Chinese Cinderella discussion

The first four chapters in Chinese Cinderella, are mainly about Adeline Yen Mah and her family. It tells us who is in her family, Aunt Baba, Grandpa Ye Ye, Grandma Nai Nai, her deceased mother, her father, her stepmother Niang, Grand Aunt, Big Sister, Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Little Sister and herself. Adeline’s mother died when she was only four weeks old , her family blamed her for their mothers death and never forgave her, they think she is bad luck. From this even her father wasn’t very fond of her. A year after their mother had died; her father remarried a half French and half Chinese women called Niang. She has two children of her own, Little sister and Forth brother. One day Adeline came home from school with a medal hanging off her uniform. As soon as she walked through the door her Aunt Baba noticed it and asked what it was. Adeline told her one of the teachers gave it to as a reward and she could wear it all week. Her Aunt was very impressed and put the certificate that came with her award in a special box. At dinner her father also noticed the medal and was very proud, all of Adeline’s siblings were very shocked and surprised because their father never mentioned her ever. Adeline liked school very much because she felt like she belonged and fit in there, where at home she doesn’t. Adeline had wore that medal all term and by the end of the term the school gave her a reward for wearing it as much as any other student. One day father deciced to leave for a while with Niang and fourth brother. No one knew where they were but they didn’t mind because like was better then ever. When Adeline awoke the next morning she found Aunt Baba heart broken and crying, Nai Nai had died of a huge stroke.

The very start of Chinese Cinderella, starts off by Adeline Yen Mah introducing herself to the audience of the book, and of course, her family. but however, Adeline Yen Mah's family life is not like that of today. Because of her mothers' sudden death three weeks after Adeline Yen Mah's birth, their family had no respect whatsoever for her health and well-being, because they believed that she was the cause of her mothers' death. When she addresses her family to the audience (being us), it is as follows: Aunt Baba (being her mothers sister that loves and cares for her throughout the book), Grandpa Ye Ye (her fathers' dad who loves and adores her even though she "brought" bad luck to the family), Gandma Nai Nai (her fathers' mother that respects her the same and makes her feel wanted and loved - the same as Grandpa Ye Ye and Aunt Baba), Father (that is disrespectful to her and doesn't care about her and ignores her even though he gets his maids to feed her and clean her clothes etc.), Niang (Adeline's step mother that is absolutely terrible to her because she was "the cause of her mothers death" and is just seen as dirt to her), Big Sister (the oldest sister of the family that is rude and disrespectful to Adeline Yen Mah - just like all of the siblings are - they are exactly the same to her), Big brother (the second eldest brother), Second brother (the third eldest son/brother), Third Brother (the fourth oldest brother/son), Fourth Brother (the eldest son of Niang's children who is only a child), Little Sister (the baby/toddler of the family that is the second child of Niang), Grand Aunt (who owns the first Womens bank and is very wealthy - and is the sister of Aunt Baba and deceased Mother) and of course, Adeline Yen Mah.

In the first few chapters, Adeline is gifted with a medal that she is allowed to wear for the rest of the week because of her academic achievement. when he finds out, her father is not exactly up to the stage of being proud her but her is pleased to know that maybe one day his unlucky daughter could make his father proud. when the giving out of medals continues to be given to her, her father keeps on approving of her, and her siblings are jealous of her and for that, are mean and nasty to her. Adeline is overwhelmed with joy as she keeps on being approved by her father, and when he, Niang, Fourth Brother and Little Sister go out from the house for a couple of days (the other family not knowing anything about where they are) and Adeline thinks that her luck is turning for the better because Niang is "out of her hair" for once.

but while Father, Niang, Fourth Brother and Little Sister are away on a mysterious outing, just when they are about to come home, Grandma Nai Nai and Adeline Yen Mah share a conversation, but that night, Grandma Nai Nai is no more as Adeline later finds out that she had a massive stroke and dies. The family is filled with grief.