Contact
Participants should remember that many young readers browse these forums so postings must be appropriate for all age groups in language and subject matter. The guestbook is monitored and every message will be reviewed prior to posting so it may be several days before your message appears online. Additionally, to fully protect readers from potential misuse, no email addresses are allowed in the body of any posting.
Click here to send Adeline a message
*Certain emails contacting Adeline may be posted on the website, if you don’t want it posted you must so say so in your message.
Dear Mrs. Mah,
So we started reading “Chinese Cinderella” in our Honors English II class in highschool about two weeks ago to dive into our topic of Chinese world literature; inwhich, my mother is actually the teacher of the class, her and I got to conversing about the book, Asia, etc. Yearly she brings in my Grandmother whom also started reading the book last week, since she is coming into our class to talk about China she wanted a topic (Your book) to relate to us with. So her and I were on the phone the other day when she suddenly stopped me (This is the weird part) and brought up the book. My Grandmother being a orphan from Shanghai(the reason my mother assigned the book to the class)wen’t to the exact same school as you did in Shanghai, and is 3 years older then you. I found this bone chillingly amazing, so I decided to contact you and inform you of this amazing coincidence. Some background on my grandmother is she lived in an orphanage for quite some time until it burned down. Any how thanks for the superb book, love it. Sorry about your childhood, i’m glad you surived your life serves as a testiment to all others in “life’s dire snare”. Keep writing!
Sincerely,
Jordan
can i ask when will you be coming to england it will be a pleasure to see you
What school do you go to in England?
Adeline
you are so awesome! i look up to you and hope that time is treating you well! for school i’m doing and assesment for my report i think… anyway i loved Cinese cinderella and falling leaves. The part wher PLT(precious little tresure) died i just cried and cried etc. i would love to read your fictional books and i WILL!!!!!!!!!! when we where reading this novel as a class i couldn’t help my self so i went overboard and read and read and read…. you get the point. but i have a question about your Aunt Baba’s little box? did you get the box when she passed away because i was just so touched when i read that she thought that your report cards and rewards where considered one of her worldly posessions. Anyway i have one other question do you still stay in touch with third brother and big sister Lydia? Also did you make it up with Niang before she passed? questions questions and more questions… oh and i hope to be a brilliant writer like you when i am older!
PEACE OUT! AILIS.A.JENKINS!!!! oh and by the way you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
My name is Katie Lammonby and I’m 12 years old, in year 7 at Stover School, Devon England. I found your book ( Chineses Cinderella) amazing, we’ve just finished reading it and I’m hoping to read Falling Leaves. I loved your book because it was very touching and clear mean people were sometimes. I’m so sorry you had to be seperated from Aunt Baba, I’m not sure how you coped! I’d hate to be seperated fom my Aunty even though I hardly see her because she lives ages away.It must had been quite hard moving schools because you’d make friends and settle in and then you would have to move again. My favourite chapters were PLT, Family reunion and First day at school( Well all of them were I just liked those the best!). I hope your life is much more peaceful now then what it was.
Yours Sincerely
Katie Lammonby
P.S Hope you’re well!!!!!
Dear Mrs Adeline Yen Mah,
I am Daina, I was also born in China (like you). I moved to Australia. I have read nearly all your books and love them all. Your books brought a lot of message to me, how you suffered as a unwanted child and kept trying hard. I’d love to read all your books, whenever i grab one of your books, i start reading it immediately. I usually feel lonely too, i felt unwanted once, but your words supported me. I have learnt a lot about you reading through your books, they always make me think. I can’t wait till your next book to be published, i would wait as long as I can. I would also love to see your books in a movie. I hope to write to you again.
Take Care.
From Daina
hi,
Im in year nine, and from Australia. i have to say i;m not the biggest fan of reading, and i never have been that interested in english, but over the last 2 months i’ve been reading your book.
I’ve never read a book that i half wanted to finish, but also was scared of what would happen at the end of it.
I think you were very brave even back then, no person should have to go through what you had to indure, and I’m sorry about what happened to your grandparents back then, but from what you sound like in your book, i think they would have been proud of you.
thanks for sharing your life with my class, yours is truely a story of inspiration.
P.S PLT sounded like a wonderful pet, and i was sad to here how his life was cut short
thank you again
dear Adeline Yen Mah,
we are year 7 pupils at Stover School Devon England and we have just read your book:Chinse Cinderella. We found your bookso chaiming and inspiring the way you persisred to acheve your gools. we feel strongly for you,how you exspressyour feelings calmly not harshly and agresivly.we are very happy for you that you went on to have a loving family of your own andb we hope you enjoy the rest of your life and many achievenents. we like the way you wrote about your childhood,and how you express your feelings we find you a very strong peoson from a very yonge age.
with love
Anna and Heidi x
p.s if you are ever in england we would love you to come and visit us. you would be welcomed as a very speshal gest.
Dear Mrs. Yen Mah,
I am sorry to bother you again. I realize that asking for your help with my school work regarding your book was impolite and I am sorry about it. I would just like to know if you keep in contact with your brothers and sisters and your cousins, Victor and Claudine and if your brothers and sisters jealous of your success and if they are sorry for the way they treated you.
Thanks, Ruchira
I am in close touch with my oldest brother. Adeline
Dear Ms. Mah,
My name is Heming, and I just turned 17 this year. I was born in China, but now living in United States. It was a sort of coincident that I was introduced to the “Chinese Cinderella” during one of my visits to the library. But after I started reading it, it seemed like I was meant to read it. So I searched for more of your books, and found “Falling Leaves”. It was one of the best, if not the best, book I have ever read. My heart ached while reading. Your writing was so captivating that the words absorbed me into story, and it seemed like I was there with you. It was such a powerful story, and I don’t think I can put it into words of how much I loved reading it. Growing up in China, and experiencing its culture, I understood and connected to your story, and that I cried when you experienced hardships. But the way you treated your father and Niang when visited you in America, and how you took care of Niang after your father passed away, I was surprised at your forgiveness. I do not know what I would have done if I was in your shoes.
I want you to know that your books have been inspirations to me. I am so glad that, just like the fairy tale story, the Chinese Cinderella is living happily. I genuinely hope that everything will go well for you, because you deserve every bit of happiness.
Best wishes,
Heming
Dear Adeline:
My name is Katrina Roubedeaux, and I am an English and History teacher for 7th and 8th grade students in Fresno, CA. I began teaching about 5 months ago at a brand new charter school in Fresno, CA. Most of my students come from very tough homes and neighborhoods (full of gangs, drugs, and poverty). Until recently, many of them have had no interest in their education or future.
When I began teaching them in October this year, they had already experienced several teachers that left them without notice. The students’ behavior and attitude was rather bitter and destructive. They had little to no supplies and a low sense of self worth. As a new charter school and due to budget issues in California, I, a brand new teacher, have had my work cut out for me.
Right away, I began reading Chinese Cinderella to my students. I really wanted to share your story with them because I believed that it would inspire them to use their education as a ticket to escape their current situations. I was not sure how they were going to react.
To my suprise, all 60 of my students have enjoyed your book so much! As a matter-of-fact, several students continued to take the book from me to read ahead. One student actually read it 5 times before the class finished. I eventually had to buy her a copy for herself.
The kids in my class can really relate to you. They begged me to write you and ask you when the next time you plan to visit Fresno is and if you would like to visit our school. Of course I told them that I could not make any promises; however, it would mean the world to them if you could write them a letter. I know that you are very busy and I am sure that you get requests from all over the world. I just figured that I wouldn’t hurt to ask.
I respect your time and appreciate your response.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Katrina Roubedeaux
Dear Mrs. Roubedeaux, Thank you for your email. I’m presently working on a program to introduce China’s language, culture and history to schoolchildren in America. Please be patient. I will be contacting you in the near future.
Thank you, also, for caring so much about your students that you even spent your own money to buy my book for one of them. I was very moved.
Sincerely yours,
Adeline Yen Mah
Dear Ms. Adeline Yen Mah,
Thank you for your reply. I am excited to learn about the program that you are putting together. I am currently teaching my students about Chinese history in the Middle Ages. I am enjoying this unit!
I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Sincerely,
Katrina Roubedeaux
Hello, Dr. Yen Mah.
I read your book Falling Leaves. In it, you mention that your father bought Niang a Russian sable coat for four thousand taels of silver. Whatever happened to that coat? Also, there is a picture in your book of Niang with a fur collar around her neck. Is this collar a part of the sable fur coat that your father bought her?
Thank you.
Jill
Dear Jill, I think that is the coat. Adeline
hi i am writing to you again sorry . well i think asking help on the essay is to much so i have a question did you keep in touch with Wu Chun-mei
I never saw her again. Adeline
Hi Mrs. Yen Mah,
My friend recommend me to read your books. I’m so touch with your book Falling Leaves and Chinese Cinderella. I was moved with your book and gave me strength to keep moving forward even though that my Sister and my Parents don’t treat me well. You’ve been into hard times but you keep your spirit up and never lose hope! I’m glad that you are living in peaceful and happy life.
More blessing and Power
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I adore your book, Chinese Cinderella, and feel very bad. Your childhood must have been unpredictable. I noticed you have so many fans, and feel happy for you. Gladly speaking with you
Sophie Schoen
I just wanted to let you know I loved your writting.Your books are moving. We are reading your material in our college course classes in North Dakota.I was wondering where I can buy a signed copy?
Dear Jacqueline, This has been done successively in the past via Barnes and Noble. Adeline
Dear, Adeline.
Your story is so touching. I always felt guilty about many things after I read your book “Chinese Cinderella”. You’re childhood was such a hardship and if there was any way for me to be around I would’ve give you a hug everyday and tell you how awesome and wonderful you are. You’re story game me strength as for I am a gay man who live with his parents, at the age of 16. Not that I’m treated terribly or anything, but I feel when that “day” comes, I’ll be ready to deal with it. You’re an inspiration, as you were able to live with a wicked lady that was your Niang and those siblings of yours. If there was one thing I wished for, it’s to meet you in person. That’s one thing I would love to do.
Sincerely,
Daniel.
P.S. I would’ve bought you a ducking.
Hi Mrs. Yen Mah. I would just like to kno if keep in contact with your brothers and sisters and your cousins, Victor and Claudine. Are your brothers and sisters jealous of you? Are they sorry for the way they treated you? Please reply if possible in your spare time.
Hello adeline,my name is Sherry Qiao Ting Wong I am Chinese but I live in Dublin, Ireland I am 12yrs old
I think you are very brave to write your life in a book.
I cried when I read your book and when I told my friends what an amazing book Chinese Cinderella was they read it and they think its an amazing book.
I have read two of your other books and just ordered another one. It is hard to get your books in were I live so I order them. I have a brother that hits me and calls me names but my sister is nice most of the time.
I no longer take my life for granted after I read what happened to you. Your books have shown me the ways of writing and I wish to write a book when I am older.
Please reply. Sherry
Dear Mrs. Yen Mah,
I’m Ruchira. I’m a 13 year old student. I am from Sri Lanka and am currently living in Australia. I finished reading your book, Chinese Cinderella. I really am sorry that your life when you were young had to be so bad. After all you have been through, you truly deserve all the happiness in the world. I have a English task in which I will be writing a letter to you. My teacher told me to use ‘Dear Adeline’ when starting the letter. I’m sorry about this, I really do want to be polite. I can not be sure that you will get the letter. My teacher said that every effort will be taken to get it to you via your publisher. I do have some other work regarding your book and if you can please help me. Please reply in any way if possible.
Best Wishes,
Ruchira
Hello,
I’m Sabine Stain a 6th grade student at the Albany Academies. In History class, we read your book. I was wondering about your siblings. When they found out that you were writing a book, didn’t they feel bad about all the bad things they did to you? Or did you change the names?
Thank you,
~Sabine Stain
Dear Sabine, I changed their names, but they are not happy about my book. Adeline
Hi we where reading your book chinese Cinderella and now going to write a essay an chapter 14 you are a great person and thank you for letting me know i can always have hope hope you can talk back you are a great person and i hope i get a good mark on my essay please can i have some help on the essay please
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
We are pupils from Stover School, Devon, England. We have recently read your book Chinese Cinderella and enjoyed it very much. It was a very moving book so we thought we should contact you to express our thoughts.
Our favorite bit of the book was when your father decided to let you go to university in England because it was a happy ending to the book. We didn’t like it when the dog bit PLT or when the brothers put the urine in the orange juice. They both made us feel ashamed that that could happen.
When we read the postscript, it said that Naing didn’t include you in her will. Did you find out why? How did you cope with your childhood? It must have been really hard to deal with various different situations.
If you are ever in England could you possible come to visit us?
From Edith Harrison, Iona Vallance and Beth Holgate.
P.S Please write back soon!
Dear All, Please visit from time to time. Thanks for writing. Adeline
Oh, Dr. Mah,
I forgot to ask you, if you possibly have any other e-mail, where it is easier to ask questions, tell me.
In my class, we are reading biographies, and my teacher gave me chinese cinderella. So, I am supposed to write a report on you. And also make a presentation.
So, since it is hard to talk in this site, I was asking myself if there could possibly be another way. I hope I am not bothering you.
SERIOUSLY.
If no it is ok. But still, maybe you could help me. The problem is it is due on FRIDAY, and maybe, having the answers to some questions in your words would be the BEST THING EVER.
Your inspired fan,
M.C.
Hi adeline. I don’t know if you remember me, for I commented before, but I was wondering… Since your siblings read your book, do you know what they thought about it?
You don’t really need to answer tis. I hope it doesn’t hurt your feelings.
love, hugs, and a bunch of good luck.
Maria Clara
I’m not sure whether or not I sent a message to you before, but whether or not I did, I just want to say, I greatly admire your stories! I realize now what it felt to be really unwanted and disliked in the family, and when I read it for class when I was in primary school, I started appreciating my family more.
I noticed how when you were younger, you weren’t exactly happy at home (but you were definitely happy with your Ye Ye and Aunt Baba!) but you were happy in school because everyone treated you like any other person, and also liked you. But now, in my school, which is a semi-international school, I don’t think a lot of people like me. Mostly because even though I was born in Hong Kong, I lived in Singapore for most of my life so I wasn’t that up-to-date with things about Hong Kong and the Chinese language (chinese slang and all that), and my English exceeded the standard of my classmates. I topped a few of my classes, I noticed, but nobody really respected me for who I really was. Yes, they admired my drawing and English skills, but I never found a true friend. People even looked down on me because of my lack of knowledge about Chinese.
However, my family had supported me and given me wonderful advice. I just need to try my best in everything and work hard. Become what I want to be and I’ll never be alone! Actually, I found being a loner in school quite comfortable. I didn’t need to fake myself to be able to hold friendly conversations, I could be myself.
Well, enough of my rambling, I just absolutely love your books! I read your Fallen Leaves, Chinese Cinderella, and the two books about the Dragon Society and the one about CC having visions of the past. Each of them absolutely touched me, especially the second book that involved CC! I wish to see your books “Watching the Tree” and “A Thousand Pieces of Gold.” And I’m curious of “Gone with the Locusts”, the play that you submitted to a playwriting competition back when you were younger.
I love to write stories, but I have a bad habit of having them go on hiatus. But I always restart so I can motivate myself further. If I don’t find anything good to write, I draw! I especially love drawing manga, which is more commonly found in a few teenagers nowadays. Like you, I loved to read. I always find it funny how I borrow a good book from the library and then when my classmates see it, they get really excited because the book I borrowed happened to be read by the upperclassmen for class. (I borrowed the book ‘Fallen Leaves’ when I was in Form 1, and everyone was saying how the Form 3s were reading it and Form 2s were reading Chinese Cinderella. I was quite surprised as I read Chinese Cinderella when I was in P4!)
Speaking of upperclassmen, my greatest pride in school was when I wrote a short article (or letter which involved things about trivial beliefs in fate and destiny) to a newspaper in Hong Kong called ‘the Student Standard.’ Nobody in my class noticed it, but a few upperclassmen read it. They were friends of my elder brother, who was popular in school. They told my brother, and when he saw me, he asked to read the article and I gave him the newspaper. After he read it, he said it was really good, and I felt happy! And then the two upperclassmen (they were girls) who read the article came up to me and said the article was very well-written and they were very impressed. I felt so happy at that moment, I could die without any worries right there and then. I was praised by the upperclassmen!
Instead of writing stories now, I decide to practice myself by writing fanfictions. They, sure, are a bit silly now and then because, hey, I’m writing FANfictions, not real original fiction. But fanfictions are a form of fictional story as well, it’s just that it’s slightly based off a novel or series of some sort. I, being a big fan of Japanese anime and manga, write fanfictions for anime and manga. Problem is, there are a few I love to go hiatus on, but I try to continue it. When I can’t, I leave it there for a moment and either start a new fanfiction or let it be for a while, or delete it until the next time. As there is a site specially for fanfiction, it feels good to share my written fanfiction and get some reviews. I notice how I’ve been steadily improving and I’m quite proud!
(I think my problem is that I get too many story ideas now and then. I have such a wild imagination it’s impossible to stop. But it isn’t bad of course. I make good use of it like when during class, we have to create a story for an assessment.)
Anyway, your books had a great impact on me and I hope to see more. Or at least…well, I just love your books! It made me wonder about life as well, such as how my own life will end up. But then again, I’m still young!
Peace!
-Gabrielle
Dear Gabrielle, Thank you. Please write again and post the fan-fiction website. I would like to read your stories and your article in the student newspaper. Adeline
to adeline
i love your book chinese cinderalla it is very touching i hope you are enjoing your life now. i was just wondring are you still in touch with your sisters and brothers/do you talk to them or visit them?
thank you xoxo
please reply back
Dr.Yen Mah
i was really touched by your story and i cried a lot while reading your book chinese cinderela i am a indian and i know what the communist can do because there is communist people in india i love your story.
Dear Adeline yen mah,
We are three of the pupils at Stover School and we have just read your book Chinese Cinderella!
We enjoyed it loads but found it sad at times. We would love to know more about you and your life so, we have decided to read your next book ‘falling leaves’.
You have inspired with your work ethic, and your ambition to overcome your heartache and troubled childhood. We found it hard to believe that your parents treated you the way they did.
We were inspired to make posters about Chinese traditions; Foot binding, Buddhist funerals, weddings and Chinese New Year.
We hope your life in California is good and you and your family are well. this means alot to us to write to you, and would love you to write back.
Yours sincerely,
Sid, Hannah and Mikela
P.S if there is any chance of you visiting England we would love you to come and visit us at Stover as our special guest.
Please keep in touch. We are presently working on a program. Thanks. Adeline
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
We are pupils at Stover school and have read your book:Chinese Cinderella. We found it fascinating and inspiring. It must have been so hard to cope with the situations of your childhood, it was particularly inspiring how you overcame so many difficulties! We found it sad but fun and enjoyable as well. We heard that you have two children of your own. We bet that they’re very proud of you.We would like to hear lots more from you and your family!
Lots of love
Celina,Charlotte and Harriet
Year 7 girls age 11-12
P.S Could you please write back and maybe tell us more about your family life and children. Lots of luck for the future and thank you very much for inspiring. This means a lot to us.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Dear girls, Please keep in touch. Adeline
i have never ever read a book like Chinese Cinderrela. i had borrowed it from my teacher who to loves all of your books. before this book i never liked reading, but now i changed my mind thinking that i may find another book just like Chinese Cinderrela or maybe read your other books. my teacher is quite impressed(i usually never got a good grade in reading)but now i get the best grade i had ever got. i use to go to a hostile myself. it feels like prison. i made my parents read this book to bring me back from there, i hope i never go again. now i have a new dream, to read all of your books, and also become a great writer like you.
dear Adeline i write you from Spain just to tell you that your book Fallin leaves was just amazing. I cried a lot because of so many unjustice, but mainly for so much longings unfullfilled and so much love wasted. Just remember the worth ones, like Ye Ye and aunt Baba and forget the rest. I hope i could find here the rest of your books. Love, Eva
Dear Adeline,
I feel ur pain and i would 2 hate Niang. Niang deserves to go to hell for what she did. I respect you, and I think u deserve all the best.
Freida
Hi adeline. I just finished reading chinese cinderella and I absolutely loved it. I can’t believe you have been through all of that stuff and you are how you are today. You are a very lovely women and I really look up to you. Please email me back!
Love,
Ciara
Hello Adaline,
I have just read your book “Chinese Cinderella” and it is a wonderful exciting novel. The way Niang treated you is horrible and mean. I felt so bad for PLT (Precious Little Treasure). It must of been awkward to be with only four students with you in the bording school you were in. I am in sixth grade. I saw pictures of your bording school to.
Katie
Dear Adeline,
I finished reading Chinese Cinderella today. It is the only book, film, story that has ever made me cry and probably ever will. I wish I could go back in time to send you a letter, to give Aunt Baba a hug, and so i could scream at your father, step-mother and all your siblings.
Lots of Love
Lily xxx
dear adeline your stories are a inspiration. your hardships and problems. how did you feel when you found out about Lydia. Did you want to slap her. did you ever tell your father about you feelings growing up
Dear Adeline.
My Name is Danya and I’m 12 years old. Your story was very touching. I cried when PLT passed, and Chapter 14 (Class President) when Niang was so heartless. You deserve better.
English is my favourite subject and I love writing (I sing, play the guitar, and write music) and I’m doing a Autobiography/Biography project on you. If you would please answer a few questions for me, I would be very thankful and it would be a huge help.
Do you still keep in touch with your siblings?
Did you ever track down Wu Chun Mei? If so, may I please have a photograph if you have one?
Do you have any other jobs?
Have your siblings changed? I mean, do they think of you differently now?
Do you stay in touch with Claudine and Victor? If so, may I please have a photograph?
And, Do you have any photos of your chilhood that I may have? Just so that I can put them in my review?
Thank You.
I have had quite a hard time through school myself, and I have found it comforting -even though it was quite different to you- to be able to read your books. I think that Niang was just jealous of your beauty, and most of all, knowlege and academic skill. I would much appreciate it if you could reply.
Thank You.
Danya.
Me (Right) and my best friend Shelly (Left)
Dear Danya, Thank you for writing. No time to answer questions but am trying to set up program via Skype with schools so I can communicate directly with children like you. Will post application method on website soon. Please tell your teacher and watch for it. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I’m really a big fan.
hi!
Im thirteen and have no familly issues.
… please send me some advice i feel you are the right person to go to i love your books and you are my hero its a pleasure contacting you!
please reply
thanks
Dear Mariya, I think you should speak to someone you trust: your class teacher or a school counselor. Good luck! Adeline
Mariya
xxx
Thank you for the advice.
I felt you were the right person to ask and have you forgiven your step-mother? And if you do manage to set up the skype connection please try and get our school involved Bradford Girls Grammar School thanks!
