and cared for Adeline. However, she was very strong and moved on with her life. Later, Adeline was sent to a boarding school and became very educated. She proved to herself that she could be somebody and she knew exactly what she wanted. Adeline was a very smart girl. She became very successful in school and was able to go to college but her father forced her to study medicine. Later, Adeline changed her study to writing and became a very successful writer.


1. If you were in Adeline's shoes, how would you feel being an unwanted child? How would you handle the hatred from your own family?

2. Adeline was very strong and confident and had to obey what her father told her. If you were Adeline, would you go against your father's rules and change your college study to what you wanted? Or would you obey your father's wishes and commands?

12 comments:

Ashlyn W. 7-8 said...

1) If I was Adeline, I don't know how I would handle being an unwanted child. I would like to think I would believe in myself,try to prove myself, and be confident. Although I don't know because I'm not in Adeline's shoes.

Freddy B. 7-8 said...

1. I agree with Ashlyn. I would definitely try to prove myself to the world and for my own sanity.
2. I would probably studied what I wanted to because it's my life not his.

jessica b 1/2 said...

1. I agree with the other two. If i was in Adeline's position, I would do my best to prove myself to others as well as to myself. Although, I think it would be extra difficult without not only no support from your family but them just despising you.
2. If I was in this position, after being told what to do my whole life I would probably rebel and choose what I wanted because you would be out of the house and harder to control.

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I agree with what the others said. I would try to do my best to prove myself and that I could do whatever I set my mind too. However, I'm not in Adeline's situation so I'm npt 100% sure.

2. I would probably rebel, as Jessica said, and do what I wanted with the rest of my life.

Monica J. 1-2 said...

1. If i was in her position i would first be sad about it but i would actully learn to exept it and to just try to shun my family out.
2.I would have to go behind my fathers back and change my college studys for i couldnt live with myself to do something i hated.

Brandon Messner said...

1. I think I would become very unstable with my emotions. However, at the same time, one must suffer for their art and I don't think that Adeline would be as good a writer had she not suffered as a child.

2. If her father abused Adeline, I don't imagine it would be too hard to go against his wishes. So, I would change my study.

Leah K. 7-8 said...

1. It would be very hard feeling unwanted. Usually parents encourage their children to do their best but if my parents didn't encourage me and didn't want me to be around then it would be hard to accomplish my goals.
2. I would definitely go against what my father wanted because obviously he didn't care enough since he abused his daughter.

Heather B. 1-2 said...

1.) If I was her, I do not know how I would handle being an unwanted child. I do not think I would handle it as well as her, though. I do not think I could become as successful as her without the support of my family.

2.) Although I wish I would have the strength to study what I wanted and go against his wishes, I do not know if I could.

Millie W. 7/8 said...

1) I don't think I would fare as well as Adeline without my family's acceptance. I doubt I could defy my family I've always been one to live up to their expectations even if I keep failing. Also to me family is the most valuable thing in the world so it would be hard without my parents and little brothers.

Kaitlyn K 7-8 said...

2)I would go against my fathers rules and studied what i wanted to because I was preparing for the rest of my life and would want to be doing what i wanted to do and what made me happy.

Sarah H 1-2 said...

It would make me feel worthless and depressed to be an unwanted child. But like others above said, I would do my best to live my life and prove myself anyways.

Rafiq O. 1-2 said...

1.) I'd be pretty PO'd. Haha. Families are MEANT to stay together and support one another. Families are supposed to love each other and be reliable and comforting to one another.

2.) Yes, I'd slap him in the face then go get my bachelor's in music ed!! Woop Woop! :) But seriously, I'd rather make less money doing something I love than making lots of money doing something I hate...