The Chinese Cinderella - Adeline Yen Mah

A Difficult Childhood

Adeline Yen Mah tells the story of her life as a young girl growing up in a wealthy Chinese family, but her beginnings are filled with sadness. She was the fifth child, and her mother passed away shortly after giving birth, which led her siblings to believe she was a source of bad luck. Things got even tougher when her father remarried a young French-Asian woman named Niang, who showed little love for her new stepchildren. Niang was especially harsh towards Adeline, while she doted on her own children from the new marriage.

A Search for Love and Acceptance

Feeling unloved by her parents, Adeline found comfort in her relationships with her grandfather Ye Ye and her Aunt Baba, who were kind but not very strong. To gain her father's approval, she focused on her studies and was thrilled when he praised her for winning a medal for her academic achievements.

War and Separation

When the Japanese invaded China, Adeline's father vanished from their hometown of Tianjin for a long time, and soon after, Niang and her eldest son left as well. This period turned out to be a happy time for Adeline and her siblings, as they were cared for by their loving grandparents, Nai Nai and Ye Ye.

Continued Struggles

However, after Nai Nai passed away, the family moved to Shanghai, where her father had bought a big house for everyone to live in. Adeline's struggles continued when she stood up to Niang for mistreating her youngest sister, which only made things worse for her. Niang punished Adeline by denying her money for transportation, leaving her at school for long hours, and even whipping her for attending a friend's birthday party.

Finding Solace in Education

Throughout her challenging childhood, Adeline documented her experiences, including her time at different schools, the friends she made, and her special bond with a duckling she named Precious Little Treasure, or PLT. She also wrote about her sister's wedding and her relentless pursuit of knowledge. Adeline does really well in school and gets chosen as class president, which makes her and her classmates super happy.

Boarding School and Beyond

But when her friends decide to celebrate at her house, her parents get really angry and threaten to send her to a school far away. Adeline's friends are shocked by her mom's harsh attitude and her dad's indifference, and they support her the next day at school. However, when she gets home, she learns that she has to leave for a boarding school in Tianjin right away.

Overcoming Adversity

Saying goodbye to Aunt Baba and Ye Ye is really sad, but they share encouraging words with her. On the plane, while filling out her new school forms, her dad forgets how to spell Adeline's Chinese name, which makes her feel even worse. At her new school, a convent in Tianjin, things get even crazier when the People's Liberation Party takes over. Luckily, her sweet aunt from her mom's side helps her escape, and Adeline goes back to live with her family in Hong Kong.

Achieving Success

But soon after, she is sent to another boarding school called Sacred Heart. Even though she keeps getting promoted to higher grades, it’s only when she wins an international play-writing contest in high school that her dad finally pays attention and lets her go to college in England. Even though her parents often ignore her, she eventually becomes a doctor and fulfills her dream of being a writer.