Chinese Cinderella is the vivid
memoir of Dr. Adeline Yen's bitter and
lonely childhood. She had four brothers
and two sisters, but her days were lonely as she was alienated from her family
because they blamed her for her mother's death. She was bullied and tormented and physically
abused, and experienced “a dreadful loneliness.”
This
book is mostly set in Shanghai, China, during the years of Japanese
occupation. At the time, young
Adeline's father was a wealthy businessman.
Soon after his first wife's death, he
married Adeline's stepmother--a young, sophisticated, cruel woman,
who was merciless, even as she
was kind to her own children.
Dr.
Yen's tone and writing are, in my estimation, pitch-perfect. With beautiful prose, she creates the setting, dialogue, pacing, and
descriptions that depict little Adeline's quandary--she was a brilliant,
well-behaved little girl among people who had no appreciation for her gifts and
talents.
This
book is sure to draw any reader in. It's
certainly the most poignant book I've read this year. Little Adeline was
remarkably tough and showed great character and spirit. Chinese
Cinderella is a book about a triumphant little girl. Though it's a book almost anyone with a heart
will appreciate, I especially recommend it for schools and YA book clubs.
(Countless scenes could start great
discussions with young adults.)
Chinese Cinderella is destined to be a classic.--Yolanda A. Reid