Mariya
-xxx-
Dear Adeline,
I have read Chinese Cinderella and I have found it really interesting. It was such a loving book. We were reading this book in English and we had to write a paragraph about courage in the book. At first I found it hard because I couldn’t find anything, and was because I was reading it with my mind at first. The second time I read I really understood it and that is when I found the things i need. I just simply adored the book. I really love PLT from the book. By the way it was described it was so cute. I just loved it. But the bit that happened next is did not like, it was just mean.
Hi I am reading your story of being unwanted i feel as i go through the same pain from my family and parents. Your story touches me in so many ways but also gives me kinda a hope because there are people that feel the same way some times, feel as though no matter what you do you can never make them love you or feel good they have a daughter my parents i try so hard and all they say some times are mean and they comment badly on my looks and every things, it makes me feel lonely. I just hope one day i will be able to have a family and be able to treat them with so much more respect then I have been and am treated. Did you still feel empty when you had your children?
Hi adeline
I loved your book chinese cinderella it really touched my hart the chapter P.L.T made me cry? are your siblings still alive, and do you still keep in touch with them
did you ever went back to your old schools? did you ever saw your old friends? do you know now your real birthday? are you steal in contect with your 4 brothers and two step-brothers? i was tuched by your book”chines cinderella”. i was really crying in most of your book. i sometimes fill like that ,but i know i come from a loveing family.take care.
Dear Yen Mah,
I am 11 years old and i am reading Chinese Cinderella for school. Your book is very inspiring to me and i feel as if your some kind of hero. You went through so much and stood strong, you are a role model to me. I have been telling my mom all about the story and she is very emotional about it. If you have any tie I would love it if you would write back!
Thanks, ~Molly Grace
Dear Adeline,
I’m a 13 year old girl living in Asia. I have only read half of Chinese Cinderella, but I’m dying to hear the rest. Your cosmopolitan life left a lasting impact on me. See, I am a half Chinese, but I had no idea how brutally some people were treated. Of course, I have read about them, but I have never thought of them to be true. Your book greatly surprised me. Niang was terribly vindictive towards you, and I’m very sorry on your behalf, that you had to go through all that. Another thing that I disliked about Niang was her favourtism, I know that can be really be hard, and unfair, mostly. Even though I’m only thirteen, I can understand the terrors and fears you went through. I’m very sorry if my message has brought back unpleasant memories from the past, but I was craving to contact you. You are a very powerful writer, Adeline. I’ve only read half of your book, and some parts have already stung me with tears. I feel that people who live abysmal lives should look on to the future like you did and hope. I congratulate you on being the inspiration and hope of children. When I read your boook, the first few pages itself left such an impending feeling in me, one that I have hardly felt before: justice. I promise you that I will keep reading your books. I know each and every one will be more splendid than the last.
we are reading chinese cinderella at school how did you feel when you lost plt?
How would you feel if you had been in my shoes?
Adeline
Hi, I’m doing a book report on you. Can you please tell me if you brothers are still alive? Please also tell me if your big sister is still alive. Is your cousin Victor and Claudine still alive. I really admire you academic success.
Answer: Everyone is still alive. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
We were so very touched by your amazing, profound, and spectacular book Chinese Cinderella. You are an amazing woman who has been through so much. During this book our class kept on repeating,”we can’t believe this is an auto-biography!” It must have been horrible to go through all that.
We have a few questions…
If your siblings are still alive, do you contact them?
Did it hurt to write about your past abuses?
Is your older sister still married to the same man?
Are your siblings still alive?
We hope you have a fantastic time with your new beginning.
5th Graders,
Autumn & Anna
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
Your book Chinese Cinderella was wonderful. We think you were brave to stand up to Niang when she was smacking your little sister. Ryan and I also think it is tremendous that you get such great grades. We feel sorry that PLT got mauled by Jackie. Alex and I would be scared if we were PLT in that position. Most of my classmates have trouble believing that your book is a true story because of all the terrible things that happened to you. We can’t believe you got sent to two different boarding schools. Now we have some questions to ask. Was it hard to write this book and having to dig up all the sad memories? Did you have any more experiences that you didn’t mention in the book? Was it hard to live with Niang? Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
My class and I just read Chinese Cinderella and I thought it was so good. I also thought it was an amazing book. I was so surprised that all of that happened to you when you were a child. I thought it was so brave of you to stand up to Niang when she was beating Little Sister. I felt so emotional when Jackie (the dog) killed PLT and she was only a duckling. After Big Sister got married, did you and her try to write to each other or something? I thought that the book wasn’t even true because of all of the horrible things that your family did to you. I thought that it was mean of Big Sister, and actually your whole family called you bad luck and treated you unfairly. I felt happy though when you won the writing contest. Did you ever tell Aunt Baba about it. In the end of your book, I felt so touched when you received the letter from Aunt Baba and how she was so proud of you and called you a Chinese Cinderella. I also think you are a Chinese Cinderella. Once again I think your book was so touching.
Dear Mrs. Yen Mah,
I just read your amazing book, Chinese Cinderella. It has taught me in more ways than I could ever tell you. Your childhood was a very hard time for you, and I think you handled it very well. My reading class wrote an essay, stating what we thought the theme of this book was. I said it was fortitude, because you stood strong through the hardest of times. What happened in your life after your father said you could go to college in England? Did you ever spend time at college with your Third Brother? I can see now that you are a writer, obviously, but did you ever go to medical school? If you did, it must of taken courage while your father was looking forward to having you deliver babies for women. To add on, was Niang still cruel to you after Father decided that you were talented enough to go to college in England? If she did, you have so much determination to keep pushing through your life with Niang always pushing at your back. I’m so sorry there are so many questions, you don’t have to answer all of them.
Well, thank you so much for your time and consideration reading this. Thank you! I know that I won’t ever forget your book, and your strength throughout your childhood.
From, Alexa
P.S. I can’t wait to read your next book, Falling Leaves. Thank you again!
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
My friend and I have just finished your profound book of “Chinese Cinderella.” David thought you are a very gifted author in spite of all you have been through considering your circumstances. David loved it which is why we are writing to you. We have a couple of questions. One did you ever find your father’s will? Two how was life in London College with Third Brother, and are you still in contact with them and have a good relationship in spite of what happened when you guys were younger? Here’s Nick.
Dear Adeline,
I hope that you are living a great life right now in America. Did you ever get over the fact that you were bullied by you own parents? Does your big sister still love the man that your parents forced her to marry? Do you have any children? I really loved your book and I think that I will never read any other book that is more spectacular. I think that you are an amazing person and I hope that you live the rest of your life to the fullest.
Sincerely,
Nick and David
Dear Adeline,
We just read your book Chinese Cinderella, and we wanted to say it was amazing, yet we are so sad you had to go through a childhood of torture. We can’t believe that this book is true. We don’t know how you could go through that so well. We would of called it quits right after little sisters beating. James wanted to know, what happened to Aunt Baba? Did she get captured by the Communists? Alex wanted to know, what happened to big sister? Did her family get captured by the Communists? We are so sorry you had to live in such a horrible time. We know you aren’t at all bad luck. We think your book is profound, how did you remember all of those little details? Do you still speak Chinese? We can’t say that we know how you felt at all. You are a very inspiring writer and person.
Sincerely,
James And Alex
Dear Mrs. Yen Mah,
I have read your amazing, breathing, and sad book about your life. I cannot believe that this has actually happened to you. You probably wished that your Niang was never alive when you were a child. Is that true? I also cannot believe that none of the grown-ups in the room during the beating of Little Sister would not say anything, but you did. By the way did you ever find Father’s will? Ever? How did you end up getting to America? I feel very sorry for you. I hope that this never ever happens to anybody else in the world because it is so sad and hurtful.
Sincerely,
Ingrida
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
I have just recently read your book, Chinese Cinderella in my language arts class. I have read many books but this one is my personal favorite. This book made me think about thoughts that I have never taken the time to think about. One of them that keeps pestering me in the back of my head is “How did you manage to stay so strong?” You are now my perseverance role model. Every time I am doing something I would rather not do, I think of your life story and then I do it without complaining. You have taught me many lessons throughout my journey through your book. Also, your book always kept me interested. Sometimes, I would read ahead of the chapters we were supposed to read because I had to know what would happen next. You are an inspiration and I would bet that everyone could learn some lessons from you.
From, Carter
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
We just read your inspirational book, Chinese Cinderella. Your childhood seemed so harsh and different from ours. We take a lot of things for granted that you did not have, like lots of love and opportunities. We admire how you strived so hard in school and never gave up. We don’t know if we could have done all that you did to try and make your parents proud of you. You were an unwanted child, but now you have grown up to be a well-respected adult. How did you get the courage to stand up to your step-mother all the times she was cruel to you? Also, do you see or contact any of your family now? Did you ever see Aunt Baba when or after you went to college? So many questions! Well, we thoroughly enjoyed your story, especially the part where Aunt Baba wrote the letter with the story about the real chinese cinderella. It was happy and saddening at the same time because you could relate to her which is happy but it is sad that someone else could be treated as bad as you. You are an amazing author and person too. Your book will change the way we look at the world for the rest of our lives. Thank you for teaching and telling us about you and your childhood. – Ben and Kendall
Dear Adeline,
I am a 12 year old girl living in the UK. When I read “Chinese Cinderella” in English class, I was absolutely hooked. I felt as if I was there beside you; you described it so amazingly. I love reading, writing etc. You are truly an inspiration. Yes, I am young, and I know very little about literature (though I am learning as best as I can!). You must be busy with all these comments!
I want to thank you, however. For writing, and never giving up.
Just two questions!
1: Are you planning on making an appearence to the UK anytime soon?
2: Are you proud of being such a fantastic author?
I am planning on buying more of your books as soon as possible. Thank you once again.
-Rachel M.
Dear Rachel, My publisher and I are working to establish a program whereby I can link up with school children during class via Skype. Then you can ask your questions directly. Adeline
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
Your book, Chinese Cinderella, was very profound and understandable to me. I cannot imagine the torture and pain that you have gone through in your life. Being abused and beaten must have been hard, but even worse, being separated from your Aunt Baba must have been the worst. Have you seen her at all since you were separated? The death of loved ones must still leave a hole in your heart. I felt horrible when I had to read the parts about Nai Nai, Ye Ye, and PLT. One think I would do is keep them in my heart, but think about happiness and the future, not the past. I understand what you had to go through and I admire your determination, perseverance,and strong heart.
Dear Adeline, I have read chinese cinderella, and I enjoyed it a lot. I can’t even begin to imagine how you were able to get through all that pain and become such a magnificent writer and person. What surprises me even more is that your father only allowed you to go to college after you won the play-writing contest. Also, were you able to contact Aunt Baba in college? Thanks for writing such an amazing book.
Dear Newcomer at Pine Richland,
Is Pine Richland a private school? I would like to answer your questions one by one if I had the time. My publisher and I are presently working to establish a program whereby I can link up directly with school children during class via Skype. Then you can ask me questions directly. The way to join the program will be published on my website. Adeline
I really liked your book Chinese Cinderella. I can’t believe how Niang and your father treated you. Did they eventually stop treating you so horribly? I can’t imagine what it would have been like to not be respected by your family. Are you still friends with Wu Chun-Mei? Do you still think of PLT? I feel really bad for you. She must have meant so much to you. I hope you keep writing more books because I loved your book Chinese Cinderella so much, so I think I will like any book you write.
Dear Newcomer,
My publisher and I are working to establish a program whereby I can link up directly with school children during class via Skype. Then you can ask me questions directly. The way to join will be published on my website. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
We read your book, Chinese Cinderella in our enrichment language arts class and it really inspired us. While reading it we thought you were so amazing!!! We cannot believe the childhood you had to get through and how much determination and perseverance you had. We think Niang didn’t deserve to be a parent to such a wonderful person as you or any child for that matter. We have some questions for you. Are your brothers and sisters still alive? If they are have they read your book, Chinese Cinderella? Also, have you seen Aunt Baba since you were separated? Have you kept in touch with Wu Chun-mei?
We hope you can answer these questions. If not, that’s okay. It’s just an honor to write to someone like you.
Sincerely, Audrey, Jenna, and Grace
Dear Audrey, Jenna and Grace,
My publisher and I are working to establish a program whereby I can link up directly with school children during class via Skype. Then you can ask me questions directly. The way to join will be published on my website. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
We have recently read Chinese Cinderella. We thought it was a very emotional novel and feel sorry for all the things you went through. We were wondering if you exaggerated at all in this book? When you had found out that you had won the play how did you feel? We thought that you did an absolutely amazing job describing all the events of your life in this book. But we feel bad for all the losses you suffered during your life.
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
We are fifth graders in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania who recently read your heart-wrenching memoir Chinese Cinderella. We understand that you had a hard life in the past but grew up to be a magnificent person. If you don’t mind we have a few questions to ask you. Did you hear from your Aunt Baba or your parents after Aunt Baba sent you that last letter? Did any of your other family members move to the United States like you? How was studying in England? Thank you very much. Please reply.
Sincerely,
Ian and Bailey
HI!! We read your book Chinese Cinderella and LOVED it! Also, we wrote an essay about the theme and most people said determination. (including us!) As you can see we like !!!!!!!! (exclamation points!) Plus, we thought your book was so sad and touching. It opens people’s eyes to a different world of sadness and what really happens to some people. It also showed us courage and perseverance. Your books are awesome. As awesome as pie, gummy bears, chocolate, duct tape, and cupcakes combined. We know that was random, but it is true how awesome it is.
We thought that your book Chinese Cinderella was a great story on family, acceptance, and determination. It was sad that your childhood was so horrible, but it is great that you overcame it. In language arts class we wrote essays on what we thought the main theme was. Both Dan and I wrote that we thought it was determination. What is the main theme of Chinese Cinderella?????
Hello, first i would like to say how much of an inspiration you are to me, i am 14 years old and have read & re-read Chinese Cinderella. I am saving up my money to buy everybook you have written & i intend to keep them for many years. Your story is amazing, sad, inspirational, for me the most memorable parts are PLT, you winning class captain-i myself have just won the same award for my class, i just think you are amazing, words cannot describe how i feel every time i read your book & each time a new emotion is discovered. i want to congratulate you on you winning the International Play Writing Competiton when you were roughly around my age, 14 years old! I first read Chinese Cinderella in grade 6 & that year for christmas i opened up a box & inside it was Chinese Cinderella. Thank-you so much for writing such an inspirational story, it must have been hard for you to remember back to those hard times of despair, I admire your courage to never give up. xx
Thank you for your message. Where do you go to school? My publisher and I are working to establish a program whereby I can link up directly with school children during class via Skype. Then you can ask me questions directly. The way to join will be published on my website. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
You are AMAZING!
As a writer, a person and much more.
You inspire me to such a large extent I can’t even put it into words.
You leave me speechless; breathless.
Reduced to tears but most importantly, make realisations whilst feeling so involved in your life story so much to say that I could not put “Falling Leaves” down, not even for one second. And after finishing, leaving me pondering.
As an Australian female, 16 year old Student and of Extension English, I had to choose a fictional or non-fictional novel to read. It could be anything, it just had to be a journey.
My lord, when I picked up your book I knew it was my book I was going to read.
Though, it wasn’t until I started reading, that I entirely realised how much more reading this book would affect me as a person and my life, rather than just another English book I “have” to read. What a terrible yet riveting journey.
I hear of my class complaining of having to read their english books, I wonder why I am so lucky? Picking such a book to help me and my personal life that no one knows about, as well as leave me with limitless ideas.
“Falling Leaves” is my favourite book, and I believe it always will be.
Adeline, I admire you with all my heart and will not ever forget your so touching story; it will always lay upon my heart.
I have two questions I would love if possible for you to answer.
(I know the first one’s a bit dark and deep)
1. How did you specifically find so much motivation to keep going, keep fighting, have so much courage and bravery, did you ever feel like not living anymore?
2. Is there any chance you would come and visit Australia anytime soon??
Thank you so very much for your time in reading my comment.
Love always,
Rachel. xxxx
Dear Rachel, I will answer your second question first.
1. I have visited your beautiful country before. If I go again, I will post it on my website.
2. I have never thought of suicide but did consider running away from home many times. Instead, I escaped my predicament through reading. That’s much safer. After awhile, I also started keeping a diary that I showed to noone. That was even better.
Good luck to you. Hang in there! Things will get better for you when you begin achieving your own dreams. Work hard! One day, you will prove them wrong!
Please visit again.
Adeline
Dear Dr. Yen Mah, your story in ‘Falling Leaves” is so inspirational, I’ve decided to make it my paper for my Child Psychopathology class. I’ve read your memoir a few times as well as the revision for children called, “Chinese Cinderella”. Our special interest area for this paper is Resiliency; the fact that many children not only survive their harsh upbringings, but flourish and overcome; due to their own strong spirits and their personal resolve to carry on and push through. I wanted to write to tell of my respect for you and in writing my paper, I want to make sure I ask if there is anything particular you would want me to add. It is my telling but it is your story and I want to give you the assurance that it is something I will work my best at.
Hello Adeline,
Iam wondering where you are living now?
Shanghai? Britain? Tiannji? Hong Kong? Calfornia?
You are so famous that our teachers at school can’ stop the natter whitout saying your name!!!!
yOURS HEERIM
I visit all those place. Adeline
Hello !
I really love your books, I read ALL of them!
I feel so sorry for you all throughout your books, I liked Aunt BaBa very much I would miss her very very very much if I were you.I especially liked P.L.T(precious.little.treasure) very very much, I could just imagine her, all adorable and yellow and fluffy… What happened to ALL the chicks when your family had fled to Hong Kong? Did you ever saw your Aunt BaBa after the war?
What happened to Shanghai? I hoped your Aunt wasn’t put in prison by the communists….
Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
yours heerim hwang
Hello Adeline,how are you doing now?I read Chinese Cinderella and I felt very sad.but I want to know something but it’s okay if you do not wish to answer.what happened to your siblings?has anyone of them passed away?what happened to your house in hong kong and shanghai?
Dear Bianca, My siblings are all alive. Adeline
Are you still in touch with your siblings, do you talk to them. Is Niang still alive, I know Father is dead. Thankyou,
Abby
Hi Adeline!
Your book, Chinese Cinderella is truely inspiring. I loved this book! Thank you for writing such a wonderful story. Thank you.
Dear Mrs. Adeline Mah,
No sooner had I finished reading one of your masterpieces called “Chinese Cinderella”, I found that there’re still miracles created by ordinary people and thus the novel re-ignites my faith in realizing my dream.
I was agitated by the cruelty of your parents (who regarded lives of animals as worthless used paper plates) and the chilling egoism of your Niang and sibilings (who seemed to consider themselves above the mass and neglected the others’ feeling).
Thank you very much for your unreserved sharing of your painstaking experience and congratulations on your success in forming your own perfect family and blazing the trails of millions of people in despair!
Best Wishes,
Kutar Chung, a Chinese alike
Dear Yen Mah,
I just read your book and I couldnt put it down for one second.At times when I was reading yet I cryed especially at the part where your pet got killed, I am so sorry. I lived your life for nine years with my step-mom so I know how you must have felt.
Right now I am reading Falling Leaves and when I am big I would like to write my story too. My family too consider me as bad luck but I i tend to ignore them most of the time and focus on my studies, i see thats the only way and your book helped me alot. Maybe I will meet you some day. You are an inspiration. I am from Srilanka and I am 13.
Kind Regards,
xxx
Dear Adeline I was captivated by your riveting life-story in the novel “falling leaves”. I am an Australian 20 year old that comes from a very average not poor/ not rich family. Since the age of 16 appart from going to highschool i have been working so that i may support myself. I personally do not want the help from my parents nor can they afford to give me much. Perhaps this is why by reading your story i admire the strength and courage you had during your childhood and life. No one should go through such a terrible childhood however reality sets in my mind that accounts such as yours do occur in this world. But what is most amazing is how you pushed on with your studies and tried your hardest to make your own life! During the book i was constantly concerned about how the book would end, would she find happiness in the end? will their be a meaningful end to such a dreadful childhood… after finishing the book today i feel satisfied in that despite your father passing away many years ago you were finally able to seek the answer you had been searching for. Anyway this is just how i see the story and hope that i have not misjudged your point and i just want you to know that no book has ever touched me like this before. I would love to hear from you.
Dear Jacob, Thank you. All of us, no matter where we come from, create our own destiny. Please visit often and keep in touch. Pursue your goals and use your talents to design a happy and independent life. Good luck to you! Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I am in California at the moment and I was on my way to visit you at the huntington library but I was running late and the traffic was herendous! I’m so crushed that (unless you come to Australia) i will never have the chance to meet you in person. When i visited your web-site and discover you were doing a booksigning with your daughter i was so delighted and felt surprised that it was held whilst i was visiting California, aswell as only days after i finished reading the book haha. I hope the day went well for you and your daughter and i also wish her the best of luck.
Jacob…
Dear Jacob, Sorry we missed one another. Please visit from time to time. There will be other occasions. Good luck! Adeline
Dear Mrs Mah,
i have read your heartbreaking story and i really cant belive how you coped with your childhood.I feel like no one wants me as well, but reading your book, Chinese Cinderella i now feel like i can cope because of you!So you have practicly changed my life. I fell like my father on earth some thimes does not want me but i know our father in heaven want us to live with no sorrow or sadness and iam so sorry this is happening to us.God will continue blessing us with his power.Thank you for sharing your life story with us and letting us know we are not alone.
Love Ghislaine Uwayo
Respected,
My name is Shakil Thasariya from India. I am your big fan in India.
I have developed hobby of collecting autographed photos of world celebrities. Thus,
I am enjoying my hobby very well in India.
Therefore, Please send me your two original autographed photos as above address.
I have also received original autographed photos of Bill Gates, Tony Blair and many more…
Waiting for your early reply as above address.
Thanking You.
Yours Truly,
Shakil Thasariya
India
Dear Shakil, How old are you and where do you go to school? Adeline
hi
i love your books i have read your book chinese cinderella and just starting to read the book chinese cinderella and the secret dragon society i love them soooooo much !!! please write more kids books like these.
your stories are unforgettable
im 10 turning 11 this year and i love all animals
i hope you have a great year of writing many more books
with smiles from lucie : )
Hi,
I am honestly just starting to read Chinese Cinderella, but so far, it’s been great. Every time I flip the page, I have to remind myself that its a true story, so that makes it more interesting. Thanks for sharing your life with us; giving us a little flashbacks of China. Congratulations, and I do look forward to “Kitchen Chinese,” by Ann Mah.
I hope you never give up the dream of being a writter; its my dream too.
Even though I’m barely 13.
