The novel ‘Chinese Cinderella’ is an autobiography by Adeline Yen Mah, describing her childhood and younger teenage years. Unlike most children, Adeline had a relatively hard time growing up. She was blamed for her mother’s death, and all throughout her life she was bullied by most of her family and fellow peers. Although there are down times in her life, she is capable of learning to effectively overcome and conquer her hardships.

Adeline’s Father, an Asian businessman, seems to have quite a small role in the novel. This is because Niang seems to be the ‘head of house’. Whenever he is quoted, he seems to not see her, often forgetful or simply uninterested of her, admitting “I [he] have forgotten your [her] name.” (pg. 140). Throughout the whole novel, Adeline is looked down at and is never commended for her hard work. Even as early as kindergarten, Adeline’s Father simply says “continue studying hard, bringing honour to the Yen family.” (pg. 12). Adeline takes these simple words as encouragement, and works even harder.

Eventually, she succeeds to gain attention from her father by winning the international play-writing competition. It is as if her father suddenly opens his eyes and realises that he has another daughter. He takes notice of her and allows her to go study obstetrics, although not her first preference (writer), at a university in England. Always wishing to please her Father, Adeline never did change her coping strategies.

Adeline is different. Her family were the ones who put the label on her and her friends all realise that she’s different. She is a “despised daughter publicly rejected by her parents.” (pg. 133). Although Adeline is an intelligent girl going to expensive schools, she doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of her classmates. This is because Adeline “neither receives eggs nor visits” always “rushing around in that infantile brown dress.” (pg. 194). Elanor is one of the kinder classmates of Adeline and backs her up when Irene calls her pathetic. Chapter 18 reveals that Adeline hates being “the object of anyone’s charity or pity” (pg. 194).

It’s clear that Adeline and her classmates were never on the same friendship levels. Back in primary school, Adeline tried hard to fit into her classmates. She succeeded, getting herself her best friend, the only one in her younger years, and even became school president. Regrettably, Niang reveals numerous times all through the novel that Adeline is not a loved child in the Yen family. Later on at boarding school, Adeline, no matter how much she hated it, kept silent when the girls teased her or felt sorry for her. Overall, Adeline’s coping strategies changed little, from being trying hard to communicate, but hiding the fact about her parents, to being a seemingly shy and inward child. Adeline coped reasonably well with her classmates.