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’
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 favouring 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. Taken from http://www.adelineyenmah.com/index2.html