Smiles from Gabby.
hi,
I am reading your novel”Chinese Cinderella” as my class novel and i have an assignment on it.i am a chinese boy and i have really in touched with your novel,but because therer is not much information can you give me some.my assigment is :”We respect some characters but not others” write an essay about which characters did you respect or not respect in adeline yen mah’s Chinese Cinderella? why?
can you please replay for my quesition soon.
Dear Mohamad, Since this is your assignment, you should write the essay yourself. Adeline
thankyou
your’s sincerely
mohamad
Adeline,
I am 31 years old, married with three children and have just read your book as part of my Foundation Degree in Early Years (Childcare and Education) and wanted to say how truly inspirational it was!! You have remained so positive, loving and giving in the face of such hardship.
I am writing a 1000 word autobiography review as part of my degree on Falling Leaves and hope that I have truly grasped the experiences you went through and the values and lessons you learnt during your childhood.
I hope that my pre-school teaching has a small but positive impact on children’s lives!!! If there were more people like you in the world, it would be a better place.
All the best to you and your family, now and always Tessa x x x
Dear Adeline
Does it cost any money to subscribe on your website?
What do you get if you subscribe?
Love
Chloe
Dear Chloe, No. It’s free. Proceeds from my books are donated to the Falling Leaves Foundation which encourages students to be interested in China’s culture, language and history. The Foundation is in the process of setting up various programs in this regard. Adeline
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I think your so amazing.
I’m doing a project for english about you.
God Bless you
KATYA(:(:
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I have found your story ‘Chinese Cinderella’ truly inspirational. I had to do a summer reading for my 7th grade classes. I loved your story and your one of the people i would love to meet before I die. Thank-you so much for writing this book. You made me really love and cherish my life much more. Truly inspirational.
Dear Adeline,
I am a massive fan of your book, ‘Chinese Cinderella’ and I have been reading it in my English lessons at the moment.
At times it has made me cry, and others smile.
When I read it I feel as if I am struggling with you.
You have inspired me and I am so very greatful for that.
I have a couple of questions to ask you; I hope you have time to read and reply to them:
Do you ever talk to your sibblings and half-sibblings?
Has Niang ever apologised about the way you were treated?
Did you ever find any images of your mother, to this date?
Thankyou everso much
Please read Falling Leaves. Thanks for writing.
Adeline
hello adi
how are u
are you okay
pip&lurz
Hi Adeline!
You may have heard from my friends Ruth, Ella and Courtney! We are reading your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’ in English. I have a few questions. How did you feel when you found out that Niang was listening outside the door on new years day when you were plotting? And also, what was going through your mind when you saw the clothes that niang had given you for the new year?
Katie
xxx
Dear Adeline,
I am 11 years old and I live in Hong Kong.I really like your books!
Manna
Dear Adeline,
You would have over the last cuple of weeks heard from me a lot.
Anne, Annabelle and Suzie May have also contacted you but with my permission they used my email. Suzie may and Anne are my twin best friends and Annabelle is cousin
Among ourselves we have started a Adeline Yen Mah fan club and we are all 12-14 in age we have read the 2 books fiction 12 year old CC, Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves and we all agree you are the best author ever!
We would love to meet you but saddly we are in Australia
Have you ever been to Australia or are you planning to?
I can speak Japanese and want to learn Chinese Mandarin like my friends Anne and Suzie May do.
I would like you to know you have inspired me and you are my hero and my favourite book author
Lots of Love
Chloe
Thank you for your lovely comments. Please visit often. Learn Chinese and write to me from time to time in Chinese characters. Begin studying Chinese by learning one character per day. Adeline
Thank you
PS> Ganet is my little 10 year old sister and she loves your books too!
Dear Adeline,
My name is mike and I am 14. I was woundering if you could give me any help on trying to write a story I am pretty good as I am but i want to be more like you. If you could give me any help reply please.
Thank you,
Mike
Dear Mike, Read widely and keep a diary. Good luck! Adeline
Dear Adeline Yen Mah
I am 12 years old and live in south Australia.I read your book for a book report it is an astonishing,sad and kind of exciting book.You have become an insperation to me. this book has showed me how lucky I am and that I shouldnt take things for granted and that when im mad with my parents I will still know that they love me. I will never know what its like to be unwanted but feel for you as everyone eles who has read this amazing book, Chinese Cinderella. I wish i could meet you and you will always be in my heart.
So long and fair well
AliceXXOO
Dear Adeline,
Our team just finished reading your book Chinese Cinderella today. Jasmine felt it was the best book she’d ever read because it was a touching story.
We’d like to know when you actually wrote this story. Was it recently or when you were younger?
Cara would like to know: Did your father-or anyone in your family-live to see publication of this book or has anyone in the family read this story before publication?
Sincerely,
Mike, Cara, Jasmine, Aaron, Tori members of Scotts Mills School Battle of the Books team
Dear All, I wrote Chinese Cinderella 12 years ago. Adeline
Hello,
I am the current president of the Asian Students Association at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. We are currently looking for speakers to come to our campus to give a talk on Asian topics, such as Race, Family Conflict, etc. Your tough background is very moving, I have read all of your books. Please e-mail me back with your speaker fees. Thanks,
–JC
Dear JC, Thank you. My secretary will contact you. Adeline
Hello,
i am a huge fan and at the moment, my class is reading Chiese Cinderella. You may hve heard from Ruth, a girl in my class. I am so inspired by your novel, I am planning to write my own! Does your older sister love you? Or is she still horrible to you?
Yours faithfully, Ella xx
Hi Adeline,
My name is Sophie and I love your books. They are very insperational and so are you. When I red your book I could not stop. The way you write books make you want to keep reading. The thoughts and feelings that you went through are hard to believe. You were so brave and caring and you never gave up hope. When things were tough you dusted yourself down and got right back up! People think that their childhood was tough but yours was the worst. How did you keep going when things got bad? What did you keep thinking. How did you over come it. Also do you still have the report cards and your Aunt Baba’s box, and if you do not what happend. Love Sophie xxx p.s That is not my email address but my frieds. I do not have an email address!
we both have sisters that annoy us so much how did you get on with yours with out screaming?when we read chapther seven we both nearly cried how did it feel for you to see it happen in your own eyes and did little sister ever properly become niangs daughter did they ever bond we really have to knlow!
Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
Why do you leave such short replies? We have been reading your book; Chinese Cinderella. One of the boys actually started crying at the part where PLT was eaten! We are now doing a project and I’m writing diary entries from Niangs point of view. There was one thing I needed to know though, how much older is Lydia than you? That would be really helpful to know and I can’t find it on the internet anywhere. Please reply!
From Julie
I think you are an amazing and courageous woman. I too am a physician and live in HB. I am a first generation American and grew up in this country having to deal with a lot of stereotypes about the Middle East in the 70’s and 80’s. I often felt inferior and used that to fuel my education and over achieving. My daughter is next to read your amazing book. She wants to be a writer and I think your writing style is lovely. I am halfway through and I just want to go back to you as a child and just give you a hug. It is a shame that anyone can treat any child like you were treated. Your kindness is amazing!
Dear Adeline,
Do you have any grandchildren or just children?
One grandson. Adeline
Adeline,
First i really wanna to say thank you for your two books’the secret story of an unwanted daughter and falling leaves’ i m a chinese girl and studying in university in Uk, and i have so similar background as your childhood and your story.I totally understand your feeling what u have been suffered. 很抱歉我想用中文和你说:你真的很坚强,你是个很伟大很善良的人.在你的故事的每一节,每一句,我都能真正的感受到你的痛..因为我也一样.你的故事能打动很多人,但真正能和你有同感的只有亲身经历过的人才能做到.谢谢你的书,你的故事让我坚信我可以和你一样坚强勇敢的走下去.
Dear Lin Chen, 謝 謝! Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I wrote to you although you didn’t answer my question. But I do admit that my question was a bit hard and ridiculous. I am really sad that you mother died when you were only a few weeks old. But I think that it is better to not know your mum at all rather than lose her when you are strongly conected to eachother. I’m only 13, though my mother and I are like best friends. I love her so much. And after I read your book I thought of not having her. I am really lucky to have her and want evryone to know how kind and caring she is. I love your books so much that I read Chinese Cinderella in 2 days and Falling leaves in 3. Now I gave it to my friend to read it (Julie).
Thank you so much for writing your life story and I think that if your Niang had more time before she died she would have gave about 40% of her stuff rather than giving it to Edgar and Lydia (no ofense to them). I always wondered why your father never wanted you around but still loved you deeply inside. I think that this is because you probobly look like your mother and remind him of her. Did you see any pictures of your mum? You told in your story that your father wanted all of them destroyed. Maybe your aunt was hiding some of them secretly. Or maybe your mums family even gave you some.
Ozlem.
P.S Please reply!!
Dear Ozlem. You are lucky. Tell your mom you lover her. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I am 14 years old I am currently reading Falling Leaves it is so touching on Saturday I started reading it and I am now on chapter 22
Do you think I will enjoy reading Watching the Tree and A Thousand Pieces of Gold?
Also did you ever see your Niang’s Niece Claudine and Newphew Victor ever again?
Also do you still contact Lydia, Susan, Gregory, Edgar or James?
I am sorry about Franklin
Annebelle
Dear Annabelle, Gregoroy and I are still close. Not the others. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I am 14 years old I am currently reading Falling Leaves it is so touching on Saturday I started reading it and I am now on chapter 22
Do you think I will enjoy reading Watching the Tree and A Thousand Pieces of Gold?
Also did you ever see your Niang’s Niece Claudine and Newphew Victor ever again?
Dear Anne, I think you will enjoy reading those two books. Adeline
Ann
Adeline, why don’t you take a risk and look for your old friends, espescially Wu Chun-mei? I think it was worth a try, even though it may be hard.
Please Answer fast. Please answer.I am doing a book report on you at school, so I hpe you would answer my questions soon enough.
I’ve tried but was unsuccessful. Adeline
Chinese Cinderella a wonderful story. The way you yold it, to me it was clear that all you said you felt was real. Do you know that sometimes, when I read certan parts, tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt as if I were if you. Whatever you said you felt, I dd it with you. When yo hoped, I did it with you. (I didn’t read falling leaves because the school library does not have it, but they have already ordered it.)
Question: Have your father, your stepmother, or any other siling read your book?
My parents were dead when I began writing my book. My siblings have read it. Adeline
Dear Adeling Yen Mah,
I’m ready ‘Chinese Cinderella’ in class at the moment, and I’d just like to say thank-you for writing this book. I’m on chapter 7 now, but I can’t wait to read the rest of it! The writing is complex, yet easy to undersrand. I just love the way it is written.
I was wondering whether you had the key to your Aunt Baba’s box, where she kept all your prizes and medals?
I hope you will write more books!
Thank-you for being so inspirationable!
Aunt Baba’s box was destroyed by the Red Guards. Adeline
I’m sorry to hear that… It would have been nice if you’d seen the red box again, to see all your rewards that made you think thats what made you seem so special.
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I am a sixth grade reading/language arts teacher and I use your book every year as part of my curriculum.Chinese Cinderella is an amazing book that my students read every year in awe. We would love to meet you and have you speak at our school. Do you ever make presentations in school districts? My students are amazed with your story and your writing talent. We all admire you and would be honored to have the opportunity to meet you.
Virginia McCormac
Thank you. I don’t know where your school is located. Please visit my website from time to time. For instance, I’m doing a book signing with my daughter at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California on the afternoon of February 20th. I would love to meet you too. Adeline
Good Morning Adeline,
I was thinking about the possibility of meeting with you on Skype and I wondered how the conversation with your publisher is proceeding.
Hope all is well. I will wait to hear from you. My preference is communicating through my school email if that is acceptable to you.
Have a great day.The sun is finally shinning in Cleveland.:-)
Virginia McCormac
Thank you Adeline. I will wait to hear from you. Virginia
Dear Adeline,
I am thrilled to receive your email and your willingness to meet our students. I believe that the 6th,7th and 8th graders would be meeting you not just my students. We are 325 students in this building and as I mentioned before 80% of the students have read your book because they were my students. In anticipation of our meeting, I am sure that the other students will get your book and read it to fully appreciate our meeting with you. I look forward to discussing the possibility of our meeting. I am very excited!
Virginia
Dear Virginia, My publisher and I will be getting back to you. Thank you. Adeline
Good Morning Adeline,
We are in Beachwood, Ohio a suburb of Cleveland. We are a small school system of 1200 students and 80% of the students 6-12 have read your book in my class as a 6th grader as part of my Fairytale unit of study based on the Cinderella structure. The kids are in awe over such a story. We would never be able to come to California but I was wondering if you have SKYPE. We could arrange a time to talk to you over the computer. Every student I have would love to meet youif you think we could make some arrangements.
Thank you so much for your response. I know how busy you are and I appreciate your time and attention to my note.
Virginia McCormac
Dear Virginia, Thank you for your email. Yes! I do have Skype! I would love to meet your students over the computer. It would also be wonderful if we could link up with other schools and other children at the same time. Skype can conference up to ten different phone numbers at various schools all over the world. It’s an exciting concept and I will contact you again. Adeline
Hello again Ms. Adeline,
I have started my assignment on you about discrimination but I was having trouble figuring out what type of discrimination you were a victim of. Can you please tell me what type of discrimination you were facing?
And again thank you sooo much for answering my questions. I really appreciate it and sorry if I’m a bother.
Discrimination often has no name or label. But you know when you are being excluded and treated like a second class citizen. Adeline
I was wondering, Adeline, do you plan on coming to Australia any time soon because I would reaaallllyyy love it if I could see you in person
Dalina, No plans at present. Please check website from time to time.
Adeline
hi Adeline Yen Mah,
i have read your story over and over again it is so touching and it tells you that not everyone’s life is aboustly perfect and probably never will so but i do love to know about other peoples lives and chinse cinderella was just amazing thanks for sharing this touching and amazing story it is probably my favourite book
Dear, Adeline,
Greetings from Australia!
When I first read your books I was about 10 or 11 (I’m 15), and going through a bit of a tough time. In reading your books, well, lets just say your story inspired me and I never looked back. Your books taught me that although you can’t hide from your past, it doesn’t have to define the person you can become.
I’d like to be a writer too. I’d like to be able to inspire others, to be able to make people feel, just like you do. Its probably one of the greatest gifts a person can be given.
In my opinion, there are very few books out there that have as much heart and soul put into them as yours does. I can understand how hard some of it must have been to relive and write. I think your father, Aunt Baba and Ye Ye would look at you today and be so proud… And I am so happy you found the happiness you deserved
I’d like to say thank-you for one of the most moving stories I have ever read.
-Jess
Dear Adeline,
I am writing to you again. I would once more like to inform you that i love your book a lot. I recommend it to anyone i see. My friend, Julie, and i love reading your books. I have a question for you: for your families love would you have given up your smartness and intellegence?
Ozlem
Hi I’ve read the dragon keeper and your books are beautiful chinese cinderella and some day I hope to be able to publish stories of my own and I was hoping you might be able to give me some writers advice
I would really appreciate thanks
The first time that I read your book I cry and cry. But now I like your book a lot much (but I still liked before) I read the Secret Dragon Society, The Song Dynasty Picture, Chinese Cinderella, and I like alot much.
I wish you a happy life- sorry for bad English.
Satoko Kichiya
Hi Adeline, am Sherny, from Dubai. I read your book Falling Leaves and i really love it. I love it so muct that am doing doing my final dissertation on it and i have a question, if you could please help me. I have searched for the answers but i think you are the better person to answer it. What are the really reasons for writing the book, Falling leaves?
Thanks in advance
Love Sherny!
Oh my goodness gracious we just read Chinese Cinderella and we love you and what you did. You’re so inspiring. We wish you the best and we have a few questions for you…
—Sarah
1. Did you’re father ever divorce Niang?
2. Did the relationship between you and your family ever get better?
3. Is your favorite animal a duck? Mines a chicken.
4. Do you still drink orange juice.
5. Did you ever get to see your Aunt BaBa again?(Did you keep in contact)
Thanks so much, we hope to hear from you soon. We LOVE you and your writing. BYE
After PLT died, I never had another pet. For the rest, please read Falling Leaves.
Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I read bought falling leaves it turned out they had it at my schools library, I spent my christmas money on it but i’m gtlad because now I can read it over and over again and cherish it forever!
Thank you so much adeline
Chloe
Please tell me what Watching the Tree and A Thousand Pieces of Gold are about Please!
Both books are about Chinese culture.
Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I am 13 years old and from Australia.
Your childhood story is truely touching. It makes me think how valuble my life is and how much my parents care about me. I was going to make my little brother read it because he thinks he has an awful life. I cried in so many parts in your story. You are a true cinderella. I haven’t read Falling Leaves yet and I am looking forward to a very sad and inspiring book. I hope your forgave your stepmum of what she has done to you even though she is dead i know somewhere deep inside her she cared only about you. I hope your siblings like you now and don’t think any of that nonesense or you being badluck. But you are very smart and intellegent and that’s something very important. And you are the latest cinderella. So the oldest and youngest cinderella came from China. I really and surprised in your book that even though your siblings and parents never really cared about you, you still never though anything bad of them or even cursed then if it was me by now i would have thrown a party for my stepmothers death.
My question to you is do you still see your friends from childhood? especially Wu Chun-mei?
Dear Ozlem, I never saw Wu Chun-mei again. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I would like to ask you some questions about your books and I would like you to please give an email or address because at school we are doing a project on authors who right for kids and adults if you have time please reply but because I know you are a busy women that you may not reply and I will not be angry if you dont!
PS. Chinese Cinderella is fab!
Love be with you always
Ganet
Chinese Cinderella was one of the most touching books I’ve ever read, which is saying something because I read than my entire family put together!
Hi adeline!
My name is Lily Susanne but I like it as Lilianne.
Lily means lily flower and Susanne means that too so my name is lily flower lily flower!Lilianne means lily too!
Do you know your name means noble?
I guess you must be noble if your are Chinese Cinderella!
You have a great name and your should bear it with pride.
I am 11yrs old and I read your book Chinese Cinderella and was so moved by it.
I have come to realise after reading your book that I have a very fortunate life and extremely lucky.
Thanks for writing Chinese Cinderella and for making me realise that things could be a lot worse.
you are the most awsome person!
Dear Adeline,
My name is Kerstin & I’m from Toronto, Canada. I’m an avid reader of your works most specially ” Falling Leaves”, ” A thousand pieces of gold” and ” China, Land of Dragons & Emperors” Reading them took me on a journey to a land I have never been to before. Falling Leaves was one of my favorites even if it took me weeks to finish. It is really heart wrenching to learn how you suffered in the hands of your stepmother.
Just one question before I close. Are you planning to write another book?
I hope to hear from you soon
Very Truly yours,
Kerstin
Dear Kerstin, I have written a few books for children. Latest one will be published by Random House later this year titled Chinese Cinderella and the Song Dynasty Painting. Adeline
Hi.My name is Zeynep.I’m from Turkey and I’m fourteen.I’m a highschool girl.We have been given your book,Falling Leaves, to read for the exam. I like your book.While I was reading it,I was impressed.
After your dad’s bad treatments to you, have you forgive your father?
Dear Zeynep, I love my dad. Adeline
Hello Adeline:
My daughter’s 7th grade class had just read your book. They sure are sympathetic to little Adeline, but I don’t think kids these days can fully appreciate the type of despair and loneliness kids go through back then. How kids were virtually voiceless to their parents. Now a days, the center of attention is on the kids…everyday activities are based on children’s extra-curricular classes, their playdates, birthday parties and such. But again, that is exactly why I am so appreciative of your book. It brings an insight of life as how it was.
I have very similar background with you. My paternal family were originally from Dongbei Province. My grandfather went to college in Shanghai and became a famous architect there. I was told that there are still buildings standing along the Bund that were designed by him. They, too shared a life of luxury and privelege in the French concessions before taking route to Taiwan. My Parents were busy with lives, as they started cotton, textile/clothing factories and established their new lives. We, as kids were just kind of there. So, even though I had a mom, I know how you must have felt. All the adults were always away or busy, and it was not a crime to smack your kids around back then. It was to “show them a good lesson”. Feelings? Children had no feelings. At least not according to their parents. All of it is difficult to perceive now, but it was kind of the norm. And we still adored our mom and dad. There is no malice. What can we say? Times were different…You are truly inspirational. Thank you for sharing your story.
Dear Adeline, it’s me again.
I somehow managed to read “A Thousand Pieces of Gold” as I borrowed it from the school library. You could never have known what shocked face I had when I found it in the school library last year. The reason why I didn’t get to borrow it last year, was because it’s nearing the end of school and the library wouldn’t want to have trouble. The book was inspiring, and I learnt some history. I would have never known that proverbs actually had a story behind its meaning.
Since the book had mentioned other parts of your life that were never written in Chinese Cinderella, it felt like you were describing them with proverbs. I also got a little bit of my answer(well, I never read Falling Leaves) from there. I also wondered what do you think of Singapore? Sometimes, whenever someone comments something good about it online, I feel proud inside.
Do you also read other biographies too? Last time I wanted to ask you about 1 Litre of Tears, but forgot. Nevermind that, I also wanted to draw something for you. However, it’s incomplete…since I suddenly, decided to draw Wu Chun Mei, but there’s no space and I can’t move the picture(It’s over 7 layers and it’s going to be a pain moving it to a side.) and it looks crammed. I think I need to draw another one. When I was drawing it, I always imagined a young Adeline who is smiling, wearing her school uniform and holding someone’s hand, having a glimmer of hope in her eyes. I really wish it wasn’t hard to do it in the image in my mind. Imaginations can go really, really far beyond your limits.
If I probably finish it, I’d show it to you. You know…I felt like writing all my fantasies so that I really wish I live in them. Reality can be so cruel. Being lonely just makes it worse. I’m such a coward. Yes. Such a coward that I’m stuck. Why can’t I be brave as those characters in an anime or manga at all? Perhaps they are fictional, I’m real. Why is it hard getting friends? I’m feeling confused now, maybe I’ll write another apology for this stupid, unbelievingly silly letter later?
Yours Sincerely,
Ya Hui
Hello Adeline,
Thank you soo much for the reply. The questions all relate to discrimination and also your book “Chinese Cinderella” and they are:
1. Do you consider yourself a hero, victim or discrimination?
2. What does discrimation mean to you?
3. What type of discrimination were you a victim of? (e.g. race, gender, age)
5. How did you deal with the discrimination?
6. What you have learnt through your hardships of being discriminated?
7. How has discrimination effected your life?
Again thank you sooo much for replying and you truly are an inspriational icon.
Discrimination is a cancer that can destroy you. On the other hand, you can use it to your advantage, rise above your circumstances and use the prevailing prejudice as a motivating force. It all depends on you.
