I teach a number of primary school age children here in Hong Kong, and some of them I have been with for over 5 years. So occasionally I am inclined to by a birthday present in the form of a book to help keep them enthused about reading in English.
A few months ago I was looking for a suitable novel for an impending 11th birthday and came across Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah. It is an abridged version of her best selling autobiography Falling Leaves, written for a younger readers.
This has proved to be a real find. This is the story of a young girl who finds herself unloved and unwanted in her own home, by her older siblings because she is considered to be 'unlucky' given that their mother died days after her birth. With their father marrying again to a woman who is only a handful of years older than his eldest daughter, Yen Mah and her siblings also have to cope with the presence of a domineering step mother who has little interest in their happiness and well being.
The narrative is emotionally engaging and both my student and I look forward to reading a new chapter each week. Yen Mah comes across as a wonderfully strong character in her own life story and this should be a book that young readers between 9 - 15 should connect with easily, especially girls. Further, the backdrop of wartime and post war China and Hong Kong serve as an illustration of a history well worth knowing.
A very well worthwhile read in my opinion!
