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Along the River: A Chinese Cinderella Novel
Bestselling Chinese American author Adeline Yen Mah weaves her authentic accounts of life in China into an absorbing novel about a Chinese girl and her vision of a previous life.
After a fall, CC is whisked away to a hospital. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, she is haunted by vivid dreams that seem strange—yet somehow familiar. Thus begins CC’s emotional journey back to a privileged life lived eight hundred years ago during the Song dynasty.
CC is the daughter of a wealthy and influential man, but she finds herself drawn to a poor orphan boy with a startling ability to capture the beauty of the natural world. As the relationship between these two young people deepens, the transforming power of art and romantic love comes into conflict with the immovable rules of Chinese society.
This stunning fantasy adventure novel, inspired by China’s most famous painting, Along the River at the Qing Ming Festival , tells the story of a friendship both tender and bold. CC’s remarkable journey reminds readers that though time moves on, art and love endure.
After a fall, CC is whisked away to a hospital. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, she is haunted by vivid dreams that seem strange—yet somehow familiar. Thus begins CC’s emotional journey back to a privileged life lived eight hundred years ago during the Song dynasty.
CC is the daughter of a wealthy and influential man, but she finds herself drawn to a poor orphan boy with a startling ability to capture the beauty of the natural world. As the relationship between these two young people deepens, the transforming power of art and romantic love comes into conflict with the immovable rules of Chinese society.
This stunning fantasy adventure novel, inspired by China’s most famous painting, Along the River at the Qing Ming Festival , tells the story of a friendship both tender and bold. CC’s remarkable journey reminds readers that though time moves on, art and love endure.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
61 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Adeline Yen Mah
16 books647 followersAdeline Yen Mah is a Chinese-American author and physician. She grew up in Tianjin, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and is known for her autobiography Falling Leaves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 11, 2010
Along the River is really the story of Mei Lan, a privileged chinese girl in the Song dynasty. There is a sweet friendship between her brother Gege, and the servant boy- Ah Li who is an amazing artist with lots to teach Gege, and Mei Lan.
CC is a young woman and the conduit to our story. When she slips and falls, she wakes up drawn to a painting from ages ago, and with strange dreams. Through hypnosis, she relates to her doctor her memories, which is the life of Mei Lan and her adventures.
A sweet love story develops with Mei Lan and Ah Li, but it seems that fate is against them.
I don't understand fully why the subtitle- a chinese cinderella novel- is included unless there is a different fairy tale for chinese. It seems that it is more of a historical fiction, and I reviewed and rated it that way.
CC is a young woman and the conduit to our story. When she slips and falls, she wakes up drawn to a painting from ages ago, and with strange dreams. Through hypnosis, she relates to her doctor her memories, which is the life of Mei Lan and her adventures.
A sweet love story develops with Mei Lan and Ah Li, but it seems that fate is against them.
I don't understand fully why the subtitle- a chinese cinderella novel- is included unless there is a different fairy tale for chinese. It seems that it is more of a historical fiction, and I reviewed and rated it that way.
August 20, 2012
2 1/2 stars
Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com
Along the River is a quick read that explores the importance of art and the challenges of growing up. Author Yen Mah offers vivid descriptions of ancient Chinese life during the Song Dynasty. Readers will be entertained by the book's fascinating details about cricket fights, calligraphy, and jade carving, to name a few.
Though the amount of detail was astounding, the pages were often too heavy with facts and lacked enough dialogue to keep the story moving. Several events seemed too unbelievable and unlikely, even for a fairy tale. The two time periods (modern day and Song Dynasty) lacked cohesion and the ending was suprisingly abrupt and without closure. Along the River is a quick read for those interested in learning more about ancient Chinese culture.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: ***
Violence/Gore: A secondhand account indicates two people were killed in a fire. An individual recalls his father being stabbed and dying from his injuries. A woman slaps a child and attempts to bind her feet, breaking several of the child's toes.
Sex/Nudity: There are a few discussions about eunuchs, including an explanation referencing castration.
Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com
Along the River is a quick read that explores the importance of art and the challenges of growing up. Author Yen Mah offers vivid descriptions of ancient Chinese life during the Song Dynasty. Readers will be entertained by the book's fascinating details about cricket fights, calligraphy, and jade carving, to name a few.
Though the amount of detail was astounding, the pages were often too heavy with facts and lacked enough dialogue to keep the story moving. Several events seemed too unbelievable and unlikely, even for a fairy tale. The two time periods (modern day and Song Dynasty) lacked cohesion and the ending was suprisingly abrupt and without closure. Along the River is a quick read for those interested in learning more about ancient Chinese culture.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: ***
Violence/Gore: A secondhand account indicates two people were killed in a fire. An individual recalls his father being stabbed and dying from his injuries. A woman slaps a child and attempts to bind her feet, breaking several of the child's toes.
