Review #4: CHINESE CINDERELLA

Mah, Adeline Yen.  Chinese Cinderella: The true story of an unwanted daughter.  New York:  Delacorte Press, 1999.  Print.

Annotation:  Raised in twentieth century China, Adeline Yen Mah is the unwanted and unloved daughter of her widowed father and wicked stepmother.  In spite of the odds against her, however, Adeline Yen Mah rises above despair.  Chinese Cinderella is her compelling and true story, written to inspire and bring hope to all who are unwanted and unloved.   

Justification for Nomination:  Adeline Yen Mah’s autobiography Chinese Cinderella is truly a story of survival in the face of rejection, neglect, and cruelty toward a defenseless child. Mah’s sense of self-preservation, however, is felt throughout her story and brings hope to readers that not only she, but they will rise above the ongoing sense of despair and unusual adversities faced. With every obstacle and in every new disappointment, Adeline becomes stronger. This is indeed the author’s chief objective—to show understanding of and encourage the unwanted child--as stated in a note "to all unwanted children" in the opening pages of the book. Throughout the text, her constant reminders of self-worth and who she is capable of becoming make this nonfiction work a testimony of the strength of the human spirit that is present even in a child in the face of enormous challenges. Thus, Mah crafts her own story from childhood through adolescence to speak to any reader concerning what a person--even a child or young adult—can do when the will to survive and triumph becomes greater than the obstacles presented. The inclusion of authentic dialogue and internal monologue, the family photographs, the names and descriptions of family members, friends, and acquaintances, the chronological format and the dates of her own life in line with accounts of historical events and facts, and the explanation of the Chinese language (written and spoken) and culture of the day supports this author’s story, building authenticity and credibility while capturing the heart of the reader. Therefore this work accomplishes its purpose within the nonfiction genre and the autobiography subgenre. It speaks directly to its readers, triggering their interest and emotions, providing opportunities for further understanding and connection within and beyond the text in the aesthetic as well as the efferent readers.

Chinese Cinderella is an outstanding work of nonfiction written specifically for the young adult audience and is, therefore, worthy of an award for literary excellence.

Genre:  Autobiography/Memoir, Multicultural