Chinese Cinderalla and Race

Chinese Cinderella

Chinese Cinderella is a biography about a girl who is ostracized by her family. It details her life from as early as Adeline (author and main character) can account. In the book she has an older sister and three older brothers from her father’s marriage to her mother. After her mother passes, her father remarries and they have two other children, a boy and a girl. Adeline also lives with her grandfather, Ye Ye and her Aunt Baba.

The story begins with a conversation by Adeline and her Aunt Baba. She was asking about her mother, who died after complications during child birth. This is the beginning of Adeline’s ostracism from her family. The first example of this in the book are when Adeline wins a medal and award for leading her class. Her father, and Aunt Baba praise her. At this point there is also her step-mother Niang (mother in Mandarin), who often overlooks her completely.

Her siblings torment her throughout the book. Constantly downgrading her. Even making fun of her for her repeated class awards. At one point her brother even chooses her pet duck, PLT, in a test for the family dog, resulting in the ducks death. Adeline was heartbroken. Another example is when her brothers say they made her a drink as a congratulations, which they made her drink, only for her to realize it was urine.

All the while this is happen Adeline’s father is constantly working or away on business. The story takes place during the second World War, so there is a lot of moving. While Adeline’s father is away Niang is in charge of the home. Which in a way helps the siblings bond, because of Niang’s favoritism to her two blood children. They are allowed to wear modern styled clothes and hair while the other children must retain Chinese traditional outfits and hairstyles.

Adeline’s Aunt Baba is her only form of true support. She teaches her love and gives her hope that there is more to live than their home. Niang eventually accuses Aunt Baba of being a bad...