Chinese Cinderella {Book Review}

I read this last night--and couldn't put it down! It is such a sad, gripping, and interesting story of a unwanted girl fighting against the odds of ever becoming somebody in the world when her family considered her a nobody. I'm sure you would enjoy it too.

Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chinese Cinderella is a gripping, sad tale of a young Chinese girl named Adeline (who later wrote the book). Her mother died soon after she was born, and her father and siblings considered her to be a curse on the family. Her father remarried, and a life that had been relatively easy before turned into a complete nightmare. Adeline's new stepmother was very controlling and demanding, hated her with an intense hatred, and was cruel to her other siblings--all while pampering and completely spoiling her own two children. This story chronicles her life, from four years old until about fourteen.

With her family against her, Adeline tries to immerse herself in her school life. She is not allowed to have friends, or to go to friend's houses. When she does go to a friend's house, her parents refused to let her have any more contact with that friend, and sent her off to a Catholic boarding school where the Communist army was fast approaching.

I really enjoyed reading this book, because it made me think of things I hadn't thought about before. Yes, I knew I was blessed with the family I had. Yes, I knew I was privileged with good living conditions and people who loved and cared for me. But comparing my life with hers made me see how blessed I am. She was given the basics--food, clothing, education. But she didn't have someone to love her and help her make her way in life. I cried several times when reading this, reading about how her siblings killed her pet duck (the only pet she ever had), how her father beat her, and how she had to skimp and save just to survive. This book is well worth reading, even though it is so sad. It makes you think. I'll always remember this book.

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Two books read now for my goal of 15 this year! :)

P.S. This story also tells some history: it tells of the Japanese conquering China, and then the conflict between the Nationals and Communists when Communism took over China.