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.
*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.
My name is Brittany Im 17 years old. This my second time reading Chinese Cinderella and I cant believe how you were treated I did not like how your Big Sister slapped you and how all your siblings blamed you for your biological mom’s death. In My opinion it wasn’t your fault. How did you put up with all that negativity towards you from your siblings? Even though you were unwanted by your family you still accompolished so much. You inspire me to be grateful for my loving family.:)
Hi.i am Karen. I am 13 and I just finished reading Chinese cinderella and I was touched by your story. I cannot believe what you went through as a child. It Is a compelling book and I have to say this is one of the best books I have read. I was a immediate fan of yours as soon as I finished the first chapter of the book.your story is beautiful and now I am off to read your biography falling leaves. You are a amazing author and a great example of hope.
i just finished reading Chinese Cinderella . i have a question Did your father ever love your biological mother? because if he would he wouldn’t have married just a year after she died!
Adeline, I am a 40 year old Australian father of 3. My 13 year old son read Chinese Cinderella as part of his English curriculum. He was touched by it and gave it to me to read 4 months ago. Initially I looked at the heartbreaking picture of you on the front cover, read the back cover and preface and didn’t have the heart. I finally steeled myself and this is what I think. Firstly, I don’t understand how any one can be that cold and cruel to any child. I do think I understand how you survived though. The love of your Ye Ye and Aunt Baba for you and the example of love within a family set by your Aunt Reine’s family and their warm acceptance of you. To me, you and your story are a testament to the love that makes us human and I’m so glad you shared your story with me. I sincerely hope that you have fully come to peace with the horrible feelings you felt as a child and healed your heart but I do understand this may not be possible. I sometimes think the pain we feel is a reflection of our love – the price we pay for it. if this is true then I hope your heart and life is as full of love now as would give you full value for the terrible price you paid for it.
Thank you. I am proud to know you are a part of my world.
He only married Niang because she was a “trophy wife”
Congratulations on the courage! I just read “heart to ashes” and I’m very excited! You are an example of willpower! Pardon for my bad English.
Best regards!
AGDA Antenor
Santa Catarina – Brazil
Hello Adeline,
I have loved reading your book Chinese Cinderella. We had to read it for on the holidays (which I was farely annoyed about) but as I started to read the book, I started feeling the emotions of your life and was always wondering what would happen. The worry of our father missing for a year and a half, the devistation of you experiencing the death of your best friend PLT, the worry of getting home in time from Wu Chun Mei party behind the back of your Niangs back, the sadness of leaving your school in Shang hai and your best friend Wu chun Mei and being sent to multiple boarding schools. Anyway, there’s to much to type but I just want you to know that I love your books.
And btw, I saw earlier comments saying that you didn’t keep in touch with Wu chun Mei, but did you ever hear of her or see her again. And have you trried tocontact her? I’d really love to know! Thankyou so much for writing such talent filled books!
Yours sincerely, Thomas.
Tried many times but never was able to reach her.
Adeline
Sorry that you haven’t been in touch with Wu Chun-mei yet. I think I lost touch with one of my best friends too, Grace. And one more thing about me: I’m Chinese, too so I know how to pronounce the Chinese names in Chinese Cinderella, whereas people in my English class didn’t but it’s ok because they were American.
Dear adeline,
i loved your book,chinese cinderella, as it was very emotional. it touches me and tells me that i should be grateful.
yours khadeejah!
Dr. Mah,
Just finished reading Falling Leaves. You are an amazing author and I am so glad you chose to share your story. In spite of such adversity, you came out on top. What an inspiration! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jan Huyck
I read Chinese Cinderella, while camping out for a couple weeks in Leadville, Colorado this past summer, as I was in training with a San Antonio, Texas high school running team. I noticed that one of the campers, a 9th grade girl named Sarah, from a San Antonio HS was reading Chinese Cinderella. I asked her about the book. Sarah said that this was her third time reading it. So I asked her to let me read it when she was finished. Sarah immediately handed the book to me. I read it in a couple days and later back in SA, read Falling Leaves. I also bought Sarah a copy of Falling Leaves and mailed it to her, as I knew she would want it.
