Michele (luluinphilly) - , reviewed on 2/11/2009 + 367 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I read "Chinese Cinderella," which is the young adult version of "Falling Leaves." I was glad to read that this book went farther than CC. What I couldn't understand was Adeline's actions toward her other siblings. She was basically shunned and used by most of them, especially her sister Lydia, who was disowned by the family because she moved back to China with her husband. Adeline's brothers told her not to get involved because Niang (the step-mother) didn't approve, but she helped her sister financially. What she didn't expect was Lydia was always in constant contact with Niang through letters, feeding Niang lies about Adeline. SPOILER ALERT ... What I couldn't understand, why didn't Adeline contest her father's first will? Niang managed to "rewrite" Joseph's will, giving everything to herself and then telling the siblings that Joseph was backrupt when, in fact, he was worth $30 million. Adeline and her husband, Bob, found it in Niang's apartment after her death. Instead, she went to confront her (favorite) brother James about the situation. But he happened to be in the middle of celebrating (with his other siblings, including Lydia) that they managed to pull the wool over Adeline's eyes. Niang's will gave James 50%, the other two brothers each got 20%, and Lydia received 10% of their father's/Niang's money. It was NEVER about money for Adeline. It was more about WHY she was treated the way she was. She did get redemption through this discovered will and realized her father did love her. He also stood by her decision to disown Lydia. I seriously hope that Adeline has had no more contact with her siblings since Niang died in 1988. I got the impression that most of them really needed the money but Adeline never did. Thank goodness for Bob, who is her rock. Hopefully he has managed to keep Adeline's head on straight. In my mind, I know that Susan, the biological daughter of Niang and Joseph who was disowned due to Niang's jealousy, and Adeline are keeping in touch and have basically turned the tables by disowning and shunning their siblings.

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