Adeline
Dear Adeline, I am 15 years old studying at school in England. I found your book incredibly inspiring and deeply sorrowful at the same time, I feel it is a tragedy the way you were treat and the segregation you had to put up with in your own home. However, on behalf of your suffering you have created an amazing story which has gripped many children who withstood the same degrading torment, and also touched my heart. You should be incredibly proud of yourself, especially reaching the high standard of academic achievement during the hard times of unbearable pressure and stress. You are amazing,
Amy
Hello Adeline
Your book the Chinese Cinderella was one of the best novels I have ever read. Your life seemed sooo hard yet you faced it using your heart. I really am inspired by you. You are a great example on how anyone can succeed no matter who they are, as long as they have a dream.
I have decided to choose to do one of my reports on. The report about famous people who has or had been discriminated because of who they are. I was wondering if you could please give a way to contact so I could ask questions about how you dealt with this, the experiences you had and many more.
Because of your awesomeness
Can you please give an email or phone number but if you can’t answering the questions above would be great.
Dear Dalina, Please ask your questions on this website and I will try to answer them. Adeline
dear adeline!
我在学习中国的过程。我很喜欢它，我可能在夏天去上海！我会看看我是否可以访问霞飞路，看看你的老房子！
你真正的，
Dante, 謝 謝. 霞 飛 路 現 名 淮 海 中 路 Adeline
Hi Adeline,
I am reading Chinese Cinderella for an English literature project. I am really enjoying it. This is by far one of the best world literature books I have ever read. I really like learning about your life as a child. I just can’t believe your father and Niang were that mean to you. You were very lucky to have your Aunt Baba, that is, until you were separated. Thanks for writing such an enjoyable book.
Dear Adeline, Last night I began reading your book “Chinese Cinderella” I read it right through as it grabbed my heart and I couldn’t put it down. The pure sadness and heart break that I felt for you would not come close to how it must have been for you. I have 2 beautiful children of my own and 3 wonderful step children and knowing how much love I feel for them I cannot understand how Niang could be so cruel. I feel so happy that you have a wonderful life and a beautiful family of your own and you are not an angry person. I would love to read your book, The falling Leaves but to be honest I don’t know if I could get through it as Cinderella had me in tears and made me feel as though my heart was being crushed although at the same time I could not stop reading! I would love to know if you are still in contact with your siblings at all and if you were able to mend the terrible damage done by one person to so many.Well done Adeline with everything, you are a very special lady, Take care.
Adeline,
You are my hero. You inspired me in many ways.
Keep writing.
Dear Adeline,
I have just finished reading your book, Chinese Cinderella.
It was truly unimaginably great.
I have read many many good books.
But by far I think that this is the best!
Thank you so much for writing a wonderful book.
Your book really grabbed me by my heart, and took me through a mechalonising journey and made me feel as if I was you, right there seeing everything happen, experiencing your feelings.
Thanks so much!
Hello Adeline
My daughter and I both love your book.I would love to buy an autographed copy. Will you be doing any book signing in the central valley area soon? I live in Visalia so I can drive to Fresno.
Lynda
Dear Lynda, Thank you. I will not be going to Fresno in the near future. Adeline
Hey Adeline,
I’m pretty sure that your Niang was wholeheartedly torn over seeing you. She didn’t dis’enherit you out of any of her own choices. You yourself say that she agreed to see you 4 times and pulled out at the last minute on each occaision. She loved you and she knew that seeing you would reaffirm that love. Sadly she had already commited to excluding you from the will but the very fact that she arranged these meetings (i know she never made them) should show you that she was in two minds, always thinking of you and always trying to mend the bridges. It is a shame that you never got to spend time with her but having read your account i can see that she harbourd great feeling towards you. Hope my thoughts help with the pain.
You deserve all the luck and fortune that comes your way, what a brave woman and inspiration to thousands you are. If you ever regret your choice in life, just remember people like me that would never have gained such a fascinating insight without you. Thanks.
Roy Freer.
Dear Adeline,
Have you ever consider of adapting ‘Falling Leaves’ into a movie? I’m sure many people will want to watch it. By the way, does Edgar still contact with you?
thank you so much i cant believe how amazing you are to speak up for yourself and how much you suffered you never seemed to lose faith that one day your father will love you until you realised that he doesnt care about you .i was crying when i read the part where you leave your aunt baba and she told you to stay strong and follow your dreams. you are one amazing person thank you soooooo much you are one of my favorite authors.and by the way it broke my heart how you begged to see a picture or know a description of you mother
xoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxooxxox
Hi Adeline,
My name is Mia Torres, I’m 11 years old and I’m a girl and I read your book, Chinese Cinderella. Your story is beautiful. I love the way you talk and describe. Theres so much I want to say to you. I’m making a movie script of Chinese Cinderella. I wanted to see if you wanted it to be a movie. It would be like Memoirs of a Geisha or something. I love the Asian culture. Your stepmom, Niang, is a cruel soul with a bitter heart. Don’t listen to anything she says. You’re special no matter what.
Love Mia
Hey it’s no biggie Adeline,
My teacher was a bit upset until she heard you would be in Pasadena (I think thats what you told one person). Anyway, I am so excited to write about you in Falling Leaves! I love your inspiring lifestory. I just have a question, will you be writing more books? I just want to know because I think you’re an amazing writer and should keep writing all your life.
Love, Mia
Yes. Adeline
P.S
Well the staff isn’t THAT strict. They are kind and nice but they have their rules so yeah, just so you know.
from Mia
Hi again Adeline,
My literature teacher, Mrs. Winter, loves your books. We are doing biographies in literature and I’m doing you in Falling Leaves. She said that she’d love to meet you and she wanted me to ask you if you’de like to come to my school. I live in Camarillo, California, I go to St. Mary Magdalen. It’s an okay school but the staff is really strict, since it’s a Catholic school. It’s only for sixth grade. You can decide when to come if you can come. The address is 2534 Ventura Boulevard
Camarillo, CA 93010-6649.
Please respond! It’s quite alright if you can’t come.
Dear Mia, Thank you. I’m afraid I won’t be able to go to your school. Adeline
Love,
Mia
Ok I will. Thanks for writing back.
Would you like to see the script I made for Chinese Cinderella? I’m not really making it a movie but it should be! You have a great story.
Tell me what you think about it please!
(Camera faces a proud Chinese father facing our heroine, Adeline Yen Mah)
Father: Congratulations! You go to college!
(Camera faces a stunned 14 year old Adeline)
Older Adeline: Father had never been this proud of me since I was beginning school. The most he ever thought of me, was how I killed my mother.
(Camera faces Big Sister, Lydia, talking to a four year old Adeline, now called Wu Mei)
Lydia (Big Sister): (shouting at Wu Mei) If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. You are bad luck! A disgrace!
(Big Sister walks away while young Wu Mei stares at her walking down the hall)
Older Adeline: That’s what everyone thought I was, bad luck. Nothing but an unwanted daughter.
(Camera goes to mid-aged women in a room with 4 year old Wu Mei)
Older Adeline: Aunt Baba, my loving aunt. The only one who didn’t take me for granted. She was best friends with my mother.
Aunt Baba: What is that medal you have on your shirt for?
Wu Mei: It’s for leading the class. The teacher said I can wear it all week.
(Wu Mei holds up a certificate)
And I forgot the language that Aunt Baba couldn’t read that was on the certificate. Could you tell me please?
Thanks for inspiring me! Please comment!
Love Mia
Dear Mia, That language was French. Thank you. I enjoyed reading your script. Adeline
By the way Adeline,
I just wanted to ask if you could tell me the schools you went to. Please, I admire you so much for your bravery and courage and how you fought your way to become an author. You are one of my favorite authors now. Do you still see your siblings? Have you met Big Sister’s child? Or any of their children?
Just wondering!
Love Mia
Dear Mia, Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Hi Adeline,
I’m mot sure if you remember my comment from a few weeks ago (about the English assignment I had to do-the one that I used Falling Leaves for) but I thought you might like to know that I got 100% on it! This is thanks to you! Your book was so well written and your story is so captivating! I can honestly say that this book is one of my favourite (from Canada, can’t remember if this is how it’s spelt in the U.S.) non-fiction texts and I can hardly put it down! I was just wondering if you would like me to post a picture of my best page…
Dear Breanna, Please post it. Thank you. Adeline
I’m sorry about this photo (my computer won’t allow me to rotate it). I can post what I wrote in the diary entry if you would like (it was a bit difficult to read anyway). The other people I chose to write about were Niang, your Father, your Aunt Baba, Franklin, Byron and James. I felt these people influenced you the most and help develop who you are as a person today.
There are acually two pictures to post. The first one is just a mini introduction picture and the second is a diary entry that I wrote as if I was you. I chose to post the one I wrote about your husband and how he has influenced you (from my own analysis and interpretation of the text). For our assignment, we had to focus more on themes in the novel so I chose to write about the most influencial experiences with the most influencial people in your life (in my opinion). Again I wrote these from my own interpretations so I apologize if there are any falsities within what I wrote.
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
I just finished reading both Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves. Thank-you for writing your life story, it is truly inspiring. I have a request- as attached as I became to you and your life story, I also became attached to the life stories of your siblings. Would you please include a Frequently Asked Question section to your website and include answers to these questions?
What happened to James and Louise? Did they stay in Hong Kong after 1997 or did they leave? Did James take over the family business? Are you still in touch with James?
Did you ever speak to Lydia again? Or to her son, your nephew that you so kindly assisted.
What about Susan? Did she and her husband and children remain in Hong Kong? Do you currently have a relationship with her?
Do you still speak to Gregory and Edgar?
I hope you will consider answering these questions. I am very curious. Thank-you,
Sylvia W.
Dear Sylvia, Thanks for writing. Gregory came to our daughter’s wedding with his wife and son seven years ago. In front of three hundred guests, I thanked him. By coming to her wedding, my brother told the world that everything I wrote in Falling Leaves is true; that he has forgiven me for writing it; and that he still loves me. Unfortunately, he was the only sibling who feels this way. Adeline
Dear Mrs. Mah,
Hello Mrs. Mah. I am a Special Ed. teacher at Los Altos HS in Hacienda Heights, California. Some of my students, both Special Ed. and General Ed. 9th grade students already have read or will be reading Chinese Cinderella. I would like to know if you would be kind enough to visit us at the end of March when our freshmen classes will be finishing your book. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Leila Jung
Los Altos HS
Special Education Teacher/English
ljung@hlpusd.k12.ca.us
Dear Leila, Thank you for your invitation. Unfortunately, I will not be able to visit you in March. However, I will be appearing at a book event with my daughter on the afternoon of Saturday, February 20th, at the Huntington Library in Pasadena. Please come if you have time. I look forward to meeting you. Adeline
PASADENA
Saturday, February 20, 2010
2.30pm
Special event with Adeline Yen Mah
6th Annual Chinese New Year Festival
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
tel: (626) 405 2100
Tickets: $20 adults, $6 children, free: members and children under 5
Dear Adeline Yeh Mah,
Chinese Cinderella is a book i have to do a test on in high school. We had to read it and be tested after. I thought they just chose boring books for us to read but once i read the first page and flipped over and over to the next page i was in the book. I was feeling how you felt and how sad it must be to be the one always left out!
I know now it must feel like being an unwanted child. I was so touched and had to cry so many times reading the book. After i finished an put it on the side of my bed, i just remembered that this hole story was real and you lived in it.
You are such a great author and you are so talented since you where such a young girl, and i hope it always stays like that for ever.
Enjoy being free now!
Anne
Thank you for sharing your story with me and others.I’ll tel lyou the same thing you told your Ye Ye that “if ever one day I succeed it will be because you believed in me”.you’ve inspired me so much that all the obstacles that I face don’t make me give up hope on my dreams.thanks again
Hi Adeline! Or should I say ni hao?
Wo jiao Hethvi. Wo shi sue.It’s my birthday soon! I’m really looking forward to it. Wo de sheng ri yi yue san shi yi hao! I loved Chinese Cinderella, as I’ve mentioned on the 30th of December. Falling Leaves was an amazing, amazing book, and I read it all in one go since I was so hooked on to it. You are one of my favorite authors. I was wondering if you had any tips for writing an autobiography, since I am very fond of creative writing and would like to write my own autobiography when I am older.
Love from your number 1 fan,
Hethvi
你可以用中文寫信給我.練習你的中文.
ni de yi yong zhong wen xie xin gei wo. lian xi ni de zhong wen.
Adeline
PS- pLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE please write back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Adeline,
I read Chinese Cinderella and fell in love with your writting! Chinese Cinderella was such a touching story, I’m only 13 but Chinese Cinderella really made me think about what other people, like your-self, had/have to go though. After reading Chinese Cinderella I couldn’t stop talk about it and I think people got sick of me doing so! But a few days ago I was in search of a new book and I found Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society, I’ve only started reading it but once I had started I didn’t want to stop! It is such an amazing story and now I have my cousin waiting for me to finish it! Your’e such an amazing writer and I just want to thank you for you girt to all of us who love your book! Many thanks for sharing you life and showing me that some things cant be worse than what you learn in school. Thanks again
hmmm… i just want to know what did your father say in his will cos i read the book but the book never say so can u tell me pls
Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Hi Adeline!
We have just finished a topic on you @ school which was very interesting but also extremely sad. We read your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’which was very inspiring but very emotional at the same time. Its really amazing how your own parents (well father and step mother) could of treated you the way they did. We had to write an essay on your book and I have just finished
It would mean a lot if you replied, as I can take this message in to show my class. Thank you for sharing your life with us, it is very touching..Thank you. 
Dear Charlotte, Thank you for writing. I hope my books will interest you (and your classmates) in the culture, history and language of China. Adeline
Greetings, Adeline Yen Mah
Reading your novels extremely inspired me and helped me to identify the journey that is ahead of me. Chinese Cinderella has touched me in many ways, and somehow has given me courage to live life and prove the odds wrong. I am currently reading “Falling Leaves” and it is truly another moving book. I never had an interest in reading books, but when I first read “Chinese Cinderella” I knew this book was for me.
I cannot express my feelings more enough, but I just want you to know that you have inspired and given me strength. Thank You
Dear Zeni, I spend my summers in London. Please keep in touch and visit my website where appearances will be posted from time to time. Adeline
Is there any way, I can meet you?
Love,
Zeni G
Dr. Mah,
My children were assigned Chinese Cinderella as a school reading assignment. They expressed how interesting the story was, so I read it myself. I was thoroughly entranced!!! I then looked on the internet to see if you had written another book when I came upon Falling Leaves. I finished the book one hour ago and I have to say it was the most moving, inspirational and riviting book I have EVER read! I wanted to read more. I just checked your websire and noticed there was an event pertaining to Falling Leaves in Orange County in November. You have no idea how disappointed I am that I missed it as I too live in Orange County. Can you please let me know if you have any events planned in the near future? I would love for my children to meet you–they are in awe of you as well. I just gave my husband the book and he will read it too. Please let me know where you will be and we will definitley attend as a family. You are the kind of example a mother hopes her children will admire especially in these crazy times. If you have no appearances, would it be possible for us to meet you for lunch?
With the utmost respect,
Beth Najera
Dear Beth, Thank you. I am honored. My daughter Ann Mah and I will be appearing at a book signing at Laguna Beach Book Store on Pacifice Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California 92651 at 6pm on Thursday, February 18, 2010. Tel. 949-494-4779. Please call the store and come if you have time. I would love to meet you.
Two days later, on February 20th, Ann and I will be speaking at the Huntington Library in Pasadena at 2.30pm. Ann is also a writer. Her first book is titled Kitchen Chinese. Please visit her website at
Adeline
Hi Adeline!
I’m Raisa, from the Philippines. I just want you to know that I recently read Chinese Cinderela, and is in the progress with Falling Leaves.
Adeline, you are my newest idol! I adore your courage, strength and love for Ye Ye. The death of your YeYe reduced me into tears bacause we were so alike with the kind of grandfathers we have. They are both loving
and gentle when it comes to us, their grand children. My Daddy Old died last year, almost the same date when your Ye Ye passed away -March 28.
I wish you all the best! And I hope you can sign my copies of your books.
Best regards,
Raisa
I am a fan of you, I am a 13 year old student. The books you wrote are really interesting. I can read them again and again without getting sick of them. I loved the Chinese Cinderella series, especially the Chinese Cinderella The mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting. The story about Zhang Mei Lan and Ah Zhao is really touching I look forward to your next Chinese Cinderella book.
Dear Kyna, I write to introduce China’s history, language and culture. Meanwhile, I thought you might enjoy this article from the New York Times! Keep in touch and thanks for writing. Adeline
NEW YORK TIMES
January 21, 2010
Foreign Languages Fade in Class ?Except Chinese
By SAM DILLON
WASHINGTON ?Thousands of public schools stopped teaching foreign languages in the last decade, according to a government-financed survey ?dismal news for a nation that needs more linguists to conduct its global business and diplomacy.
But another contrary trend has educators and policy makers abuzz: a rush by schools in all parts of America to offer instruction in Chinese.
Some schools are paying for Chinese classes on their own, but hundreds are getting some help. The Chinese government is sending teachers from China to schools all over the world ?and paying part of their salaries.
At a time of tight budgets, many American schools are finding that offer too good to refuse.
In Massillon, Ohio, south of Cleveland, Jackson High School started its Chinese program in the fall of 2007 with 20 students and now has 80, said Parthena Draggett, who directs Jackson world languages department.
e were able to get a free Chinese teacher,?she said. like to start a Spanish program for elementary children, but we can get a free Spanish teacher.?
(Jackson Chinese teacher is not free; the Chinese government pays part of his compensation, with the district paying the rest.)
No one keeps an exact count, but rough calculations based on the government survey suggest that perhaps 1,600 American public and private schools are teaching Chinese, up from 300 or so a decade ago. And the numbers are growing exponentially.
Among America approximately 27,500 middle and high schools offering at least one foreign language, the proportion offering Chinese rose to 4 percent, from 1 percent, from 1997 to 2008, according to the survey, which was done by the Center for Applied Linguistics, a research group in Washington, and paid for by the federal Education Department.
t really changing the language education landscape of this country,?said Nancy C. Rhodes, a director at the center and co-author of the survey.
Other indicators point to the same trend. The number of students taking the Advanced Placement test in Chinese, introduced in 2007, has grown so fast that it is likely to pass German this year as the third most-tested A.P. language, after Spanish and French, said Trevor Packer, a vice president at the College Board.
ee all been surprised that in such a short time Chinese would grow to surpass A.P. German,?Mr. Packer said.
A decade ago, most of the schools with Chinese programs were on the East and West Coasts. But in recent years, many schools have started Chinese programs in heartland states, including Ohio and Illinois in the Midwest, Texas and Georgia in the South, and Colorado and Utah in the Rocky Mountain West.
he mushrooming of interest wee seeing now is not in the heritage communities, but in places that don have significant Chinese populations,?said Chris Livaccari, an associate director at the Asia Society.
America has had the study of a foreign language grow before, only to see the bubble burst. Many schools began teaching Japanese in the 1980s, after Japan emerged as an economic rival. But thousands have dropped the language, the survey found.
Japanese is not the only language that has declined. Thousands of schools that offered French, German or Russian have stopped teaching those languages, too, the survey found.
To prepare the survey, the Center for Applied Linguistics sent a questionnaire to 5,000 American schools, and followed up with phone calls to 3,200 schools, getting a 76 percent response rate.
The results, released last year, confirmed that Spanish was taught almost universally. The survey found that 88 percent of elementary schools and 93 percent of middle and high schools with language programs offered Spanish in 2008.
The overall decline in language instruction was mostly due to its abrupt decline in public elementary and middle schools; the number of private schools and public high schools offering at least one language remained stable from 1997 to 2008.
The survey said that a third of schools reported that the federal No Child Left Behind law, which since 2001 has required public schools to test students in math and English, had drawn resources from foreign languages.
Experts said several factors were fueling the surge in Chinese. Parents, students and educators recognize China emergence as an important country and believe that fluency in its language can open opportunities.
Also stoking the interest has been a joint program by the College Board and Hanban, a language council affiliated with the Chinese Education Ministry, that since 2006 has sent hundreds of American school superintendents and other educators to visit schools in China, with travel costs subsidized by Hanban. Many have started Chinese programs upon their return.
Since 2006, Hanban and the College Board have also sent more than 325 volunteer Chinese uest teachers?to work in American schools with fledgling programs and paying $13,000 to subsidize each teacher salary for a year. Teachers can then renew for up to three more years.
The State Department has paid for a smaller program ?the Teachers of Critical Languages Program ?to bring Chinese teachers to schools here, with each staying for a year.
In the first two years of its Chinese program, the Jackson District in Ohio said it had provided its guest teacher housing, a car and gasoline, health insurance and other support worth about $26,000. This year, the district is paying a more experienced Chinese guest teacher $49,910 in salary and other support, in addition to the $13,000 in travel expenses he receives from Hanban, bringing his compensation into rough parity with Ohio teachers.
Ms. Draggett visited China recently with a Hanban-financed delegation of 400 American educators from 39 states, and she came back energized about Jackson Chinese program, she said.
hinese is really taking root,?she said. Starting this fall, Jackson High will begin phasing out its German program, she said.
Founders of the Yu Ying charter school in Washington, where all classes for 200 students in prekindergarten through second grade are taught in Chinese and English on alternate days, did not start with a guest teacher when it opened in the fall of 2008.
hat great for many schools, but we want our teachers to stay,?said Mary Shaffner, the school executive director.
Instead, Yu Ying recruited five native Chinese speakers living in the United States by advertising on the Internet. One is Wang Jue, who immigrated to the United States in 2001 and graduated from the University of Maryland.
After just four months, her prekindergarten students can already say phrases like want lunch?and angry?in Chinese, Ms. Wang said.
I enjoyed your book immensely. I’m a 56yr old trying to put on paper some writing stories in my spare time. I’d like to know how you were able to select the right word in each sentence. what must I study to improve that quality of writing.
I felt each word was perfect for it’s meaning, which is an art to perform. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Please read widely, keep a diary, remember the emotions. Adeline
Thank you so. You are truly an inspiration.
to adeline i am molly and i am reading chinese cinderella and i nearly cried the horible thngs thay you’sd to do to you. i would hate having to live with it.i’m nearly on chapter 19. i thought the bit where you was left with mother mary was sad and the bit where they wipped you.i got the 10th anaversary edition for christmas but today i found a normal copy in a charithy shop and bought it because my friend wants to read it.i am deffently going to buy your other books.i forgot to mention the sad bit about poor ptl.i bet you were so upset with your father cause i know i would be.there is so much to talk about.i cant believe you moved from tianjin to shanghai to tianjin then hong kong.and at the begininng your nai nai died.then you got moved away from your aunt baba.life must have been hard for you .