Although I enjoyed reading both books, I was disappointed that you did not go into more detail about why your father sent you to college and medical school. Most of Chinese Cinderella was about how poorly you were treated by your father, his second wife, etc. So, I found it surprising that the person who treated you so unfairly, the person who would not recognize your academic achievements as a child, sent you to college to become a medical doctor, based on you winning a writing contest.
I wish you would have wrote some of your father’s perspective in Falling Leaves on why he sent you to college and why his wife allowed this to happen since they did not seem to care about your academic achievements growing up. I’m thinking you may know the answers to these questions.
Sorry, but the other thing that I wished you would have developed more was why your father did not take your mother to the hospital or back to the hospital after you were born. It was clear in Falling Leaves that this was, likely, the reason she died – a major question I kept asking myself as I read the first book – why did your mother die?
What I really liked the most about these two books was your voice. It came through so strongly I feel like I know you.
Any chance I can get an autographed copy of Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves?
Thank you for your consideration.
Be well.
Mark
Dear Dr.Mah,
I just finished reading your book Falling Leaves without a break this afteroon.I love your stories, it is a fatastic book, as I am Chinese-Australian,no matter I don’t have extact the same life experirence as you did, but can understand the culture background.
No matter your step-mother has been harsh to you, but you were still very lucky compare to 99.9% of the other Chinese at your ages at that time.
In the book, you have written about your experience of racial prejudice in England when you studied in Uni Collegue of London, I have a few migrant friends they have similar issues at their working place, due to we got an Asian face, and Asian accents, which suffer my friends a lot, making him/her feel nevous, unconfortable, not confident, dispondent, even don’t feel like to go to the work to see the locals colleagues.
Can you advise how did you cope with this issues?
Rise above it through hard work. Adeline
Dear Adeline
I am a South African by birth who lived and worked in Hong Kong prior to relocating to Bethesda Maryland a year ago. Since I am familiar with some of the areas you describe in Falling Leaves found myself transported back to Hong Kong and China. I was very moved by your experience but mostly inspired by your strength and courage to overcome the difficult past.
Warm hugs and blessings as I look forward to reading your other books and learning more about Chinese culture and language.
Elize
Dr.Mah your book has changed the way of thinking of all the people who have read your book Chinese Cinderella . It is our schools 8th grade english literature text . Thank you for writing this amazing book . Now i realize that i am actually very lucky to live such a peaceful life . It is the the saddest story i have ever read . Thank you .
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
On these holidays that I type this down, my English teacher had assigned us holiday homework. This holiday homework was to read ‘Chinese Cinderella’. To many this seemed like a big task, ‘Damn reading on the holidays!’ they would exclaim but as I like reading this would be a breeze.
In the time that I read this book (a day)I was captivated and moved. You have some great talent in Literature, you painted a picture in my mind as I was reading the dastardly deeds and cruel things that happened in your lifetime as a child.
In 20 years time when/if I have my child bragging me about a new dress or some $200 toy that they shall only play/wear with once. I shall teach them to be grateful and I may use this book as the foundations of teaching them that we are so lucky.
I was quite amazed that someone could be that harsh, that someone being Niang.
Abusing/depriving you in so many nasty ways only because you stood up for what is right(standing up for your little step-sister) . I followed you throughout the journey and at the end celebrated with you when you escaped.
Now I have a few questions that I hope you don’t mind answering:
First of all, the conversations aren’t all word for word are they? Because else you have the best memory in the world
(I can’t remember a year ago, let alone a minute ago)
Did you get back together with friends (Rachel, Mary, Wu-Chun-Mei) after you graduated from University? Therefore going to China again..
Why weren’t the brothers mentioned when you came back with Aunt Reine?
Where did Jackie go after PLT, you know pass through the gates of Heaven?
Which siblings do you keep in touch with?
Do you think your childhood has made you a better person?
I usually forget something but hopefully this is it, I honestly wanted to write more but forgot what I was heading on to…
Well sincerely Dan = Possibly biggest fan of the 13 year olds out there! (Well at least the biggest Aussie fan
Will be borrowing your other books soon.
