TY Book Recommendations 12

Claire Conway is another TY pupil who recommends a book by Adeline Yen Mah, Falling Leaves:- In this book, the author describes her own life, the life of an unwanted Chinese daughter. Her story takes place in China in the 1930s, which was then extremely conservative and dominated by men. Shortly after her birth her mother dies, and she is blamed for the great loss her family has to suffer. Indeed, throughout her whole life she is treated as secondary, and her siblings humiliate her and beat her because of her weakness and helplessness. Even her father doesn't show any interest in her, and she is of no importance to him. Her new stepmother makes her hatred of her stepchildren very clear and treats them like dirt. Adeline's childhood is marked by misery.

This book captured me from the first page. It's incredibly gripping and powerful. The characters are well described and it's so vividly written that I can still feel her loneliness. This authentic story would make any reader develop strong feelings. I really have enjoyed reading this story, and I highly recommend it to everyone.