Dear Molly, Thanks for writing. After PLT died, I was never able to keep another pet. Adeline
yours
sincerly
molly
p.s.if any spelling mastake sorry
Hi Adeline,
I have read Chinese Cinderella, its made a big impact on my life… I wouldn’t of been able to stand the constant Demanding and Torture that your family gave you! Thank You For Being Such A Great Role Model To Me!You were very lucky to have Aunt Baba there for you, Did you ever find where your dads will went to and did he want you if you did find it?
I think any dad would be pleased to have such a magnisfisant daughter! Is any of your sliblings still alive!
Replay Back
Dear Sophie, Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Love Sophie xx
Hello im Shannon Ruth (my english name)and ive read Chinese Cinderella and Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society.The books have a huge impact I cried many times.This might not matter but I am a big fan I love the real writing and my biggest wish is to have a email or pnone call or anything from you. One thing i take from you books is how you tryed not to give up.I also know chinese.Cao and Zhao told me about this website i was thrilled.Ill speak in chinese now its easyer. y’u bi li’an gei ling qu yi ge’ hui da’ cong zhong ni.i hope thats chinese my little sister wanted to try i was trying to say i will love to get an answer from you.so may i be honored to get a reply. GUO SHEN
Dear Guo Shen or Shannon, Please try to write to me in Chinese. WO 我 HUI 會 HUI 回 DA 答GEI 給 NI 你.
In fact, I would like all my readers to try to learn Chinese and write to me in Chinese and English. This way, you can practice your Chinese. Adeline
dear Adeline,
Ive read your book Chinese Cinderella. And for a English class I’m writing a documentary novel on you. I’m so excited to be doing research on you. I feel for you, your childhood wasn’t right.
Hello. (: I am 13 this year and I’m very touched by your book, Chinese Cinderella. It left a great impact on me and although I have not been through what you’ve been thorugh, I can feel what you were feeling then. Keep on living strong ! (:
Im reading the book chinese cinderella and it made me feel very emotional
the book shows that sometimes there are more important people than your family that your friends and some part of your family and thats all that matters
Dear Adeline,
I would like to know if your play Gone with the locusts ever became a play or book?
No. Adeline
hello,
i am 11 years old and i have read all 3 of your chinese cinderella books and the have made a big impact on my life. it has changed the way i look at things now, i dont know why or how but it has. you are a talented writer so please write more about ye xian because they are terrific books.
yours,
jessica
darwin, australia
Dear Yen Mah, Just finished reading Falling Leaves.What an insperation you are to me!My mother was also beautiful and manipulative who favored our youngest sister.However I was not treated as bad as you were!I was born in Shanghai then grew up in Taiwan,as a child my only escape is reading daily newspapers,the papers publish many wonderful articles written by ordinary people who get paid if it was chosen.It was full of tales of how beautiful mainland was,your book fill me in with images of my beloved country that have not had a chance to visit.I was the eldist of three daughters,our parents constantly reminded us that girls are “useless”[mai yung].Mother let me felt I was at fault for not been a male.I also struggled to win their approval,your feelings are so familier.It was so lucky that there were Aunt Baba and Ye Ye in your youth !
Dear Adeline,
You are such a brave woman your book Chinese Cinderella is so good and I even cried a few times while reading it!
I also read your fiction book series for kids about 13year old CC as well!
I am 13 do you think Mao’s Last Dancer or Falling Leaves is suitable for me too!
I hope you reply I would like to hear back from you it would make me very happy if you did reply!
Love Always Suzie May From Australia!
Both are suitable. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
Your Story chinese cinderella was amazing!
You are great author and i look up to you in myself to be strong person like you are and in my writing to add all the passion and emotion which you added. For a young writer like myself, your stories motivate me to write more ad more and more. Thank you for making amazing books and giving me memories of read them which i can cherish forever.
xoxo Always,
Thank you for your kind words. Adeline
Jane
Hi,
My name is Louise and I live in New Zealand.
One of my friends just lent me her copy of Chinese Cinderella. It is such a sad, but moving story and I’m so glad that your life has become so much better. Your story is so inspiring and I hope you continue to write more wonderful, heartening books.
Hi Adeline
I just finished reading Chinese Cindrella that my 12 year old daughter gave to me to read. She really loved it and I just wanted to say how inspiring your journey was. I couldnt imagine the pain you must of felt as a young child or an adult. I just wanted to say thankyou for sharing your story with us and I wish you well. You are a wonderful human being who conquered all. Love Brooke and Keelan
Hello, I have just finished reading your book, Chinese Cinderella, and it was very touching. I cried during most of the book, and I can kind of relate to you. I hope you are doing much better off than before, but am prety sure you are, now that your stepmother is dead.
Hello,
This semester in my english class, we read Chinese Cinderella. I enjoyed this reading this very much. For a final task, my group is debating whether parents caused most problems in Chinese Cinderella. I have been given the negative, although i personal believe otherwise. I was wondering what your opinion was on this topic. Thank you in advance, K Smith
Hello Dr. Yen Mah,
I have a project and i have a question. I would like to know if you are retired or are you still writing books or working?
Dear Karina, Depends on your definition of retirement. What is the difference between work and play? If your `job’ gives you pleasure and satisfaction, then there is no difference between the two. Since I love what I do, I will never `retire’. Adeline
Dear Dr. Yen Mah,
I need your help, Urgent!! I live in a small town in Texas. I am in 7th grade. I am doing a project called “The Wax Museum” I am doing a research paper on a special character. I get to dress up as my character and write a speech to let the audience know who I am. I chose you as my character.
I would like to interview you because I am having trouble finding good resources. How wonderful it is to have an opportunity to interview a real author AND doctor!!:) My interview can count as a resource. It will be best to get information from you instead of internet sites. My town library only has one book that you wrote
The worse part is that the book is not available until two weeks from now. I really hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Karina Garcia
Dear Karina, Learn to use the internet. There is lots of information about my books on the internet. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
I have just finished reading Falling Leaves. I couldn’t put it down. You tell your story so well and in a way that allows the reader enough room to have their own thoughts. Well done. I’m so glad to read from your website that you have taken up writing full-time. You have a definite talent there. I look forward to reading more from you and your daughter too.
Kind regards,
Eliz.
Thanks Adeline I will tell Mother what you said
Best wishes
Chloe
I want to read Falling Leaves too but because its ment for adults my mother doesn’t really want me reading it if its not apropriate for a 13 year old what do you think Adeline
Dear Chloe,
It is suitable. Adeline
Dear Adeline
I am 13 nearly 14 I read Chinese Cinderella and I loved reading it!
Do you recomend me reading Maos Last Dancer or Falling Leaves
Someone please reply!
ps ialso read Chinese Cinderrella and Secret Dragon Society & Chinese Cinderella and Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting and I recomend people to read then too!
Chloe
I have recently read Chinese Cinderella. It was sad, but also honest. You have had a great deal of trouble in your life and I think it has made you into who you are today. I don’t really think you are badluck, I think things just happen without an explanation. I think ,even though you had alot of people against you, you weren’t alone. You always had Ye Ye and Aunt Baba. You are an inspiration. I would like to be an author one day, and hope to be as good as you. For you are truly amazing.
Dear Adeline Yen Mah, I am a student in the 8th grade in the Long Beach Unified school district and I am doing a history day los angeles project called “Bound Freedom” about how Chinese girls used to have to have their feet bound and how it effected them both physically and emotionally. I read your book Chinese Cinderella and was stunned by the fact that your grandmother Nai Nai had bound feet and that you had to help her wash her feet because it was to painful. I would REALLY like to interview you about your grandmother’s experience and how it effected you then and now. It would benefit my project greatly and i would truly appreciate your contribution. -Sincerely, Arianna
Dear Arianna, Thank you. Apologies but I am not able to meet you one on one for an interview. However, my daughter Ann Mah is doing a book event at Huntington Library, Pasadena, at 2.30pm on the afternoon of February 20th, 2010. Please ask your mom to drive you there and I will answer your questions. Good luck! Adeline
Dear Adeline, I just read Falling Leaves. I have a mother like your Niang. She doesn’t have your father’s money to use to manipulate her children but she manages it anyway. It took me a long time to withdraw from that relationship…I have seen her rearely for many years…in fact 2 meals over the last 9, and I am so grateful that I was able to do that for myself. I too wanted love and approval from a person who couldn’t give it. I too was beaten, and “thrown away,” kept separate from the rest of the family. I did not get an education but made my own way in the world. I’m not rich and I realize, though I’m now 60 I will probably never retire, but I know I am not in that crazymaking relationship anymore and I do not envy my sister who is still taking the abuse. I do not understand how you and your brothers and sister could have allowed yourselves to be manipulated the way you did. Why were you begging that woman to let you take care of her? Why would you want to rush to her side? You can’t get blood from a stone and you knew that? Was it the money? You had money. I didn’t mind that you paid your father’s medical bills because maybe it was repaying the money he paid for your education, but the reason you did it, to get their approval, it made me feel ill to read it because I know I was once in that mindset. You talked about the Chinese culture of filial respect, but you didn’t live in a family who’s members ever showed each other any respect. Why would you have kept going back to be punched in the gut over and over? I just don’t get it. I hope you will or have been to therapy to help you move past the pain of your terrible family experience. I know it helped me. I think you must go to a terapist who is not from your culture wso you can get outside your worldview and free yourself. I respect the effort it must have taken to write it all down, but I hope you’ve achieved self content.
Dear Abby, There is a lot of truth in what you say. Thank you for sharing. Adeline
i just wanted to tell you that you are a strong woman.i think no other oerson would of write this book like you did.i love the book (Chinese Cinderella).i surprised you did a extraodinary job. with love Briggi
I agree she is a stong woman
Hello, Adeline.
I just finished reading Chinese Cinderella. And yes, just like any other reader I am fascinated and touched by the book. It’s inspiring for those people living in despair.
Well, after I’ve read the book, I want to know how you look at things now, how you were able to go on after going to England. I’m so happy that you we’re able to, at least, escape the life you have lived.
May I ask, if you don’t mind, have you forgiven them? Because honestly, if I were in your place, I have gone insane. I don’t know what will I do. But, you, you were handle it very well and I’m really amazed on how you look things positively by going on instead of bothering to think things negatively.
I’m so happy to think that you were able to achieve success. I can’t imagine them treating you as if you were an outcast. And thinking that they’re chinese.. (well, you’re also one..) because I perceive that there are SOME chinese that are really, really bad, and please don’t get mad or enraged to me if I say that your father, Niang, your Sister and brothers (except for your third brother, Ye Ye, and of course, Aunt Baba.) are those SOME chinese that I’ve considered bad.
I felt the desire to see you and cry out of joy. Thank God for being so merciful and kind to you. Thank God for sending us an inspiration like you. I’m glad that, through those thousands and million of books sold worldwide, I was able to purchase your book.
I can’t wait to look for Falling leaves in the bookstore! hehehe.
I wish for your pure happiness and contentment. May God continue to shower you with what you need and want. Take care always and never cease to inspire us!
Joanna, from the Philippines.
Dear Ma;am,
my name is Alea Jubail from a far flung area in the Philippines called Jolo.. i am a young muslim girl (14 only) .. i love school and i love to read a lot. my mother doesn’t have a job while my father is a utility worker but this situation drives me more to study better. growing up in a place like Jolo is not fun at all, we do not have book store here and things like that.. my tita (aunt) sent me a copy of your your book called Chinese Cinderella..it made me cry and want to read and reread it. it makes me think of my tita (aunt) , my grandma (her mother) and my tita don’t talk with each other as far as i can reemmber for reasons i do not know. maybe that’s why she has a copy of your book coz its more parallel with her life.. i will start to save my school allowance and just eat little during school breaks so i can buy the FALLING LEAVES, it might take forever but i will surely save just to have that book and read. i love you and i love your books! my copy of chinese cinderelal is well taken care of.. this is the first real book i own, the books i have i just borrowed from school library..i sewed a chinese cotton cloth to wrap your book so i can keep it forever and reread it again and again!
i wish i can hear from u. pls write me back.
with love from my little hometown,
Alea
Dear Alea, Please believe that one single positive dream is more important than a thousand negative realities.
I wish you good luck. Adeline
thank u so much Ma’am Adeline… you made me more strong .. i will do better now and make my dreams come true .. love you !
Alea
Dear Ms. Yen Mah,
I was in 4th grade when I come across picking one of your book “Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society” in the library. When I read it, I didn’t dared to put it down. I really wanted to buy the book and tell my parents to buy it, but (I keep forgetting things) I couldn’t. Even so, I never forgot the book that I picked up in 4th grade.
Somewhere Dec.2009(Now I’m at 7th grade) I finally remember to tell my parents to buy that book for Christmas. But at Christmas Day, they got the wrong book,instead got “Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter” I know some people would be a little disappointed when they got the wrong present,but for some reason, I didn’t. I read it after I open it and loved it. I didn’t realized that was your sad childhood, but I soon found out and I was touched by your books.
Thanks for writing your painful childhood with us! I couldn’t imagine to be hated by my own family. You are strong and now I’m sure you are living a happy life, right? ;]
(I’m sorry if I have some errors in my sentences,I am bad at grammar, but I hope you’re understand what I’m talking about!)
Dear Adeline,
My name is Xiaodi. I just finished your book Chinese Cinderella last night. I couldn’t put the book down. I cried so much while reading it. It made me realize that you can do anything and succeed to anything even if you’re being treated unfairly. Your book inspired me in a lot of ways. So I stayed up late last night because I wanted to finish the book. I couldn’t put it down. I was reading in bed while crying.
Did you ever get in touch with Wu Chun-Mei after all those years?
What happened to Aunt Baba?
Well, I am going to go borrow Falling Leaves and Watching the tree soon because I really want to continue reading on about your life. Chinese Cinderella automatically played a movie in my head while reading.
Thank You for writing. You make me believe that anything is possible.
Adeline
Re-read a part of Falling Leaves today. Unbelievable what you had to go through, so much so that it’s hard to accept everything in it as fact. So much tragedy, and you swallowed it. I wish you had stood up to your step mother, dad and cowardly brothers. They deserve no less. Glad you’re happy now.
All the best
Roger
Dear Mrs Mah,
My name is Claire Chabrieres and I have had the pleasure to live for the last twenty months in the house 15, in ShangFang Garden, on 1285 HuaiHai Zhong lu.
We have had a truly fantastic time in your house and I wanted to thank you for that. I can only attach one picture to this message, but would happily share more with you, so you can see how it is those days, as I guess you have not seen the house for a while.
I wish you a happy new western year and with a bit of advance, a xin nian kuai le,
Yours sincerely,
Claire
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
your book ”falling leaves” was very touching, I have read it quite a few times as well as ”chinese cinderella”. The book brought many emotions from me. I was amazed how brave you were going against ”Niang” when she hit your younger sister. the problems that you faced in your childhood made me realise that you can solve your problems by trying. My friend and I would love are both 12 years old and would love to meet you and your daughter one day. Keep writing, your stories touch me. please reply back.
sincerely,
Katherine [ Tao Cheng En]
Dearest Adeline Yen Mah,
Hello! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Liew Chain Gin. Chinese – 刘倩祯. I am currently residing in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’ really inspires and has given me courage and determination. Before buying your book, I was having depression. My mom took me to Singapore to visit a psychiatrist to cure my sickness. During a visit to Popular Bookstore in a Singapore shopping mall, I bought ‘Chinese Cinderella’ to give it a try. I started to read and couldn’t put the book down! I finished the book in one day. I kept reading until the end. I cried when PLT was bitten by Jackie beacuse PLT was yor best friend and I was very angry when your stepmother treated you badly. During my depression period, I only read your book beacuse it was very touching. When I have finished ‘Chinese Cinderella’, I wanted to read ‘Falling Leaves’. Sadly, the book wasn’t sold in Sandakan. So, Mom took me to Kota Kinabalu to buy your collections. I have several questions to ask you.
1. Why did your stepmother hate Susan? Wasn’t Susan her biological daughter?
Why did your stepmother favour Franklin more than Susan?
2. Did any of your siblings get to read your biography? If they did,what was their reaction after reading your biography?
3. How old were you when you started to pursue in medical degree?
I really hope you can answer my questions. By the way, I really, really want an autograph from you. You are my role model. I wish you best of luck in the future and please continue to write more wonderful stories!
Sincerely,
Chain Gin
Dear Ms 劉, Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
I just finished reading your book CHINESE CINDERELLA, which I throughly loved. It was very hard to put down. It is difficult to understand why we humans treat each other so harshly, however opression, abuse physical or verbal or non-verbal, has existed since adam and eve. Thank-you for your writing and sharing such a painful upbringing. I am anious to dive into “FALLING LEAVES”.
Dear Adeline,
I love your books very much.when ever i get spare time i read chinese cinderella or falling leaves.i read the two books millions of times already but i always feel intrigued.sometimes i want to feel like you and get in the mood so i lock myself in my roomand starve myself and read.Outside my mother always make me do my homework.Unlike you i hate going to school and working but like you i love reading.Thank you for writing Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves
Weijin Min(11 yrs old)
hey heres my website huge fan u inspired me.thank u so much
Dear Adeline,
I am half way through reading Falling Leaves and I have recently (last year…) finshed reading Chinese Cinderalla. I am very glad to have found these books and you as and auther as I am truly interested in reading them. I belive many others hearts have been touched by your moving descriptions. I would love to read more of your books but my library has not got them in stock just yet! It would also be an houner to meet you in person! But here I am all the way in NZ (hahaha). I look foward to reading more books of yours!
Have a great new year and wishing you the best for 2010!
Hi Adeline!
I read your book, Falling Leaves, for my final Grade 10 English assignment and I loved it and I could hardly put it down! Your story is so inspirational and motivating and I have suggested it to some of my friends that I believe would appreciate it as much as I have. I found this book in my local library in Whitby, Ontario (about 15-20 minutes outside of Toronto). I was very surprised to read that your brother Gregory had moved to Canada. It’s not a bad thing, Canada is a beautiful country and offers a lot of possibilities but it’s not everyday that you hear of some one moving to Canada, it’s usually the U.S. or England.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your book and that you are a very strong and inpirational woman and I truly appreciate this adventure through your life.
Thank you very much!
(I will keep my eye out for your other book, Chinese Cinderella and I’ll be sure to read it, if I find it!)
hi. your book Chinese Cinderella has given me courage. It’s sad how your Niang treated you like that. Thank you for sharing your life and helping us know we are not alone.
Hey Adeline,
I am 13 and live in Omaha, Nebraska. I have read your book chinese cinderella and i have a few questions about it. They may be questions you have heard a million times but I will still ask them because i found your stories very insperational and sad. The first question it: when your parents told you you were not allowed to stay with they, did you ever think about running away to your best freind a school’s house? When i was reading I thought you should have done that and I just awanted to know if you thought about it ever. The secound question is: Why did YeYe never stand up to your step mother? I would think the elders would be in charge and not her.
Dear Meg, Good questions. Yes! I dreamt of running away many times. Each time I decided that the way to escape was not to run away but to study as hard as I coul so I would be able to acquire a skill to support myself and prove my worth to eveyone.
Your second question is excellent also. Unfortunately, many men are dominated by their wives. My father was under the influence of my stepmother and chose her over his own father (my Ye Ye).
Adeline
Dearest Adeline Yen Mah,
I like books but I hardly have anytime for them. I go to a private school
in England, London. It is very hard for me to make time for books as I have loads of homework. When I say loads you woloud not understand how much. We have a piece of homework for every subject we have in the day. I cant really believe I am writing a book to a famous author. Unlike many other authors you don’t write comedy storys, or love, fantasy, or thriller. You write about real stories and about your experience in life. The letter I am writing you know is really quite tricky because you are an intilligent writer and i want to make word the correct spelling, every sentance making sence and every few lines readable. In life I want to be succesful. I feel dump, stupid, and unclever in maths and science. This is because I am not good at these subjects and eveyone else in my classes are exellent. I don’t know how to improve. I think this is because I went to an ordinary school up to year 2 then my parents put me into private school who already knew heaps more than me. Unlike you I got dissapointing results in Year 7 beginning of the year tests. I am in year 7 and i really want to become a barraster. I have plans I want to marry a rich man, live in Beverly Hills, be rich, Become succesful and well-known, have a clthing range for barrasters and have children. I am not intelligent and have been put in the bottom group in maths. Everyone goes on about how high their marks were. The girls in Geography there are 2 inparicualar which are naughty, rude, always chatting, and never listening got s better score than me. I feel Dumb. Anyway more about you, i would just like to say i Loved your book Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter. It touched my heart and i read all of it in 3 days which is pretty good for me. I will not waste your time and write a long message/comment.
Thank you i loved the way you expresses the secret life and identity of whom you prefered not to share when you were younger. While you described/wrote about your life i imagined it and felt it. I felt your pain, anger, sadness, and wanting to much to want your father to love you.
Dear Anonymous, Read as much as you can. Believe in yourself! Adeline
Thank you!
You have given me belief and courage
Dear Ye Xian,
Your books are really the best books ever! I’ve read many books before, none have ever interested me, except yours! I have read chinese cinderella and chinese cinderella and the secret dragon society and now and reading Chinese cinderella the mistery of the Song Dynasty Painting. I’ve done some research and i found a picture of the American Pilots. I can’t wait to finish this book! I’m going to start reading once i’m done, falling leaves. I cried when i read about your aunt baba dying, did she really die from the japanese? I love your books and you are my role model,! Adeline Yen Mah you are the greatest writer in worlds history. Your stories are touching and i just hope that YOU will write back to my email adress, theres nothing i’d want more! Please Adeline, thankyou very dearly,!
Love Rie,
I just finished reading Falling Leaves and Chinese Cinderella. I so admire your strength, perservance, and good nature. You have overcome much. My family adopted two Chinese orphans so I have been reading a lot of autobiographies trying to get an understanding of the culture. I admire the human spirit of those who survived relocations and serving in primitive rural areas in the Red Army. I will be forever tied to China! We love these two children as our own and hope they will grow up to count their blessings.
I recently read that the book Falling Leaves by Dr Adeline Yen Mah has been turned into a play script and the script reading was done in November 2009.
I love this book and also I am into theater and have been performing plays here in Phoenix AZ. I would love to get the script for this play if it is available. I would love to translate it in Marathi which is an Indian Language, with the permission of the Dr Mah as well as who has written the script.
I would really appreciate a response from you.
If this is not the right email address to do this inquiry then please let me know whom should I contact.
Please do not post this message on your website.
Thanks ,
Shilpa Kelkar
Thank you for your interest. The play is being developed and is not ready for general release at present.
