https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti Our own perspective en-us 2018-02-22 07:10:06 UTC 2018-03-17 20:43:27 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Folder.png tech_david012 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/234098169 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeline_Yen_Mah]]> 2018-02-22 07:24:18 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/234098169 tech_david012 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/234098911 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs2sbPanADM]]> 2018-02-22 07:28:45 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/234098911 noramacdonadkk https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/234261154 Family plays an essential role in the story of Adeline. Her own family, however, was not a supporting environment - she was disliked, neglected and abused by her father and her stepmother (who gave all the affection to her own children). There was only one setting where the term "family" was a good one: when Adeline was introduced to her aunt Reine's family. Aunt Reine took good care of her, as well as her own two children.]]> 2018-02-22 15:09:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/234261154 tech_david012 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236789249 https://goo.gl/images/ZM15Xmhttps://goo.gl/images/ZM15Xm]]> 2018-03-01 06:59:10 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236789249 tech_david012 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236789472
https://goo.gl/images/WfmVHN]]> 2018-03-01 07:01:23 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236789472 lasallelabo1 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236790532
Written by Susan La Marca

This book is the moving autobiography of a young Chinese girl, Adeline Yen Mah. Born the fifth child to an affluent Chinese family her life begins tragically. Adeline’s mother died shortly after her birth due to complications bought on by the delivery, and in Chinese culture this marks her as cursed or ‘bad luck’ (p.3). This situation is compounded by her father’s new marriage to a lady who has little affection for her husband’s five children. She displayed overt antagonism and distrust towards all of the children, particularly Adeline, whilst favoring her own younger son and daughter born soon after the marriage. The book outlines Adeline’s struggle to find a place where she feels she belongs. Denied love from her parents, she finds some solace in relationships with her grandfather Ye Ye, and her Aunt Baba, but they are taken from her. Adeline immerses herself in striving for academic achievement in the hope of winning favour, but also for its own rewards as she finds great pleasure in words and scholarly success.

The book was written following the successful publication of Adeline Yen Mah’s first autobiography, Falling Leaves, which details the years of Adeline’s life from fourteen years of age into adulthood.

‘The secret story of an unwanted daughter ‘

(The book’s subheading) 

The idea of an unwanted daughter, blamed for the death of her own mother, is a superstition that may have caused the abandonment of many.

• What is the strength of such a superstition?
• How does such a superstition come about?

In her life Adeline Yen Mah has been many things, a brilliant academic, doctor and a writer, yet it is the role of ‘unwanted daughter’ that plays heavily on her heart.

• Why is this so?
• Why does it overshadow all other achievements?
• Why is it so difficult to move beyond childhood hurts?

The pain felt by Adeline is acute and permeates almost every scene in the book. The story is, at times, a catalogue of one unhappy incident after another. Some events that display her anguish are particularly violent, cruel and senseless, as in the episode when her duck, PLT, is killed by the dog (p.94 onwards). Others show the power of cruel words to truly destroy the child’s own sense of self worth. Adeline is an unwanted, even unnoticed daughter. Upon leaving her beloved grandfather’s funeral, Niang (her stepmother) comments loudly that Adeline is becoming ‘uglier and uglier as (she) grew older and taller’ (p.213). An unnecessary and crushing remark made at a most difficult time.

Adeline suffers constant rejection from her stepmother but perhaps it is the indifference of her father that crushes Adeline more brutally. Most telling is the scene in the plane (p.40) in which her father remembers neither her real name nor her birthday. She is a forgotten child to him.

