Chinese Cinderella 1-2

My outside reading book is called Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yeh Mah. The book is Adeline's life story up until the age of 14. It is about her life as an unwanted child. In the preface and first two chapters, she describes how her mother had died while giving birth to Adeline. Deeming Adeline as bad lucky. In light of her troubled childhood, she was able to write this book and generate hope and support for the children out there who have been abused and neglected.

Adeline started kindergarten at the age of 4, and in her first week she is given a medal from her teacher for her leading the class. She is very excited about the medal and asks her Aunt Baba to pin it on her dress. While her aunt if pinning it on, Adeline brings up the subject of her dead mother. She sees that her questions hurt Aunt Baba deeply, and decides never to ask her aunt about her mother ever again. The subject of her mother does not offend her big sister as much, however her big sister is very bitter and ends up blaming Adeline for her death. "But then Mama died giving birth to you. If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck." pg.3

So far this book is kind of troubling to think about. To think that this is a true story and that a four year old was treated this way. What is worse is that this kind of neglect and abuse was accepted in that community and widely practiced, having one person to blame for all the pain and misery.