Adeline
I just finished reading Falling Leaves. Found it looking for personal accounts regarding the Cultural Revolution. Falling Leaves is a rich and powerful gem. Now reading China – Land of Dragons and Emperors. Will anxiously await your new book.
Hey Adeline
I just wanted to say, your books made me cry (Falling Leaves and Chinese Cinderella). They were so sad!
But it looks like you pulled through and you’re famous too! And I bet you show all the love in the world to your own son now. But it was SO sad how your Niang mistreated you and your siblings, ESPECIALLY you and Susan! I can’t believe how she treated Susan and Franklin!! She was SO nice to Franklin, but she was SO incredibliy mean and harsh to Susan! Susan and you were actually REALLY alike!
But anyway, I just wanted to know, did you ever get to see a picture of your real mother?
I loved your book so much. I’d like to ask without offending or upseting you
id you really have a ducking called PLT?
Dear Rebecca,
This is the best way to reply to you. Yes! I did really have a duckling called PLT. Everything in Chinese Cinderella is true.
Adeline
your book chinese cinderella and the secret dragon society was moving and heroic. the way cc had to find a place to stay all by herself and how she saved the american soldiers, its unbeliveable how a little girl could have an impact on so many people. even though im only 15 years old, i myself am writing a fictional novel for young adults based on the tragedy of the titanic sinking and other shipwrecks 20 years after the titanic that are all linked together somehow. you were my inspiration and i’ll never forget you.
Great post! love this blog
Dear Adeline,喜從英國 Its a great thrill to write to you!
I have just finished Falling Leaves that I was given as part of a college assignment to read over the Christmas Holidays. I didn’t know what to expect as I had not read a book like this before. It really, really moved me and I could picture in my head all the incidents of abuse and neglect that you suffered. All that you needed was love and acceptance, that I was relived you found in Bob. Your relationship with BaBa was so touching, I am sure you wont forget her kind words and gentle nature. I volunteer for a child bereavement charity here in the UK that encourages a bond with the dead family member, so when you said that you had never even seen a photo of your mum my blood went cold! Thank you for sharing what must have been painful to recall, the fact that you managed to is a true measure of what an amazing person you are.你和平 and have a great 2010, with love Ian x
P.S Hope that the Chinese was ok
Dear Ian, Thank you for your email. And for writing a few words in Chinese. Were those words automatically translated from English by the computer? Just curious. Adeline
Hey Adeline, Yes they were from Google translate, hope that you had a great New Year. My book report is due in soon, I will let you know how it goes! With love Ian
x
Hello Adeline,
I am a Malaysian engineer residing in Ipoh, Perak, West Malaysia
I have read both “The Chinese Cinderella” and “Falling Leaves”. Your resolve is remarkable! You were built with character right from birth. I admire your desire to read even when very young.
T am very curious what you wrote in the award winning play “Gone With The Locusts” in 1951 two years before I was born. Is it possible to extend a transcript of this play so that I can share it with my wife and children including my classmates in my Yahoo group?
I will be delighted not to be disappointed!
Have a wonderful evening!
Liew Sui Kum
Dear Liew Sui Kum, Thanks for writing. Unfortunately, the manuscript Gone With the Locusts is lost. However, I recently wrote a play based on Falling Leaves which had a staged reading (by professional actors) on November 17th, 2009 at the South Coast Repertory Theater in Costa Mesa. Performance was sold out. Keep tuned, as they say.
Happy New Year!
Adeline
happy new years 2010
Thanks for the interesting post. Happy New Years!!.
I’m really loving your posts, please keep them comming, Thank You.
Ni hao Adeline!
I LOVED Chinese Cinderella so much that I asked for one of my Christmas presents to be my own copy of Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves. A friend at school had recommended Chinese Cinderella to me.It was so cruel of that Niang to treat you in that way. I was so so sorry when you were the only one left at your school in Tianjin.I cried so much when PLT died. Your book was very touching and inspired me to write my own autobiography. Do you have any advice?
I learnt a bit of Mandarin at school and so I recognised some of the characters and words like jie jie, nai nai and ge ge.
Please reply
Hethvi
Dear Hethvi, Please write to me in Chinese next time. Good luck! Adeline
I am writing this note pertaining to my 13 year old daughter, Courtney.
Dear Courtney’s mother, Please encourage Courtney to keep reading and to study mandarin Chinese.
Adeline
Dear Adeline,
Thank you for replying to my earlier message. (Actually, it was the message sent by my mom.) I am really having fun learning about you and I have been inspired by your stories. I give my presentation in two weeks where I am to be “you.” I hope I can portray you and all the good you have done for people.
Sincerely,
Courtney Alliger
Dear Courtney, I am honored. Good luck on your presentation. Adeline
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I know you probably get many messages from many people declaring that your book, well one of your books, had deeply touched them and how wonderful it was to read your book well, this is one of them. As I was reading “Chinese Cinderella” I cried many times at the pain and sorrow you once went through. I found it terrible that your siblings would treat you with such disdain and cruel envy when really they should have just been happy for you even if they thought you were “bad luck”. Something that made me angry was your Niang and how she treated you with such disdain. Both my friend and I don’t understand why your father would just act on everything some woman says rather than analyze the truth for himself even if that woman happens to be his wife. Your story made me realize that though living in a highly Chinese influenced household (my grandmother is Chinese) may seem bad it was far worst before, with such over superstitious beliefs that because your mother fell ill and died after giving birth to you, you were bad luck. I am glad that in the end you finally got to go to England and win your fathers affections even if he may not have deserved to have such a hardworking daughter as you. And I also deeply pity the fact that you and your full-siblings were treated as second class people. I also apologize if I have offended you by speaking somewhat ill of your father, he seems like a good person who is just too busy and so just goes with what the wife says even if she is wicked, cruel, hypocritical, and arrogant. And another apology if I spoke ill of your siblings or stepmother not that your stepmother deserves any better that. I related to your story in more ways then I had first thought I would as a 13/14 year old girl growing up in an oriental Asian household with somewhat harsh adults.
hoping my message didn’t offend or annoy you,
Yes, I agree that your father didn’t deserve a daughter like you, you’re too good for him. I’m sorry for this. Maybe, I am just carried away by your story. hehehe.. I hope you would reply to my message, too. I’ll be really happy if you do.
Hi Adeline,
Just wanted to say that your story really inspires me and I would like to be more like you when I am older.
One question,
Have you gone in touch with Aunt Reine’s children?
I would love if you would reply but I know you probably won’t since you are very busy.
Really love your books,
Sean
wooow i luv ur books and let me tell u u are like mai hero or role model cause suppousily ur stories are true and i have to ask u a question were u really and unwanted daughter?
Dear Miss Adeline,
Your books are very nice to read. I enjoy to write, but every time I write my compositions, they are quite good, but sometime, my imagination gets the best of myself and I would write very unnatural things. I also didn’t keep a diary since I’m too lazy, a trait I attempt to change. Not only that, I was rather unsocial, always having no friends at my side, therefore it attracts bullies often. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t change. I was even scolded by my school counsellor, after hearing my classmate’s witness of me being rather mean then nice. I have a bad temper too. I used to think that I wish I could die this moment. But I don’t think that way anymore. The reason was I’m addicted to anime, and I know that suicide is not an option at all. Anime was so fun, being my alternative to books since I rarely go to the library. (But my Chinese is a downgrading failure…)
The first book I read written by you was Chinese Cinderella. I came upon the book when I was asked to take six free books among the many books they had for financial assistance students some time after PSLE. What awaited me was not some random book, but a touching story of a unwanted daughter. I immediately read your book after I got back to class.
When I read about the part of your pet duck, I shed a tear, and someone asked me what’s wrong. I just replied, nothing. It was the first book to make me almost cry. Niang is too cruel! For the other two books, Chinese Cinderella and the Dragon Society along with the Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting, I finished each of them in six hours. They were very nice, and I like fantasy stories a lot that I enjoy typing them quietly in my computer.
Although I don’t expect an reply from you, I also hope you would make a story for bullied children. I just wanted to stand up by myself, proving that I’m not a person that would fall down. I also decided to draw something for you.
I’m sorry if it looked terrible and too big, but I really had no idea how does the uniform look like and tried to make it look nice.
Thank you for bringing many stories that would be loved by everyone.
Yours Sincerely,
Ya Hui
PS:Were your siblings angry at you for publishing your books? I hope they weren’t.
Dear Ya Hui, Thank you for writing to me. I also like your drawings. Adeline
I just finished Falling Leaves. I touched me very deeply. I felt pain at your desire for family that remained unfulfilled for so long. You are a wise and centered woman. I much admire the fact that you overcame such adversity to build a whole life for yourself. Kudos!
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I am a teacher in Salt Lake City, Utah. I teach inner-city high school students and I thought that your story might bring hope to at least one of their lives. I started reading “Chinese Cinderella” about a year ago, but gave it to one of my students before I finished as a graduation “gift.” I finally came across another copy and bought it immediately a few days ago.
I just wanted to take the time to thank you for writing such a beautiful memoir.
Dear Janet, Thank you and visit often. Keep in touch. Adeline
Hello Adeline
I read your touching, inspiring autobiography, Chinese Cinderella, a few months ago, when I was ten. I am eleven now. I must say, the story of your childhood truly touched me.
When I first laid my hands on it, I could not put it down. You pulled me into your world. I felt as if I were your friend, and I felt as if I knew what you were going through. I wished I was there at that time for you, so that I could have been your friend. It would have made me tremendously proud to have such a great friend as you!
I was filled with sorrow for you, as I read your story. I felt your pain, although yours must have been deeper. I felt your happiness when you were with PLT, and your sadness when she tragically died. I felt your feeling of being unwanted, although your must have been much deeper, and how you were delighted that you were to be a border in Sacred Heart school instead of an unwanted daughter in the orphanage. I only wish I was there to comfort you as you went through the most lonely days of your life.
You are a truly amazing person. Your kindheartedness and generosity and good nature was always there; the way you were tormented and ill-treated made me feel very sorry for you. You were always made to feel unwanted and not special, but you were indeed the most wonderful in your family.
I admire you very much indeed. You are one to be looked up to, not looked down upon, as your family did to you. I am sorry that you have not been able to see your friend Wu Chun-mei; I feel the same way, because my family has traveled a lot, and I must always leave the friends I make and the place where I feel at home. Many of my good friends I have never been able to see for a very long time. But we are now in Canada. I am from Canada, and have lived there for most of my life. But I yearn to visit China, and I yearn to be a writer, for I love to write very much, and have five times won writing competitions. Do you think I could be a good writer?
I hope I shall be able to read Falling Leaves.
I wish you best of luck in the future; and please continue to write more wonderful stories!
Sincerely,
Haleema
Adeline your story chinese cinderella inspired me to write my own books. I couldn’t put the book down when I was reading it. I was eleven when I read chinese cinderella. I bought Falling leaves about a week ago. ( I’m twelve now). I sometimes have the feeling of being unwanted… i have written books to keep my mind off that. Thank You for inspiring me to chase my dream.
dear adeline. i was so inspired by “falling leaves” that i can’t stop myself from writing you a letter before even finishing it. thank you for sharing your life with us. god has truly blessed you in a number of ways because you have such a pure and good heart. may you and your family have good health and happiness all the days of your life. i can’t wait to read chinese cinderella.
from the philippines, the pearl of the orient
pia
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
Ni hao! My name is Katie. I read Chinese Cinderella, a book that a friend had recommended to me. It was so entrancing that I just could not put it down and I felt as if I was there, feeling all Niang’s slaps and feeling happy when you won the writing competition and the election for head girl at Sheng Xin Primary school. In year five, we learnt a little bit of Mandarin and I recognised some of the characters and the words in Chinese. I am a great admirer of you.
Wo xi huan Chinese Ciderella!Xie xie for writing that Choinese Cinderella and I am going to read Falling Leaves as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
Katie
Dear Adeline,
Your book is one of the most heart-breaking, tragic, and beautiful stories I’ve read so far. This year I needed to read an autobiography for my 7th grade langue arts class. I thought it would be boring and I would have a hard time reading it, but I really enjoyed the book. It made me realize that I should be extra grateful to have a loving home.
I wanted to slap Niang and cried when Ye Ye died. Your story is so inspirational that it makes me want to write my own story. Do you have any advice?
Thank you, Cindy Chen
Dear Cindy, Please keep a diary. Adeline
Dear Adeline
I found your book “Falling Leaves” in my Mom’s study – it was left behind by my sister, who now lives in London. Yesterday I desperately wanted to read a good book, and thought perhaps “Falling Leaves” would be just the right book. I started reading it at 9am and finished reading it this evening… I just couldn’t put it down. You are such an incredible person and I admire you so much. I too come from a larg family – there are four of us, three sisters (I am the oldest) and my brother who is older than I am. My heart just broke when I read what you had to endure with your siblings — but the saddest thing, was the apparant breakdown in your relationship with your Dad, caused by the wicked ways of Naing. Adeline, I truly believe your Dad loved you deeply – but couldn’t show you because of the interference from Niang. His REAL will proves this. YOU TRIUMPHED OVER SUCH TERRIBLE ODDS AGAINST YOU. You are the true winner, with a heart of gold. I was so happy to read about your wonderful love – Bob. What a blessing! He really stuck by you through the tough times (Niang’s will and more). He is a Godsend — sent to you by your Angels – because your heart is so pure and deserving. You are such an inspiration Adeline! May God bless you and shower you with years and years of true happiness and good health. As far as material wealth is concerned, that is secondry – you have so much REAL wealth… who could put a pricetag on your heart of gold? I wish I could adequately describe how your book touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your life, to date, with the world in this book. Your Dad IS proud of you… I believe he’s with you everyday, smiling beside you as he sees your every triumph!
Dear Juliet,
Thank you.
Adeline
i just read your book ‘chinese cinderella’ because of my book list next year
i loved it it was so touching and i just felt like killing niang.
falling leaves..great book was a requirement for us in 10th grade and now almost 10yrs later i re-read it again, inspiring…i have a question though…did you keep niangs flat since james offered it? taken him to court would have been niangs doing from beyond the grave but your father did want to give you something. I think you were his favorite after your play was published in the paper.
[...] ”Hi adeline i read your first book and i loved it i started crying in one of my classes because what happen to you. my parents are divorced and i love reading. do you have any advice on writing a story?
Please keep a diary and write in it every day. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
Hi, my name is Charlotte Makala, I’m a Tanzanian mass communication student studying in Malaysia.
I just wanted to write to you to thank you for sharing your story: Chinese Cinderella. Unfortunately I have not stumbled upon the sequel.
I read your book years ago when I was still a young teenager, I remember being so moved and touched that I too wanted to be an author and write an autobiography. I am currently in the process of writing, but I just couldn’t go on without acknowledging where my dream began, years ago.
The decision to write an autobiography I feel is a very personal one and must have required the summoning of great strength. I just wanted to express my thanks and let you know that your words have inspired and uplifted many including myself, thank you for being part of the birth of a new author and book. I wish you all the best in your career and life. If there are anywords of wisdom you wish to impart on me about writing, i hope you may contact me.I just wanted to send you this as token of my thanks and gratitude. Sometimes words don’t quite cut it when it comes to saying things like : Thank you and I’m sorry.
But I just wanted to let you know that you are an inspiration to me. Thank you so much for sharing your life and uplifting many. I in turn wish to do the same.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours, Charlotte Makala.
Dear Charlotte, Thank you. I wish you success. Keep in touch and write to me from time to time. Adeline
親愛的馬大夫，
謝謝您給我的留言回覆，我了解您平常忙碌的生活作息，因此更加感恩您抽空看留言。我不住在加州，所以沒機會去參加您大作的促銷活動。希望往後能夠有認識您本尊的榮幸。
祝聖誕快樂！
With love, Hope
Dear Adeline,
I am reading your book , and it’s amzing. I am a Chinese girl from Tianjin. So when I picked up your book in the library occasionally, I become interested in the author and the content of the book.
I will continue my reading and I found it become more interesting. By the way, on page 10, I think there is a missing about the Pinyin of color Green.
Thank you for giving us the amazing book and I believe many people will know Chinese history very well through it.
All the best,
Monda
親愛的馬大夫，
在拜讀了您的大作“落葉歸根”之後，我很感動，也很敬佩您心靈深處那股堅毅不拔的意志力。謝謝您與全世界的讀者分享您的故事。我了解，來自您的童年背景，要提筆寫出幼時的回憶，是極度痛苦的心理折磨，願 神祝福您和您的家人。
在下同樣也有中國血統，與美國夫婿共同建立了一個美滿快樂的家庭。我的童年與您的雷同（也因此在拜讀您的大作時，常心有戚戚焉地熱淚盈眶），已經有數年了，我一直想為孩子和未來的後代子孫寫下一本自傳，讓他們能夠認識並了解我的中國傳承。這是一項十分艱鉅的方案，我的英文尚未達到能夠自由順暢寫出內心感受的程度，但我會努力的。
謝謝您費時，費神地看我這篇留言。願 您在生活裡能常有來自主裡的平安和喜悅。
Dear Hope, 謝 謝! 馬 嚴 君 玲 Adeline Yen Mah
Hi Adeline,
I am 11 years old and I read chinese cinderella. I find it impossible that any one can be as creul and mean as your siblings and parents! I felt like slapping Niang when she did all those horrible things to you. I felt like crying when those horrible things happened to you. When you discribed PLT I felt like having my own pet duck, he was your best friend only to be taken away from you. I had several pets taken away from me when I was young. You have been able to cope where I feel I would have failed you are truly an amazing women. It makes me see what a fortunate girl I am to have a loving family who care for me and lovly teachers etc. I want to read falling leaves and I hope I will get it for christmas (If my non identical twin does not get it first.)
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with the world who have much sympathy for you (especially me!!)
Zoe
hello Adeline!.I have just read one of your answers and it saddened me to know that you’ve never seen Wu Chun-mei. She was such a nice girl. I have one friend of mine whom I considered as the Wu Chun-mei of my life. Truly, I am not really close to our classmates because they have different interests with mine and with her I share my likes and interests with her and I love her. I think without her my school life would be such a bore. But still I trying to be friends with them even though it is really hard to be with them.
Sometimes when I study I just think of what have Ye Ye had said to you that I could be whoever I want to be if I will just set it in my mind and focus. It also made me realize some things in life.
The only thing that I could really say to you is I won’t forget you in my whole life.
I will also pray for you always that you may be happy forever.
Your novel Chinese Cinderella was very inspirational. Although I don’t have anything exciting to talk about and any good reason to contact Miss Adeline but I felt a strong connection when I was reading this book. Since I’ve had real bad depression since young childhood and my mother abandoned me I’ve never quite been like other kids and although I receive anything and everthing I want or need Im very lonley and theres nothing I can do about it. I feel like I relate to you because of that lonliness and how Im a top student that has not necessarily been admired for exellence in school but somewhat noticed. It’s interesting that you studied english in china and very much wanted to leave and I’m studing chinese in american and very much want to leave here. Also I i like to write and quite a few people have told me my writings are good, and I want to go somewhere with them. I want to write books about china or my lonliness as well. Ive written a short story for an assignment and i want to submit it to my schools literary magazine, do you think i should do that? Im not quite sure because it involves lonliness and japanese culture that people are very unfamiliar with and everyone has viewed me differently for my knowledge and intrest in asian cultures.
Honestly I don’t know I you’ll respond. It’s so hard to trust the internet but I do wish that you’ll read it and respond。谢谢您。
Ps I was wondering that if Chinese Cinderella was in traditional chinese because ican read most of the chinese characters but not all of them that should be familiar.
Dear Ashley, I commend you for your interest in Asian language and culture. Please continue to pursue your goals. Adeline
i am sooo sorry to both kathyy and adeline. i just wanted tooo knoww from adeline, what were your biggest trials? its for a boook reportt and i am dieing to know.
and adeline and kathyy…
i wish you BOTH goodluck:)
and i cant imagine how hard it was to be unloved.
againn, very sorry and good luck:)
ohh i loved your book soo much niang was not soo nice though but your book was awesome i read it in the 7th grade too bee suprised it showed up on my exams but your book i loved it
Hi adeline i read your first book and i loved it i started crying in one of my classes because what happen to you. my parents are divorced and i love reading. do you have any advice on writing a story – amber
Dear Amber, Keep a diary and read as many books as you can. Adeline
Adeline. Just loved your book. balled my eyes out for the last half. you always know you have good book when it can make you cry. I also have the utmost respect for you. Your book was so touching, came upon it by accident and couldnt put it down, finished it in one day. Just wanted to say that your story is sooo inspiring. i cant imagine not knowing when your birthday was. Do you still keep your fathers birthdate or did you find out what yours was? i felt deeply for your Ye Ye so sorry he passed when you were so young. xoxx please keep writing!
Dear Adeline,
Hi, I’m Sheila and I’m one of your fans. I just wanting to let you know that these stories that you wrote and published was like the story of The Climb.Also, I felt very sorry that you never knew your dead mother which made your family think you’re a bad luck (which I don’t think you are).
And also I would like to thank you about the biography that you publish and those biographies made me want to cry.
Thank you again for telling the world about your biography but I felt sorry at the same time because of the torture that you’ve went in for a long time.
Sincerely
Sheila
Dear Adeline,
Read your “一字千金” book (Thousand Piece of Gold)
Very educational and inspirational to me whose parents are in the same position as you.
Wondering if there is Chinese version of your book so my father can read it.
It will help him to strengthen up against all odd; Just like you.
If not, is there any recommendation?
Mike, I translated Falling Leaves into Chinese and it was published by China Times in Taiwan. Title is 落葉歸根and my Chinese name is 馬嚴君玲. May be available in book stores in Taiwan and Hongkong. Thanks. Adeline
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Mike.
Adeline,
i have only read one book. but it was amazing. i have a couple of questions.
1.how did you stay so strong through those times
2. do you miss your friend Wu Chun-mei
3.what was PLT like
4.how did you feel when your father said he was proud of you for writing that story and getting it published
5. were you ever scared of feeling like no one cared for sometimes
your story truly touches my heart. you are a very amazing person. i had to do a book report on an story of someone and i got 12 kids from my class to go out and buy Chinese Cinderella in 4 days.
Yes! I miss my friend Wu Chun-mei. Unfortunately, I never saw her again. Adeline
Hello Adeline,
I Have read Chinese Cinderella as well as falling leaves. I would like know if there are any stories your aunt baba or your grandfather ye ye told you as a child that you could publish or tell, like about their life experience. I was also wondering if you would ever be in the San Diego area for a book signing. Meeting you in person would mean an great deal to me, just to be in your presence would be an honor.
truly an honor to write,
Marco
Chinese Cinderella was amazing, and I hope to read this “Falling Leaves” I’ve heard so much about.