Adeline’s answer is to immerse herself in academic life, pursuing success. Her personality, though, is scarred by her treatment at the hands of her parents. She has no sense of self, no sense of where she belongs. Her self-loathing and doubt are often intensely felt:

‘They had tossed me aside like a piece of garbage’ (p.143)

‘Now they knew the pathetic truth! Unloved and unwanted by my own parents! How long did it take for a person to die of shame.’ (p.129)

‘I’m nothing. Less than nothing. A piece of garbage to be thrown out.’ (p.207)

“Oh, the misery of it all! I felt I was being skinned alive. (p.214)

‘Everything is ugly. I loathe myself.’ (p.215)

Family offers us acceptance and a place to belong, affirmation, help and guidance, things Adeline lacks in her interaction with her parents – she is an ‘unwanted daughter’ in many senses of the word.

http://www.adelineyenmah.com/books/chinese-cinderella/teachers-notes

]]> 2018-03-01 07:10:18 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236790532 tech_david012 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236790809 She is the youngest child in the family (before Niang’s arrival). Her biological mother died days after her birth, and she is thus frowned upon by the rest of the family. She has witnessed and lived through Niang’s iron grip and harsh nature, along with her siblings; yet, to an extent, she still felt different, alienated from them. The book was written by her, suggested to do so by her aunt, and revolves around her life. In the end, she uncovers a few secrets about her family, and these help her overcome her familial hardships and finally set the past behind her, allowing her to move on.]]> 2018-03-01 07:12:30 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236790809 lasallelabo1 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236791316 2018-03-01 07:16:45 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236791316 lasallelabo1 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236792169 2018-03-01 07:22:02 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236792169 lasallelabo1 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236792711 2018-03-01 07:25:57 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236792711 lasallelabo1 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236793360 2018-03-01 07:29:43 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/236793360 noramacdonadkk https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242205732 In my opinion, the book is very interesting and insightful. Throughout reading it, I felt myself in the author’s shoes, completely immersed within the contents of the book. Adeline’s story is touching and profound. Reading the book was an amazing experience.
The book does a great job in terms of evoking the reader’s empathy, and plays on the strings of the heart so beautifully. It does so mainly to give the reader a sense of what it would feel like to live through hardships — abuse, isolation, loss — yet still show there is still hope, as long as you keep pushing through. Our world today is built on instant gratification: social media and globalization have made us a rather impatient bunch, which means people tend to give up very quickly. It's also the reason why this generation is more susceptible to mental illness, such as anxiety and depression. As the book tries to teach people, from those leading a normal life to people in a constant struggle, that patience is, truly, a virtue, as reflected by Adeline's own life story. Therefore, the relevance of the book in our times is a matter of undisputable fact, not something  to be merely considered.
Reading the book sure is an otherworldly experience. The author knows how to play on the strings of the reader's heart, and the ending is very satisfying. As said before, reading this book felt like wearing the author's shoes as the reader explores the deep reaches of young Adeline. I've thouroughly enjoyed it, and would surely suggest it to someone. Many people don't read, as they may feel that their time was wasted; but I can assure you, that the time of reading this book was definitely well-spent.
- Adam Kteilat, 1ere L

]]> 2018-03-15 07:10:50 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242205732 tech_david012 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242206999 I found the book to be very insiteful concerning the situation that Chinese people had to go through during the Japanese occupation as well as the situations in families with multiple children. I personally enjoyed this book. The end was very touching when it is revealed that the father did in fact love his daughter.


]]> 2018-03-15 07:18:10 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242206999 lasallelabo2 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242207586 In my opinion this book is very interesting and show how we can cope  with all the  problems  everway  of part stepmother that ]]> 2018-03-15 07:21:38 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242207586 sandraisraelcohen1 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242499772 What about Asmahane?

3 paragraphs of conclusion, pls...]]> 2018-03-15 17:23:38 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/242499772 https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/243115981 As i am an admirer of reading books , this book pleased me a lot. The book is very interesting , the story of the young Adeline touched me a lot. For me she is a true heroine: she suffered from the members of her family, especially from her stepmother who couldn't bear her. She felt excluded,but with all her problems she had a hope that one day she will win. I think this character shows an archetype of hope, of patience. It's natural to have problems , but we shouldn't be discouraged , we must remain optimistic and don't lose hope . I suggest to read this book , because the story of Adeline is fascinating, the book is very simple to read it , he can motivate you,   and has a very touching end!!!!!
Bat El 1 ere L ]]> 2018-03-17 20:12:48 UTC https://padlet.com/tech_david012/poydh1nan0ti/wish/243115981