Chinese Cinderella

Chinese Cinderella derives its name from the ninth-century Chinese folktale Ye Xian, which is one of the earliest recorded versions of the Cinderella story. Read this 1948 translation of the original text from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and compare it to this memoir. What elements of the original folktale are reflected in Chinese Cinderella? How does the modern text diverge from Ye Xian, and why?

Over the course of the memoir, Adeline ages 10 years, and her insights into the world around her develop and mature accordingly. How does Adeline’s voice mature over time?

Aside from Aunt Baba, Adeline receives much-needed support from several characters including Ye Ye, PLT, Wu Chun-mei, and Reine. Select one such ally not discussed in the Character Analysis. How does Yen Mah represent this character?