Your life was hard, and you were so strong, much stronger than I can ever hope to be. Thank you, Adeline, for writing such an amazing book that truly touched me.
I come from a very loving family, but like everyone else in the world have shared a handful of hardships in my life, and as any other human,I have things I regret, but I can not even begin to imagine what you went through, and what you felt.
Being sixteen, I have a long life still a head of me, and dreams to pursue, I have no reason to fail, or to have my ambitions burned..so long as I work hard, you’ve thought me, anything, anything is possible no matter the circumstances.
I only wish I was smart enough to write exactly how I feel, or somehow show my utmost respect for you, and now I see I can almost look up to you. When things get hard, I do believe I will look to you as an inspiration and stay strong, because you did, and I have no reason to ever give up.
Thank you, Adeline.
Hi,
I just had a couple of questions for Adeline:
1. Should the audience consider Falling Leaves as an autobiography or a novel? Is Chinese Cinderella a diary?
2. Did you write Chinese Cinderella or Falling Leaves first?
3. Is the target audience for both different, and if so, does it affect the content and your writing style?
Jessica, Both books are autobiographies. Falling Leaves was published first.
Adeline
Thanks so much,
Jessica
Hello Mrs Adeline,
sorry for asking you so amny things but could you please send me a list of when, why, what, and where you won the medal, cetificate, etc.
Thankyoyu so much.
from your #1 fan, Dalina xoxoxo
Apologies. No time. Thanks for writing. Adeline
could you please tell me which was your favorite medal and why?
ThankYOU SOOO MUCH!
My favorite medals were the ones I got in kindergarden.
Adeline
hi!.I’m here again writing in you website. It really makes me happy whenever I write to you. whenever I am in school I always think of how you were able to succeed despite of everything negative around you and it helps me to study harder. I know God has a purpose of making me live in such a beautiful world and also the beautiful people around me that makes me strong in every battle that I face in my life. i know I am young and has nothing to be proud of myself but someday like you said that I could prove my worth in this world despite of the thousands of negative realities. i always share that to the people around me that feel weakened because of it and happy to know that it helps them a lot. thank you Adeline. thank you so much. I hope that I could be as good as you when I became a writer as the time comes. gambette kudasai!^-^
Dear Mrs. Mah,
I just wanted to thank you so much for writing your books. They have really touched me and I think you empower you girls who are unwanted daughters too. The pain you went through is unimaginable to me, but the strength you posess is remarkable. Your books have made me think about the world in a different light. I would like to congragulate you on your success.
Sincerely,
Shannon H.
have you won any awards? If so, when?
Can you reply a.s.a.p.!
thank you so much
love from dalina
Answer is Yes. Adeline
adeline i like your book.The book is sad but at the same time is cool and i don’t think your mom die because of you. i crie alot when i read your book it’s so emotionally. thank you for sharing the book about your life to alot of people i like your name
hello adeline,
i loved your book so much that i came to your web site to ask some questions!
what were you feeling when you were pushed away from all your family and sent to a bording school
are you doing any book signings in scotland around the fife area because i would love to meet you in person i told my friends about this book chinese cinderella and they say the all want to get the book your niang sounded cruel do you ever wonder what your dads hidden will says because i do your book is one of the best books i have ever read
chloe mccormick
hello adeline i just lately finished your book chinese cinderella i found it really intresting but sad at the same time i am chloe and i am aged 11 and i think your book is one of my most favirote books i am now asking my mother for some of your other books you have wrote i have so many questions to ask about you i know i can’t fit them all into this measage my favirote part was the end bit when your aunt ba ba sent you a letter it was the greatest book of all time but also the sadest
*** chloe mccormick ***
love your book
Hi, i’m writing again on behalf of Singapore Book Council to invite Adeline and her daughter as a key speaker to our Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) on 6 to 9 may 2010.
Dear Adeline,
I love your book it touches my heart like an angel. Your book taught me so many things about life. Do you have any children? and one more question besides the signing in February when do you think the next one will be?
Thanks for writing. Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Adeline your story has truly touched my heart in a way i cannot describe im only 17 years old and chinese cinderella was given to me as gift from a family friend who happend to be adoping a little chinese girl at the time in 2005 i have just finished reading it for the third time as now ive been able to understand it alot better within age. how cruel some human beings are. during the time of reading your childhood story i felt your pain when you were hurt i smiled when it sounded like you were happy and i felt wholeheartly proud when you acheieved and excelled in your school work. there was one part that especailly made me hate your family and i cried alot when i read your brother had picked PLT (precious little tresure) for a test to jackie’s obedience. i know exactly how it feels to have something so specail taken from you. i admire you immensly, you had the courage to carry on even though you had no clue who you were or what would become of you in the future. i want to thank you, you give me hope to carry on with my own life and so far im a qualified year1 hairdresser in newzealand, i wish i was there for you in your younger days adeline il never ever forget what you went through. you have succeced so well in your life and i believe if you didnt have the loving companionship of your Aunt baba and grandfather godbless him,life may hav been alot more different for you in a worse possible way i dont dare wish upon not evn my worst enemey. im about to start reading the secret dragon society i can already imagine how creative it will be and im hoping my mum will buy me falling leaves for christmas. thankyou for your inspiration and kind heartdness to share your story with the world.
Dear Katie, Thank you. It means a lot to me to receive emails such as yours. Adeline
Adeline,Your story was incredibly powerful. My teacher read it to us. I cried when Wu chun mei came to your house after you be came class president. Keep on writing because I want more!!!:-)
Hi i am Kristina and i want to ask you some questions please? I was adopted from Russia and i know how it feels to be lonly and i was adopted when i was 7 years old. I loved yur book but it was so sad to think of what you went through. I read it over and over because i loved it so much. Are you sad all the time? Does your dad love you still i know that it is a personal question but can you tell me please. i hope we can still keeep in contact to gether andi am so sorry of what happened.
Dear Kristina, No, I am not sad all the time. Most of the time, I am happy. Please keep in touch and write to me from time to time on my website. When you are older, please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Adeline,
I love your book Chinese Cinderella. It was deep and it really got to me. I felt so bad for you with the way Naiang treated you. I don’t think that you deserved that. And it really was sad the way your father did nothing about it. He even forgot your birthday. But it was sweet and noble of him to give you his. But I don’t think that just because you stood up for your half sister because she was so little and getting beat that Naiang should hate you. I can see where she would be offened but the way she treated you it just wasn’t right. And Aunt Baba the whole time you were away from her and your grandfather while you were at boarding school how did you feel? Like what were your emotions? I know you went through rough patched all your life but you always got through them. It was like insperation. And all the unwanted children will thank you for that.
Thanks for everything
Kimiko Mae
Dear Aunt Adeline,
I am 27 and I just finished reading your book today for the first time. Your story touched my heart to the core and I felt sick reading what your stepmom did to you.
Each time you went quiet and didn’t do something because you were to scared of them I feel like crying + screaming at the same time.
I’m wondering since Chun-mei’s house is near to your house why didn’t you ask Aunt Baba to find her and explain to her that you are gone? Or was it a taboo back then to talk about bad (albeit it’s the truth) about your family? Because if I am Chun-mei I would be really really really sad and filled with anguish if I didn’t get to say goodbye to a very dear friend like you.
I am not someone with a golden heart like you so I highly doubt I’ll be forgiving to the people who messed up my childhood like that. It is great that you achieve success despite all the traumatic experience.
This book should be made a movie and I’ll definitely go and watch! (and that is really something since i’m not really a fan of period dramas).
I wish you well Aunt Adeline. I hope your books will keep on inspiring many many children and adults. Thank you for writing Chinese Cinderella.
Love from MALAYSIA,
Azah
Hi Adeline,
It’s Dalina again, I’m still working on my author studie and i would like to know, who is that girl whos picture is on most covers of your books, is it you or some random girl?
I’d really like to know! And if you can give me anyother information that i could use, please include it!
Please reply a.s.a.p. YOU ROCK!
Dalina, That was how I looked when I was ten years old. Adeline
From Dalina Thach.
THANK YOU SOO MUCH.
Dr Mah. I just finished reading your book, “Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society” for my Literature for Children and Adolescence class. I found it to be a great adventure with good history. But I wanted to discuss with you the religious philosophy of the book, especially in the last chapter. You mention the Toa of Heaven; you say we should not name God; you say that all religions are basically the same, and that they all lead to heaven. These things are not true. Real Christianity is the only religion that is right. In fact, it is not actually a religion, but a relationship with God. Jesus Christ did not say, “All ways lead to the Father (God the Fathe in Heaven).” John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (New King James Version, et al). not the last three words: “…Except through me.” If you want to get to heaven, you must believe that Jesus is God and died on the cross for your sins (sin is the breaking of God’s law). Let me tell you know how Christianity is different: In all other religions the follower has to do so many good works to get to heaven. In the Bible (The ultimate source of truth), God tells us that we cannot do enough to earn entrance to heaven. That’s why Jesus came and died, to pay for our sins so we could enter heaven. Proof that He is God is that He rose from the dead. You would say that I cannot prove that He did this. That is true. The apostle Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through FAITH, and that NOT of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). You cannot earn your way into heaven, and you cannot prove Jesus physically, but must have faith in what the Bible says about Him. Then YOu will get to heaven. You probably think too that Bible believing Christianity promotes hate. But 1 John 4:8 says,” He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” And we want peace on earth, too, we just know that man is too evil to achieve it himself. Peace on earth will come when Jesus returns to rule,”And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). You, and everyone else who ever lived will stand one day before the God of this universe. I pray that it will be a day of joy for you. That you will be able to join the multitudes who believed in Jesus while still on earth. “And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals;For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation…” (Revelation 5:9). If you believe in Jesus you will be one of those from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation that will worship God in Heaven. May it be so! I will leave you with these words of encouragement, “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31). Today is your day of salvation. Believe in Jesus; you don’t have to be perfect, just come as you are. He is waiting with arms wide open!!
Dear Daniel, Thank you for your comments. I respect your Christian beliefs. But I also respect the religious beliefs of those who are not Christians. Adeline
hello Adeline,
i love your books, especially Chinese Cinderella. I cant believe what you endured when you were little. Niang was so harsh. i just have two questions…is there still the secret dragon society of wandering knights? and will you ever come to Sydney (Australia) to do book signing? I would love it if you came here, and so would a lot of other people.
You are truely an inspiring person
From Emma
Dear Emma, Thank you. CC and the Secret Dragon Society is a fictional story. Chinese Cinderella is my autobiography. I want to be sure you know this. Adeline
hi my name is Bree and im doing a biography on you for my school. I was wondering if you can tell me a little more on your life. like what you did as you got older or how how you felt living with our family. any thing at all would be fine.
-Bree
Dear Bree, Please read Falling Leaves.
Adeline
.hello Yen Jun-ling!.I always wanted to have your books. Now I am saving every single pence in my wallet so that someday I could buy your falling leaves. I did scan your book in the bookstore and I am so thrilled that that book is thrice as beautiful as your Chinese Cinderella. I am just hoping that your book there won’t be out of stacked because the last time I saw it it was only I think 25 copies. I wish I could have my very own falling leaves. And I am praying to God to have that as a Christmas gift. I am going to treasure that until the rest of my life. If I’d be so lucky to be a successful writer someday I would put all the books that inspired me to become one.
By the way, I have one question. are you still seeing Wu Chun-mei? I am pretending my friend as Wu Chun-mei but she doesn’t know that I love her am afraid of losing again as good as her for all my life my friends had been gone and left me all alone I know they are happy with their new friends but I hope that they on’t forget me and it is so painful to know that they have forgotten me. but still i treasure them with my whole heart. T-T
hello i am madeleine i like being called maddie as a sort of nickname i am 10years old and i am reading Chinease Cinderela and the secret dragon society.
i LOVE it and i was wondering if you were signing any books soon please i have always wanted to meet you.
Dear Madeleine, Where do you live? I will be signing books in Laguna Beach Books on February 18th with my daughter. Adeline
Hello i have read all of your books. My friends parents keep having arguments and her sister,brother and her are always crying can you give any advise?
love from madeleine dawson xxx
im a huge fan of your books are you planning on writting another one
dear adeline i was just wondering what issues are important to you? thank you very much.
Dear Elizabeth, I am unable to write back to individual email addresses. Hope you understand.
I communicate issues that are important to me through my books. Adeline
thank you very much adeline
Dear Adeline,
I actually cried reading your story.My heart burst,it is hard to explain how I feel.You are an angel to write a book of your deppressing childhood.I felt the most saddness when you described the treatment you got comparing to 4th brother and younger sister.It is certainly not right to treat someone differently just because you are not related fully.Niang should have been punished for such harsh treatment.This is one of the best books I have read in my entire life.
God bless you Adaline,there is a god and it is a miricle you survived.
I send you a hug and a smile!
MICHAELLA RACHEL SCHWARTZSHTEIN
ps:
please write back!
Thank you, Michaella. I communicate with my readers through my books. Hope you understand.
Adeline
Did you ever meet Niang after you left to england?
Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Thankyou!
Did you meet niang again after you left to England?
Did you ever see your older sister again?
Regards
Michaella Schwartzshtein
Hi Adeline,
I just finished reading Falling Leaves. What a great book. I learned so much about the history of China. My daughter told me to read your book. You have been through so much in your life and have still are willing to give of yourself to others. I am so happy that you finally found some happiness in your life and a man to share it with. I take it from your description of your home, you must living in Huntington Harbor. My daughter lives in HB as well and I am in Anaheim. It would be amazing to have a cup of tea with you someday. I’m sure your life is full, but I would love to have you in my home. Thank you again for your book and having the courage to tell others what you went through. Your Aunt Baba was an amazing women as well. Please let me know if you would like to come to tea. My name is Bunny Slaughter.
Dear Bunny, Thank you for your kind invitation. Please come to my daughter’s book launch at Laguna Beach Books on February 18, 2010 at 6.00pm. Address is 1200 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Ca 92651. Tel. 949-494-4779. I will be there. Ann Mah’s first book’s title is Kitchen Chinese. I look forward to seeing you. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
My family, listened to your story on the Audio Cds on the way to and from school each day for two weeks. It say we were entralled would be understating our desire to find out more at each trip. We cannot understand how awful your ‘niang’ was to you. It has made me give extra hugs to my children.We are so sorry that you endured such hardships,we wanted to whisk you away and send you to your Aunt BaBa.
Regards,
Francesca, John, Lauren, Jessica, Rachael and LLoyd Cant (Australia)
P.S.
We are reading your other books.
Hello again Adeline, this is Kristina again – you may remember my comment regarding Gone with the Locusts. Well, I replied to your reply but I don’t think it worked because I couldn’t see it. So, here I go again
:
It would’ve been great to go and see it, but, that would have been impossible seeing as I am only 13 and living in Australia What if sometime (if you felt like writing another book) you could possibly try to rewrite ‘Gone With the Locusts’? I’m sure it would be a huge success and many would love to read it. Oh, and just out of curiosity, what has happened to Aunt Baba’s special box? Is it still around?
Kristina.
Dear Kristina, I’m afraid the Red Guards confiscated her special box during the Cultural Revolution. Adeline
Dear Mrs.Mah
I am doing the book Chinese Cinderella for a autobiography and i would not have read this wonderful story of your life if not for the book report. Your story touched me in every way and brought me close to tears at times. i can’t believe what happened to you during your childhood. It almost seems fiction at times. Anyways, thats all i wanted to say. Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear,Adeline!
We’re a group of people who loves your history.We’ve read the Chinese Cinderela, but we cannot find the Falling leaves, but in PORTUGUESE, because we’re Brazilians.
Do you just in case where we could find it in Portuguese?
We’re desperatelly looking for it.
Tnx.
Fernanda.
Dear Fernanda, Falling Leaves was published in Portugese in Brazil about eight years ago. Does that help? Adeline
hello adeline my mname is Emma Sloan I live in belfast your book inspired me so much and you are a role model to every one you had a very bad childhod i am so sorry when i was reading your book i did not want to stop reading it i enjoyed it so much i would love for you to reply to me but you must be a very busy person when you were a child aunt baba and yeye cared about you very much.but then you had to go away it was sad i have one question for did you get in contact with your anut reine?
Emma Sloan xx.
Dear Emma, I got in touch with Aunt Reine in Paris after I became a doctor. Unfortunately, she passed away soon afterwards. Adeline
hello Adeline, my name is Niamh James, i would like to take time to write to you, your book “Chinese Cindrella” brought tears to my eyes hte chapter when your aunt Baba wrote to you made me as if I was you reading it, i could feel upset,angry but also at times happy, although you had a very bad abusive childhood with Niang and your father, you had the best people ever, your aunt Baba and your Ye Ye I think of them made oyu become famous like you are now.They told you never to give up and that you are special. I guess when I fight with my Grandmother and mum that i need to understand that they are always there for me and are telling me that i can go far in life and i am special, you are as very intelligant woman, and did not deserve to be put through the verbal and physical abuse you got off most of your family. I have a question did you forget about your abusive Niang?
i hope to hear from you very soon. Niamh.
I read your book of Chinese Cinderella when I was 7 years old, and 10 years later I picked it up again. You have inspired me beyond belief, and every time I feel like lying down and giving up, I read your book and it inspires me. My father died 2 years ago, and found that this was 1 of the few things that helped me with my grief. Your book is the reason that I’m still reading, and it has helped me with everything, from talking to people and standing up to what I believe in to silly things, like telling people I like them. Due to your book, I shall always make those around me feel loved and wanted, unlike your Niang. I love books too, and your description of King Lear was beautiful and moving beyond words. This is the way I feel about books and plays. Your book is the most cherished and precious book I own, and I feel that I have always had to compete against my family. The only place I feel that I can be myself is school, where I am loved by my friends. Thanks to your book, I finally feel like PLT, and am not ashamed of what I see when I look in the mirror.
Dear Ella, Thank you. Adeline
Hello, I’d would like to say that your book, Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society is the longest book i’ve ever read(And it’s a really good book). Usally when I try to read a long book, I get really bored after the first page but this book really grabed me. I am 10 yrs old and I have to do an author studie at school so I chose you because I think that you a fantastic author! C.C.A.T.S.D.S. inspired me to like sad books, they’re really interesting! I wish i could interview you some day. i nearly cried when iI read your book, it really touched me. when i read it at school and all the other kids are talking, i really can’t even hear them, the book takes me to another world wher theres only me and the charaters form the story. Thankyou sooooo much for giving me the chance to read such a WONDERFUL book.
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
I am only 11 years old, my name is Yatin, I read your book everyday – Chinese Cinderella, I have a strong understanding of the pain you have been through because of ‘Niang’ and your mothers death. I am very emotional, sometime my father beats me, but I hav a loving mother like your Aunt baba, i wish you all the best for the future, I wish you all the happiness, and I regret all the pain you have endured.
Heartiest Congratulations on your Success of Chinese Cinderella,
And best of luck,
Yatin
xx
Dear Adeline i know how you grew up in your childhood. I am a boy and i am reading chinese cinderalla right now and i feel tragic and how sad you lived you life. I’m sure your mother loves you really much and i hope you can live a great life. I would like to ask you how you dealt with the tragic horror you lived your life for 20 years.
I need some advice on how you lived you life with all the unwantedness.
Please adeline i am begging i was crying when i was reading it and i though ashamd that things happend.
Please adeline tell me everything on how you survived.
Hey Adeline,
My name is Nina I’m 15.I just read your book.I just finished it a few minutes
ago. Your book was very inspiring gave me motivation. You definately endured alot as a child and must have felt very lonely and unwanted.. you made me realize that I have a wonderful home and family that i shouldn’t take for granted. You were very strong, itelligent, aware, brave, and independent.
What inspired me the most was that even through being negleted, treated worse than the other children, being put down by others, being put in boarding schools, orphanage, and constanly being sent away you were not only excelling in your studies and skipping grades but top of the class. You were born with a gift and you used it. Your Aunt Baba also touched me, the fact that your report cards were just as important or even more than her diamonds, pearls,ect. Most Precious Treasure she had was you. =] Her and Ye Ye both sstuck by your side and believed..knew that you could do anything you wanted to. As for Niang, to be honest I think she was more jealous than anything.. as well as your brothers and sister who resented you.. you were the smartest,brave most independent one of them all. That’s what my mom always tells me, my Dad’s side of the family will drive 3000 miles to see any of my cousin but wont drive 1 mile to see me..nor will my dad.. but I’ve gone almost my life 15 years with their help and i’m not going to depend on them now. Adeline you are a preious treasure you deserved to be treated better, but you went through brought you to be who you are today. I hope you are well. =]
My Mom has always been there for me as your Ye Ye and Aunt Baba.. She is my Mom and My Best Friend =] And your mothers loss is heartbreaking… and your family that blamed you was dumb.. they didnt know how to deal with it so they blamed you and stuck with for the rest of their lives. I hope they now realize they were wrong.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Me and My Mom =]
Dear Nina, I loved your email and your close relationship with your mom. How lucky you are to have one another! Please do your best and get the best education you can. Whatever people steal from you, they will never be able to steal your knowledge. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
My name is Katie, I am from New Berlin, a city in Wisconsin. I am twelve years old and I am reading ‘Chinese Cinderella’ in English class. I just read the first three chapters but it is still such a heart-felt and emotionally touching novel I still find it hard to cope with the terrible way you were treated as a young child! Especially since it was your own family! I just cant get over the way they treated you! The first three chapters I read it was just sad I almost cried so much as I just cannot imagine how much pain you must have went through at such a young age trying to accept that you were strongly resented by your step-mom Niang! It just does not seem right that anyone could treat another being in such a harsh and cruel way!! And even tough your book was full of emotion and sadness I managed to pull something positive from it, that no matter how many people you will face in life that try to put you down you can still fight back and sand up tall just as you did. I think it is great that you took away all that negative energy and replaced it with the positivity of your dear YeYe, he believed in you and you stuck by him and you achieved in more ways than one! Your truly inspirational! And a true role-model for any other unwanted children who have read your book, because they will not feel alone anymore.
I just have a couple of questions .. Why did you decide to write Chinese Cinderella?
I would like you to reply but you are probably busy so you dont have to but it would be great to hear from you! Thanks.
Dear Katie, Thank you for your understanding and support. Adeline
Dear Adeline!
Hi! I don’t even know if your reading this, but in my heart you are! i love Chinese Cinderella soo much. i think it’s amazing that you had to go through all that within only 14 years! i’m 13 and i haven’t been through half as much as you!your an amazing woman and i was touched by your amazing story! i felt soooo sorry for you reading the bit about when your brothers gave you pee instead of orange, and of course how could i forget your little baby chick being killed by your dog!:( poor u!
i only read your story twice! the first time when i was ten and i read it again this summer on my holiday in kerry! even though i’ve only read it twice unlike many others who’ve read it uncountable times, your story stays with me!
i have your other two books too but i have to wait a while to read them again because they confuse me if i read them too close to reading the real one because the names are different!
please reply as i would be incredibly greatful as it is my dream to meet you and talk to you about your life and your books! for now it’ll do if you send me an email! i’d be sooo grateful!
thank you for reading this
goodbye!
jessie
Heyy Adeline.. I really don’t know were to start of…
i still hate reading but just don’t hate readin your books. reallly, i just don’t know whyy “/
But Firstly, I hate reading books and i never ever end up finish reading a book no matter how short it was… but your book, you write with your own hands and putting your heart into wirting the book has touched right into me. I can even still remember, i got this book when i was in primary school year 6, 11 years old 2006 and im now in year 10 high school 2009, 14 years old. Also it was my first time to spend my own money on a boook =D Its beeen soo long ive only just finished reading “Chinese cinderella” but to be honest ive only start reading this book in june after my birthday because my english used to be really bad so i could hardly understand most of the words and i borrowed the book to quite alot of people in the past 3 years and they loved it.
Last but not least i have to tell you is that your book is amazing and its soooo good that im going to get the rest of them no matter what, no matter how much i dont like reading
Thankyou very much for writing this book, i have leant Alott from this.
P.S: How old are you now? and hows life been after your father & step mother pasted away? xxxxxxxxxxxx
hello again Adeline. I have a question. I really don’t think that will serve as a question but I would really like to know how you put your mind when you are still studying and young. umm.. If you don’t mind, would you give me an advice on how or what to do when it seemed that you are so depressed and don’t know what to do in any kind of situation. Please, I know you have the same feelings as I do right now like you said in your book when you are still young. I am so confused I don’t know what to do. I feel so ashamed of my self when I said that I will do my very best but failed. I know it is not the end of the world but it really depressed me to know that I really failed. I am so grateful even though you haven’t responded yet but it makes me feel happy that someone like you would hear my dilemma and understand my situation. I truly thank God for having you here. It seemed that I have known you and became my best friend whom I can confide what I feel right now. Long Live Adeline! I am expecting your advice. I would wait until you got a time to respond thank you.^-*
Dear Rachelle, The more you read, the more you like to read. The more you study, the more you like to study. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
My name is Georgia and I come from Adelaide, SA in Australia. I am only 11 years old but I have a very strong understanding of the Chinese Cinderella series. Your books are so very touching. I am in trouble all the time because I complain about being “hard done by” then I read your first two books of the Chinese Cinderella series and I felt so very sorry for you about your Niang. She was very iinconsiderate of you. I have a loving family that I can talk to. Unfortunaetly you did not and if I could go back in time I would give your mother back to you. P.L.T sounded a lovely pet and for your brother to do that to you is terrible. I sort of have a situation like that but my pet was a fish. My fish was a bit sick. One day I got home from school and it was so lively i thought an angel may have touched may have touched it. turns out my poor fish died and got flushed down the toilet and it was a completely new fish. Although my story is not a excrutiating as P.L.T’s I still know how you felt about your pet. Before I go I would just like to say what a lovely lady your Aunt Baba was. The only person you could trust. Thankyou for sharing your story with me and many other peoole who have had the experience of reading your book. I now know what it really is like to be unwanted. Can’t wait to get my hands on the 3rd Chinese Cinderella.
Please reply,
Georgia
Hi Adeline,
I love your book Chinese Cinderela. I have been crying a a lot of time reading the sad parts in your book. Wrieting thise I am crying. I am looking forward to read your other books! thank you soo much for sharing your life with all of us. I have a few questions I would like you to answer. Are your parents still alive?, (your father and Niang ) did your siblings forgive you? Are you still sad( I think you are)? How old were you when you gor married? How old where you when you got indipended?
Please answer as soon as posible,
Your fan,
Philippine Crepey
Dear Philippine, Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Thank you Adeline for your reply, I will read Falling Leaves when I am older.
I just have 1 question: Do you know why your father died?
Dear Philippine, My father died of Alzheimer’s Disease. Adeline
Dear Adeline,
My name is Christine, I am from Belfast, a small town in Ireland. I am thirteen years old and I first read your book when I was eight years old and I have recently read your book, ‘Chinese Cinderella’ during English class again. So this will be my second time reading it and as it is such a heart-felt and emotionally touching novel I still find it hard to cope with the terrible way you were treated as a young child! Especially since it was your own family! I just cant get over the way they treated you! The first time I read it I cried so much as I just cannot imagine how much pain you must have went through at such a young age trying to accept that you were strongly resented by your step-mum Niang! It just does not seem right that anyone could treat another being in such a harsh and cruel way!! And even tough your book was full of emotion and sadness I managed to pull something positive from it, that no matter how many people you will face in life that try to put you down you can still fight back and sand up tall just as you did. I think it is great that you took away all that negative energy and replaced it with the positivity of your dear YeYe, he believed in you and you stuck by him and you achieved in more ways than one! Your truly inspirational! And a true role-model for any other unwanted children who have read your book, because they will not feel alone anymore.
I just have a couple of questions .. Why did you decide to write Chinese Cinderella? And is it difficult to get into the writing industry? Because I would like to know a bit more about being an author because I find it interesting.
You dont have to reply, as you are probably busy right now, but I would appreciate it if you did! It would be great to hear from you! Thanks.
Christine xox
Dear Adeline,
I have taught in public schools for many years. (You were born in November, 1937. I was born in October, 1937.) Now I am now a substitute teacher in the Belmont, N.H. schools and in the Bow, N.H. schools.
I just finished reading “Chinese Cinderella.” Your expressive writing kept me totally glued to the book. I was very sad and angry, though, and very supportive of you. How could such a lovely person be treated so cruelly. I had to keep telling myself that you were writing about yourself.
I thought that it would be a good idea for me to read your book because my friend, Yang Baohua, from Xi-an, will be working with 6th grade students at the Belmont Middle School beginning December 8th.
I always wanted to go to China. I did in 2002. I taught in a summer school program in Tongxiang City. Wonderful experience. I could not wait to return to China. Finally I did in 2008 with students from Bow H.S. I met Yang Baohua in Xi-an. She was our tour guide. We have been great friends ever since our initial meeting. Since then I have returned to China three times. My sister went with me in February-March of last year to Tianjin. We taught several classes. Yang Baohua was with us – shared with the teaching. I returned once again to be with Emily and her family. (Emily is her English name.)
Emily will return on December 6th and on the 8th she will begin her teaching at the Middle School.
I am going to begin “Falling Leaves.” Your writing is wonderful. Your life’s experiences are amazing, and have inspired me. Thank you so much.
I have enjoyed writing to you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Winthrop Buswell
Have you ever thought of making your stories into a movie? it would really touch peoples heart since the plot was well written
Hi Adeline,
I just finished reading your book and I thought it was wonderful, it was a truly inspirational read. I have a few questions i wanted to ask you. First of all did you ever speak to Niang after you graduated and became independant? I just feel after all the heartache she put you through did you never have the urge to tell her how you felt about her knowing she could no longer hurt you. And also at the end of the book it says you still yearned for your parents’ acceptance why would you want his acceptance when he disregarded you so badly? Lastly did your siblings ever have any remorse for the way they treated you and have any of them read the book?
Thank you
Best wishes
Bhavita
Hello
Adeline your book its so touchful
me and my class has just finishing ready it
i would like you to send a letter to our school class 10L St.Roses high school Belfast Northern ireland
is the book going to be turned into a movie ??
I really enjoyed reading the chinese Cinderella
reply back please
xo
Hello Adeline. My name is Lynn McVeigh and I live in Belfast Northeren Ireland. I’m 13 years old and I have two sisters and one brother and I live with my mother. I go to St.Roses High School in Belfast. At the start of the school year my English class and I have read ‘Chinese Cinderella’ it’s very good and I loved it. You’re like a girl who would never give up your hopes and dreams and you would never stop trying. My dream is to be an actress when I finish school. Last year at school we done a musical show called ‘The Wizard of Oz’. I was a munchkin. When I’m an actress I hope to get big parts and leading. Your book is my favourite book at school and I would read it again and again.
From Lynn McVeigh
Dear Adeline.
Myself and my class have just finished your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’ it has inspired me to never give up no matter what. Your Novel was very emotional and inspiring.
i have one question to ask though,when you went to england with your third brother, did you ever get to see you aunt baba again?
Dear Emily, Yes! Please read Falling Leaves. Adeline
Dear Adeline Yen Mah
My class in school were reading your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’. We have just finish reading it. It was wonderful i absoulutly loved it. i hope we get get to read falling leave i think it would also be wounderful. You are a inspration to every one that reads your books. I think you are brilliant. I Can’t wait to read the next book. xx
Dear Adeline,
Hello,
My Name is Lucy. I live in Ireland, the town i live in is called Belfast(County Antrim) I attend to a little school in the west of belfast called ‘St.Roses.’ My English class has been reading ‘Chinese Cinderella’and i have to say we are enjoying it so much! I feel that our class is inspired by your book. We think that it is a beautiful book. In the book you not only told us about about your life, but about chinese culture. You proved that anyone can active no matter what! Anyone can active their dream! I think that you are an ispiration to all children! You actived no matter what happened to you and no matter what put you down!
You are a true Hero!
Lucy.
Dear Adeline,
Hello my name is sarah jane loughlin i live in belfast(county antrim)i go to stroses and i am in year 10 my class and i have been reading your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’ it is really good we have just finished it and i could not believe what has happened to you through your life it is so terrible and i would have hated to have a stepmother like ‘Niang’ i did not like her at all and what she put you through i hope you are well and happy with your life now. I really Liked your Grandfather Ye Ye he was so nice to you my Grandfather is like that to me i love him so much.
Wrte Back Soon
Lots of love
Sarah Jane
xoxoxo
i love u book
hello Adeline,
im laura and i live in belfast in Northern ireland. i go to st roses high school. my class and i just finished reading your book ‘chinese cinderella’ we all really enjoyed it. it was really intresting and had a very good story line. it must of been really hard for you when you where going up having all that to deal with! i think it was really strong of you to share youre feelings with others!
laura xxx
Dear Yen Jun-Ling (Adeleine Yen Mah),
My name is Cailin McCaffery. I am 13 years old and live in Ireland.
In English class, we have just completed the “Chinese Cinderella” novel. I feel very, very inspired by this book and you are a role model to children everywhere! What you went through as a child was rock bottom and believing in your Ye-Ye’s words “…I will always believe in you”, got you where you are today.
From reading this book, I have learned that even though people may put us down and squish us to the ground, we are worth something special to the world.
I am very sorry that you had to go through that horrible experience as a child with Niang, 1st Sister, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Brothers, and also your father. Thank goodness you had Aunt Baba and Ye-Ye to support you.
I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to reply.
(I have attached a picture of my name in Chinses Characters!)
Yours truly,
Cailín McCaffery Belfast, Ireland.
P.S. Did you ever reunite with Baba? Also, how was your relationship with 5th Sister? Did you turn out to be good friends or loathing enemies? I’m sorry if my questions have offended you or made you upset…
x
http://adelineyenmah.com/wp-content/uploads/1258638707-my name.bmp
Dear Cailin, Your name is beautiful in both Chinese and English. Do you like to draw? If you do, try to write your Chinese name with brush and ink. That’s called calligraphy. Adeline
Hello there. I am Deborah Morrison, im 14 years old and i come from Belfast in Ireland. I have just finished reading your novel ‘chinese cinderella’ and ive just connected so much with it. It inspires me to achieve something out of life, no matter who puts you down, and no matter who are jealous. You are such a gifted woman, and so talented. i love the way you want to send out the message to everyone in the world and let everyone know how you coped and struggled. You must have been a very strong, brave and giving person, as you coped with many things in your life. In the end, you came out the best and your such a role model for young people and kids like me. This story relates to MILLIONS of young kids who are unwanted, neglected, and basically torchered throughout their childhood.
if you could reply to me, i would be the happiest person in the word.
Thank-you soo much for taking the time.
lots of love, deborah. x
Hello Adeline,
Im Ciara. Ilive in Northern Ireland, Belfast.Im 14 yearso old.I Go to St Roses high sschool. My Class and I have just finished reading your book ‘chinese cinderella’. It was a fantasic book and me and my classfriends loved every part of it. It was really intresting and had a very good story line. I just didn’t want to put it down and i just wanted to keep reading on. It must have been very hard for you at such a young age and to deal with all those bad things and it must have been even harder sharing your feelings with everyone, but im glad you did because it can show others that life can turn out good and that it shows other people what you were going through when you were younger and because theres also other people out there in todays world who was in the same situation that you were in many years ago. I think that you work you did and achieved is very good of you!
yours faithfully
C.Gorman xo
Hello. I an Aine Johnston, Im 14 Years Old And I Come From Belfast In Ireland. Ive Just Finished Reading Your Book Chinese Cinderella In School. It Inspired Me To Achieve Something In Life And Never Let People Put You Down Or Stop You Doing What You Want To Do. You Are Such A Talented And Brave Person You Stuck Up For What You Thought Was Right And Never Let People Stop You From Your Goals In Life. In The End You’ve Came Out The Best And Your A Role Model For So Much Young People Like Me. You’ve Helped People Who Are Unwanted, Unloved And Abused To Relaise Their Not Alone In Life.
Hi Adeline, i am charlotte and i am from Belfast (Ireland). My class and i decided to read your book in english class and have just finished it yesterday. Your book was amazing, it is a very inspiring book with alot of emotion. I was touched by your writing. Your book has made me appreiciate what i have. I would love to read more of your books, keep writing.
lots of love , charlotte x
Dear Adeline,
my name is jolene o’reilly. my english class and i have just finished reading your book ‘chineese cinderella’. it is now my favourite book it has me now knowing that there is always hope. im just really wondering (i dont mean to be to foward) have you ever found your fathers will. also i was wondering did you ever go and see your aunt baba i would really like it if you answered my questions. Thank you very much for your time and thank you also for giving me such inspiring book to read which i will never forget.
From Jolene O’Reilly In Ireland/Belfast
Hello Adeline,
im rachel. I live in Northern Ireland, Belfast. I go to Stroses High School. My class and I have just finished reading your book ‘Chinese Cinderella’. This book is a really brilliant book. I couldnt put it down! my class and I loved every minute of it. I love the story line. I think the fact that you had to deal with all of that at such a young age must have been really hard for you, and to share it must have been harder. But i think its good you shared it, to help all people that are in your situation. To prove if you just keep on goin things can work out! Thanks for writing your book, its very inspiring and i really really enjoyed ready it.
Lots of love Rachel xoxo
hello my name is emma i have just finshed your book it was brillant it is was so intresting! you have had a very hard life but you are a very good and famous author and you had a very bad childhood you did not deserve any of that you have been a big inspiration to me and many others hope the rest of your life is good
Emma xx
Hello my name is Niamh, I have just finished you incredible book, it was such a pleasure reading it! You have had such a bad life, but now, you have became such a great author, you did not deserve the childhood you had, your book actually brought tears to my eyes. You are a Inspiration to many young people like my self. I hope now you live a long happy life
Niamh xxx
Hello Adeline, im orlaith and i am from Belfast, in ireland
ive read your book in my english class and its brilliant,
your childhood musnt have been the best time of your life,
it was so sad when plt died, and
did your father put you in his will?
x
Dear Adeline,
Do you think you can give me some tips in becoming a writer? Your books have inspired me to become one.
Dear Mrs. Adeline,
My name is Francesca and I’m 13 years old. I’m from the Caribbean.
I just now finished reading your book Chinese Cinderella and I cried the whole way through.
I found it brilliant, even at times when you were upset and felt like you were nothing you rose against the odds and showed that you were really something special. I admire your strength and courage with the utmost respect and I only hope that girls can grow stonger from reading your book as I know I have.
One question though, after your father and Niang died did you become closer with your siblings?
Thank you so much for sharing your chilhood story for it’s really inspirational.
Best wishes,
Francesca
Dear Adeline,
I am 13 years old and I have only read your chinese cinderella book yet I am so touched. You are my hero because went through lots of things in your life and you had a lot of bumps in the road but you succeeded at the end. I wish I ‘ll grow up to be a person like you.
.hello Adeline!I would like to introduce myself. My name is Rachelle and my Chinese name is Jia Jun-ling. We have the same Chinese name and I’m proud of it. I am planning to be a writer someday and would like to study it in the future. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to write to one of my favorite writer and that is you. Adeline, thank you so much you made me inspire to do what my heart truly wants and to be a writer. I hope I could be like you that could say the things in your heart through your writing. Even though I have only read your Chinese Cinderella and would like read all your writings, you have said the magic words I longed to hear. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to see and meet you personally. I have still read your Chinese Cinderella even though my siblings would tease me for rereading your books but that won’t stop me.^-^.in my own I a m calling myself your no. 1 fan for reading your book for hundreds of times. It’s been 2 years then when I first saw your book and I cried the night after I read your book. My friend would laugh at me for kissing your book. I don’t even want to return it to the shelves. Thank you so much. I am going to treasure it until I became successful and thanks to your YeYe for inspiring you to become of what you are right now. I felt as if I have known you for years after I read your story. Please, I would like to hear from you. If you could please reply to me..one is enough and I would be so happy.^-^. Now, while I am in college I think about your fighting spirit and that makes me do my very best in anything that I do. Again, Thank you so much(gan xie).^-^
Dear Rachelle, Thank you for writing. Please remember that one positive dream is more important than a thousand negative realities. Adeline
Dear Adeline Yen Mah, I am a student in the 8th grade in the Long Beach Unified school district and I am doing a history day los angeles project called “Bound Freedom” about how Chinese girls used to have to have their feet bound and how it effected them both physically and emotionally. I read your book Chinese Cinderella and was stunned by the fact that your grandmother Nai Nai had bound feet and that you had to help her wash her feet because it was to painful. I would REALLY like to interview you about your grandmother’s experience and how it effected you then and now. It would benefit my project greatly and i would truly appreciate your contribution. -Sincerely, Arianna
You may contact me through my teacher Mrs. Wells’ email: Pwells@lbschools.net
Hello there.
I only recently read Chinese Cinderella. I found it to be a very moving text.
I especially, loved your message at the very beginning of the text.
However, although you are trying so hard to give us all strength – some of us just can’t get it. I want your strength so bad. To persevere and to escape the chains of an unloving family.
But it’s so hard. And I just cannot find your strength.
Thank you though, for your inspiring works. They really do bring a little ray of hope to us all. So again, thank you.
Dear Mrs Adeline Yen Mah,
I have recently read your book, ‘Chinese Cinderella’ and it has really inspired me. I know it’s a fair few years late, but, congratulations on winning the writing competition! By the way, I have been searching but could not find a script of ‘Gone with the Locusts’ and I am very intent on reading it. Do you know where I can find it, or if it even is published? I would absolutely love reading the piece of writing that decided your future, because as is obvious, if you hadn’t you may have never gone to England….
Congratulations again.
Dear Kristina, Unfortunately, `Gone With the Locusts’ was never published. However, I’ve written another play titled Falling Leaves which will have its first staged reading at the South Coast Repertory Theater tonight. Please google and click on November 17th, 2009. One night only. Adeline
It would’ve been great to go and see it, but, that would have been impossible seeing as I am only 13 and living in Australia
What if sometime (if you felt like writing another book) you could possibly try to rewrite ‘Gone With the Locusts’? I’m sure it would be a huge success and many would love to read it. Oh, and just out of curiosity, what has happened to Aunt Baba’s special box? Is it still around?
Kristina.
Ms Adeline YEN MAH,
Dear Ms,
My name is Dr. Y. S. Yow, I am an Australian author.
I am writing a book on notable Chinese people world wide. The title is “Inspiring Chinese Names and Personalities”, 千字百姓传, published in English, and explains Chinese names and their meanings. For each word I choose up to 5 prominent names as examples. (up to 8 names are listed under surnames).
I would like to list you as follows:
严 嚴 [yán, ㄧㄢ] (Chinese surname), stern, serious, strict, severe. Other spellings include ‘Giam, Nghiêm, Yen, Yim’.
COMPOUND WORDS: 严格 [yán gé] Strict, stringent/tight; 严禁 [yán jìn] Strictly prohibit; 严密 [yán mì] Strict, tight surveillance; 严肃 [yán sù] Solemn, serious; 严重 [yán zhòng] Grave, serious.
NAMES: 崇严 [chóng yán], 孝严 [xiào yán], 严辉 [yán huī], 严顺 [yán shùn], 宗严 [zōng yán].
PERSONALITIES: Adeline YEN Mah 马严君玲 [馬嚴君玲], U.S. novelist, author of numerous books including ‘Falling Leaves’ 落叶归根, “Chinese Cinderella”, “A Thousand pieces of Gold”, etc. YAN Jun 严俊 [嚴俊] (1917 – 1980), famous actor/director in the 50s and 60s. YAN Yuanchao 严援朝 [嚴援朝], Chief Technical Officer of Sina.com.cn, the most popular website in China, with a daily page view of more than 200 millions. GIAM Meng Tuck 严孟达 [嚴孟達], Senior Executive Editor, Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore. Dr YAN Yuanzhang 严元章 [嚴元章] (1909 – 1996), eminent educator, researcher, author, dedicated his life to Chinese education in China, Malaysia and Singapore and Hong Kong, played a important role in fighting for the right to be educated in the “mother tongue”. Venerable Cheng Yen 证严法師 [證嚴法師], Taiwanese Buddhist nun, founder of “Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation”, commonly known as Tzu-Chi.
Could you please confirm whether the spellings are correct in Chinese and English, we would only list your name upon verification of its accuracy.
I have also published other books. Please refer to my webpage for the book
“The Chinese Dimensions – their roots, mindset and psyche”
http://www.yitseng.net/chinese%20dimensions/
for details. The premier of Western Australia wrote the foreword, and the Minister for Multicultural Interest launched it at Parliament house last year.
Another of my books entitled is entitled “Innovation in China – the Dawning of the Asian Century” could be found at
http://www.adonisandabbey.com/book_detail.php?bookid=144
My warmest regards and thanks,
Dr. Y. S. Yow
Dear Dr Yow, I am honored to be included. Please keep in touch! Adeline
hey .
im from Singapore and I love your book and writing so much ! I read your “Chinese Cinderella” book , and i can’t deny that i was vey touched by your writing . I cried when I read your book . It gave an impact on me and teach me how to appreciate what I have now . Your book is well written , and now I’m trying to find your anothe book , that is Falling Leaves , its quite hard as I went to several bookstores to find it but they’re not in stock .
I hoped you will continue to write more heartfelt stories .
Thank youu .
You can buy Falling Le