Title:
Chinese Cinderella : the secret story of an unwanted daughter
Author:
Mah, Adeline Yen, 1937-
ISBN:
9780582848887
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Publication Information:
Harlow, Essex : Longman, 2004, ©1999.
Physical Description:
201 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.
Series:
New Longman literature.
Contents:
Top of the class -- A Tianjin family -- Nai Nai's bound feet -- Life in Tianjin -- Arrival in Shanghai -- First day at school -- Family reunion -- Tram fare -- Chinese New Year -- Shanghai school days -- PLT -- Big Sister's wedding -- A birthday party -- Class president -- Boarding-school in Tianjin -- Hong Kong -- Boarding-school in Hong Kong -- Miserable Sunday -- End of term -- Pneumonia -- Play-writing competition -- Letter from Aunt Baba.
Abstract:
In this autobiography, Adeline Yen Mah's family considers her bad luck because her mother died giving birth to her. They discriminate against her and make her feel unwanted yet she yearns and continuously strives for her parents' love. Her stepmother is vindictive and cruel and her father dismissive. Jung-ling grows up to be an academic child, with a natural ability for writing. Only her aunt and grandfather offer her any love and kindness. The story is of survival in the light of the mental and physical cruelty of her stepmother and the disloyalty of her siblings. Jung-ling blossoms in spite of everything and the story ends as her father agrees to let her study in England.
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