Sex/Nudity: There are a few discussions about eunuchs, including an explanation referencing castration.
November 14, 2017
Interesting book and a good read- reminded me of reading Amy Tan when I was in high school.
March 23, 2012
In the 1940s of China, a young girl named CC has an accident of falling down a roof and she regains visions and hallucinations of her past life while recovering in rehab. So one day after her doctor has recorded his conversation with her past life spirit (?), he lets her listen. So begins the tale of a young daughter of a nobleman in the capital city and her friend, Ah Li.
I started reading this book because I thought it would be interesting, and give me a lot of historical facts, but I was wrong. Even though it gave me some historical knowledge about lives in the Ming Dynasty. I had my book about the history of China by my side while I was reading this book. I could reference some information, but not all-for example at the end of the book, the doctor confirmed that there were some foreigners in China during the Ming Dynasty. In my book, it was the Song Dynasty.
The plot was quite confusing and I felt that the ending was rushed. I thought that the plot could have been improved, and the book is quite peaceful and calm, not that much action except for when the girl tries to escape from her life.
I finished this book because I felt obligated to finish this. Honestly I thought that I should have threw (not exactly throw but you know what I mean.)this book onto the couch from where I was sitting. Even though I felt a cultural connection to this book I did not feel like as if I was reading Chinese historical fiction. Time to go back to the European historical fiction.
I would recommend this book to Aloka because she doesn't feel a cultural connection to the book, and therefore, she wouldn't be minded by some of the minor details and flaws that I see. And because she isn't as familiar with Chinese history, she would be able to use her imagination more and therefore she would have a more exciting and better experience with reading this book.
I started reading this book because I thought it would be interesting, and give me a lot of historical facts, but I was wrong. Even though it gave me some historical knowledge about lives in the Ming Dynasty. I had my book about the history of China by my side while I was reading this book. I could reference some information, but not all-for example at the end of the book, the doctor confirmed that there were some foreigners in China during the Ming Dynasty. In my book, it was the Song Dynasty.
The plot was quite confusing and I felt that the ending was rushed. I thought that the plot could have been improved, and the book is quite peaceful and calm, not that much action except for when the girl tries to escape from her life.
I finished this book because I felt obligated to finish this. Honestly I thought that I should have threw (not exactly throw but you know what I mean.)this book onto the couch from where I was sitting. Even though I felt a cultural connection to this book I did not feel like as if I was reading Chinese historical fiction. Time to go back to the European historical fiction.
I would recommend this book to Aloka because she doesn't feel a cultural connection to the book, and therefore, she wouldn't be minded by some of the minor details and flaws that I see. And because she isn't as familiar with Chinese history, she would be able to use her imagination more and therefore she would have a more exciting and better experience with reading this book.
September 30, 2017
I'm not usually a fan of young adult fiction, but this random library grab was thought provoking, well researched, and immersive. It didn't fall flat or make the common mistake of treating it's intended audience or young adult characters as shallow, weak, or stupid. As a former young person, that is my chief complaint about young adult fiction.
The historical immersion is excellent and well done. Fans of young adult fiction will probably give this four stars.
The historical immersion is excellent and well done. Fans of young adult fiction will probably give this four stars.
November 16, 2012
Reviewed by Monica Sheffo for TeensReadToo.com
CC is a young Chinese girl whose own misfortune landed her in a hospital in a coma. When she reawakens three weeks later, she feels and appears fine.
That is, except for an unusual obsession with a painting called "Along the River at Qing Ming".
A session with a hypnotherapist reveals the unthinkable. CC is possessed with the spirit of Zang Mei Lang, a young girl from the Song Dynasty, desperate to tell her story.
CHINESE CINDERELLA's Adeline Yen Mah delights again in ALONG THE RIVER. Mah's gift of storytelling is evident on every page of this coming-of-age tale about two young girls linked across time, blending the beauty of the old ways with the promise of the future in ways that will both surprise and entertain you.
This one is a real treat.
CC is a young Chinese girl whose own misfortune landed her in a hospital in a coma. When she reawakens three weeks later, she feels and appears fine.
That is, except for an unusual obsession with a painting called "Along the River at Qing Ming".
A session with a hypnotherapist reveals the unthinkable. CC is possessed with the spirit of Zang Mei Lang, a young girl from the Song Dynasty, desperate to tell her story.
CHINESE CINDERELLA's Adeline Yen Mah delights again in ALONG THE RIVER. Mah's gift of storytelling is evident on every page of this coming-of-age tale about two young girls linked across time, blending the beauty of the old ways with the promise of the future in ways that will both surprise and entertain you.
This one is a real treat.