I am in love with your book Chinese Cinderella. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and that book made me realize how important it is to write. I’ve read about seven times in a year. Every time I go to bed I pick up a copy and read aloud. I have signed up for your free chinese lessons with the emails , but I haven’t gotten any. I signed up about a year and a half ago. Could you please find it in your heart to give me the emails one more time.
I love your books, your works of art. And I promise to spread the joy I felt reading your print.Thank you.
sorry to bother you but this was the only way i could contact you, i just wanted to say i was moved by your book chinese cinderella and before i read your book it was the first book i ever read because i never liked reading and you had a hard childhood but you have come out with flying colours and i even cried reading your book i got so emotional that i found out you did more books like falling leaves and the secret dragon society and that was during while i was getting bullied but now 2 years layer i’m reading other books such as romantic and vampire books mostly like twilight and vampire diaries so i just wanted to say thank you you changed my life and your book got me through thank you so much adeline i will always remember you xx
Dear Adeline,
I read “Chinese Cinderella” without knowing anything about you or your books. After reading the book, I bought the book for my 11 year old granddaughter, who loves to read. Immediately I went to the library and reserved “Fallig Leaves”, I was on a waiting list for it. When I received the book, I could hardly put the book down. I have not gone through anything like you have in my childhood but do know of others who have. You just have a way with your writing to explain things in such detail that the reader can be there in that room or can feel what you are feeling. I hated for “Falling Leaves” to end, I wished I knew more about where you are now in your life. I would love to meet you. If you are ever speaking somewhere in Calif., I would be interesting in hearing you. I just went to the library and checked out “A Thousand Pieces of Gold” and can hardly wait to sit down and read it. I will be getting “Along The River” for my granddaughter, I am sure she will love it. Thank you so much for writing these books, you are a Master Story Teller!
Dear Dr Mah
As a matter of courtesy, I would like to let you know that Read it! Loved it! (www.readitlovedit.com) has listed Chinese Cinderella as a Biography, Inspiring & Tearjerkers book for 11-12 year old boys and girls.
If you have any queries or problems with this inclusion, please let me know.
Regards
Mr Gavin Jones
Read it! Loved it!
http://www.readitlovedit.com
Email: [email protected]
Follow: @readitlovedit
Read Publishing Perspectives’ June 2012 feature on Read it! Loved it!
at http://tinyurl.com/8848h3e
Dear Adeline,
When I read your book, it brought me to tears, it makes me smile to know how you overcame your struggles with your family and are so sucessful now. You’re a really inspiring lady, I am a part of a loving family and a story like yours really breaks my heart. I hope when I am older I can look after “unwanted” children and let them know they are wanted.
God Bless,
Hannah
Dear Dr. Mah,
You have truly touched me with your story. In fact, as a middle level English teacher in New Jersey, I am using Chinese Cinderella to teach my eighth grade students about hope, tenacity, spirit, survival, courage, and many other just as meaningful and inspirational ideas that you teach with your story. If you could ever find the time to visit with my students, I believe that the impact would be unparalleled. I would be so grateful to expose my students to a model of persistence, especially as it pertained to your dedication to your education. Please consider a visit with us.
Hi Dr.Mah,
I truly hope that you read and also reply to this.
Has your family apologized for them mistreating you?
Your publication Chinese Cinderella touched me. It made me cry to have thought of how your family treated you during your childhood. I am so glad that you went through all this well. I admire how you were strong and you still are.
You inspired me so much. I admire how strong you were as you went through PLT’s death and how you were the only student in St.Joseph school. If there was anything I truly wanted, it would be a chance to be like you.
You are a great role model. Thanks for teaching me a life lesson: Be strong.
Sincerely,
Asha.
Dear Adeline Yen Mah,
I am impressed about the way you experienced things you didn’t like. such as the awful death of your YeYe.I am 9 years of age and I nearly burst into tears after I read your book called ‘Chinese Cinderella’. I really wonder how you survived with Niang on your back. Did her smacks actually give you a nose bleed. By the way, at your YeYe’s funeral no one else was crying apart from you, right? Did you feel the odd one out in everything?
P.S: if you could, could you send me a letter on email?
Your fan,
Khadeejah.
hy adeline
i read your story, your story touched me. i just say thank you for your story have inspiration me. thank you for shearing your story
your sincerely,
tifanny