March 25, 2017
Bought this book back in secondary school because it said Chinese Cinderella. I had just finished CC as my literature book in secondary 1 and really enjoyed it. After that I realised this is a fiction book and not a CC continuation (how smart of me then not to have read the summary first), so I didn't really pick it up. Recently I was tidying my room and came across this MG book which I haven't read, so I thought why not? Wouldn't take more than a few hours anyway.
Given that the level of writing is more suitable for MG I found it a tad simplistic. However there were elements of Chinese culture in it, especially the hierarchical structure of dynasties and the foot-binding culture. Good place to start learning more about the Chinese culture, albeit in a fictional simplistic way. And I cleared 1 book off the shelves yay.
Given that the level of writing is more suitable for MG I found it a tad simplistic. However there were elements of Chinese culture in it, especially the hierarchical structure of dynasties and the foot-binding culture. Good place to start learning more about the Chinese culture, albeit in a fictional simplistic way. And I cleared 1 book off the shelves yay.
February 21, 2011
Chinese Cinderella, or CC as she's refered to in the story, falls and hits her head while running away from a mysterious woman's who's following her. CC becomes obsessed with the painting "Along the River during the QingMing Festival". Her doctor hypnotizes her and she begins to remember a past life in which she was the sister of the artist, Zhang Zeduan, growing up in 11th century China. The story seemed to spend a lot of time explaining things that one really didn't need a detailed explanation of, ex foot binding, castration etc. I think the story would've been better if it was jus a story set in 11th century China instead of a flashback and if they story focused more on the characters than on historical details.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2011
CC is running away from a woman who scared/startled her while at the Chinese market in Feng Jie. She almost makes it, but then she falls and is knocked unconscious. She wakes up in a hospital. Recovery seems to be taking longer than expected so the doctor decides to hypnotize her and see if there is something else going on. Listening to the tapes of her session, it's revealed that CC has memories of being a young Chinese girl named Mei Lan over 800 years before. Mei Lan was the daughter of a wealthy and privileged family during the Song dynasty. Her story tells one of the possible origins of one of the most famous paintings from that time.
Fascinating characters, interesting plot twists.
Fascinating characters, interesting plot twists.
May 1, 2011
The premise for this novel was a romance set in Song Dynasty between two lovers in different social classes. A girl from a well to do family and a barbarian orphan fall head over heels for each other.
I loved the premise for this novel, but the author focused too much on historical details such as the ranking system for nobles, castration, foot binding, and etc. It mentioned the origins of several famous Chinese paintings. Granted, there aren't many historical fiction books out there for young adults about ancient China, but this wasn't excellently written as it could've been. I think if I hadn't prepared for a romance, it would've decent. But if you're looking for a historical fiction read go ahead!
I loved the premise for this novel, but the author focused too much on historical details such as the ranking system for nobles, castration, foot binding, and etc. It mentioned the origins of several famous Chinese paintings. Granted, there aren't many historical fiction books out there for young adults about ancient China, but this wasn't excellently written as it could've been. I think if I hadn't prepared for a romance, it would've decent. But if you're looking for a historical fiction read go ahead!
November 26, 2013
Actual rating: 3 1/2 stars.
Intriguing story. The beginning was a bit boring, but once they got to Mei Lan and everyone, it got pretty good. I really liked Ah Zhao and Mei Lan, and how she grew over the course of the story.
One thing I don't understand, though, is why it's a Chinese Cinderella. The only similarity was the stepmother and she didn't seem evil to me exactly. I mean, there were some nasty things about her to be sure, but she hardly seemed like the main antagonist. Actually, it just seemed like life in general was against them.
All in all, it was an all right read, good for anyone who's interested in Chinese history during the Song Dynasty because you will get numerous fun facts on that. Or for anyone who likes a fun, fantasy what-if scenario.
Intriguing story. The beginning was a bit boring, but once they got to Mei Lan and everyone, it got pretty good. I really liked Ah Zhao and Mei Lan, and how she grew over the course of the story.
One thing I don't understand, though, is why it's a Chinese Cinderella. The only similarity was the stepmother and she didn't seem evil to me exactly. I mean, there were some nasty things about her to be sure, but she hardly seemed like the main antagonist. Actually, it just seemed like life in general was against them.
All in all, it was an all right read, good for anyone who's interested in Chinese history during the Song Dynasty because you will get numerous fun facts on that. Or for anyone who likes a fun, fantasy what-if scenario.
February 23, 2012
This book was written for young adults, but it seems very basic, compared to other excellent young adult books like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, etc. There wasn't a lot of character development, but even more annoying is that I didn't feel like it really captured any of the flavor of 11th century China. The characters behaved much like modern people and it just wasn't believable to me. I should have stopped reading it, but I'm one of those people who just can't stop reading a book, even if it's awful. This certainly wasn't the most awful book I've read, but I think my time could have been better spent reading another book.
June 12, 2011
CC fell down from the roof. She sees herself living eight hundred years ago, during the Song Dynasty in China. Her name was Mei Lan, she had an older brother and a good friend/servant named Ah Li. And Ah Li was very good at painting and calligraphy.
I love the transition part of the story from the character CC to MeiLan. CC fell and hurt her head. Therefore, out of unconsciousness, CC was able to see herself living as MeiLan during the SOng Dynasty. Then MeiLan fell down while escaping from the soldiers and CC came back to conscious again.
I love the transition part of the story from the character CC to MeiLan. CC fell and hurt her head. Therefore, out of unconsciousness, CC was able to see herself living as MeiLan during the SOng Dynasty. Then MeiLan fell down while escaping from the soldiers and CC came back to conscious again.
August 21, 2013
I hated it and I if could help it, I'll put no star at all. This book is a far cry from Falling Leaves which I've read many years ago and if my memory serves me correctly, it was a great book and nicely written. I dislike the way the story was written. I dislike how the story evolve so quickly without depth. I dislike the fact that there're not much dialogue in this book. Okay... I barely reach 1/10 of the book and I'm judging so harshly. Seriously...... CC(Chinese Cinderella)??? I'm gonna have to send this book to my "chuck-it-away" shelf.
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November 3, 2016 The book is easy to read and flows well for a younger age group, but the plot is slow moving and hard to get into. The characters are all likeable, but the story just seems to be an account of their daily lives. The time transition is strange. The book starts off in 1942 (CC's story) only to quickly switch to 1104 (Mei Lan's story). Which wouldn't be so bad, except that there are some very Western phrases that completely blow the ambiance of the 1104 setting.
September 26, 2011
i thought i would try a second Chinese Cinderella book and i disliked it more than the first i had read. this one basicly has her fall of a roof hit her head end up in a hospital where she stares at a painting and the doctor hypnotizes her and she "relives" a past life that has to do with said painting. was not impressed.
February 15, 2015
I never read any Asian books before in English and this is a great start of Asian books. At first, when I chose this book from the shelf, I got attracted to it with this beautiful Chinese woman and the title, Chinese Cinderella.
However, when I first read it, it didn't sound the same as the Europe Cinderella at all. Later on, it's getting more and more fascinating that I couldn't put it down.
However, when I first read it, it didn't sound the same as the Europe Cinderella at all. Later on, it's getting more and more fascinating that I couldn't put it down.
March 3, 2015
This books had some real flaws in the writing style. Parts of it were super childish and other parts the author was clearly trying too hard. A good portion of the book gave me the impression that it was written by a child.
Might be okay for young kids but considering her other works this one is just strange.
Might be okay for young kids but considering her other works this one is just strange.
May 4, 2015
Omg this book was so good, although it was short, it was great, not going to go into the story, I don't want to spoil it. But the detail and descriptions given in the book and time period were very vivid, as I was reading I could actually picture in my mind the places and people. For me this is what makes a book great I felt like I was there in the story. Definitely would recommend..
September 1, 2016
I thought this book was another look at Adeline Yen Mah's life growing up as an unwanted daughter, but instead she wrote a fictional story about Chinese Cinderella. CC suffers from a fall and relieves experiences she had in a past life in the Song Dynasty. While somewhat informative on life in the Song Dynasty, I found this book to be a bit boring and hard to get through.
April 23, 2011
The plot had so much potential, but I'm sorry, it's just didn't cut it for me. I was looking forward to a fiery romance between star-crossed lovers, but there was none. I was disappointed and the way the emperor acted did not do well with me.
January 20, 2015
I recommend this YA novel to everyone who enjoys reading about different cultures.Set in China, this story combines modern and ancient worlds of Chinese culture and family life in a tale of love and friendship.
July 14, 2015
I was expecting this book to be better than it was. It was an interesting concept, but just seemed to fizzle out. The story just seemed to end without anything really happening. It's probably good it was such a short read or I would have lost interest and stopped.
February 28, 2016
Just finished this book for the #underhypedreadathon it had less than 300 goodreads ratings. It was great: 5 out of 5 stars. Historical fiction, Chinese culture, some words in Chinese characters (English translation in parenthesis), art, poetry, reincarnation! Fantastic book!
February 17, 2011
very simple story told well, but there isn't much drama or tension in the novel. I think it might even be read by 5th or 6th graders. I enjoyed the translations and seeing the writings.
March 17, 2011
good buck i really wanted to know what would happen next
April 3, 2011
Loved it very well written
May 22, 2011
Along the River was, overall, not too bad. I think the idea is interesting; but I also think the writer could have played it out a little better than she did.
May 10, 2011
it was all right, but not spectacular. A lot of talk of eunichs. ok enough for jr hi.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews