Falling Leaves tells the real-life story of the author, Adeline Yen Mah.
Adeline had everything but a pleasant childhood. Her mother passed away while birthing Adeline, and her family has blamed Adeline since then for bringing bad luck into the family. Her father marries again, with a French-Chinese wealthy woman, Niang. Niang has her own ways of how to handle her family, with intrigues and blackmailing she gets anything she wants, despite the effect on the family. She treats her own children better than her stepchildren, and Adeline is treated, because she is the youngest and smallest, like a unwanted daugther. The book describes her family history, and Adelines emigration to the United States.
The life of Adeline and her family is fully to read in Falling Leaves. It is even impressing as Chinese Cinderella, but Falling Leaves describes more detailistic and give a more realistic view in the rural life of Adeline Yen Mah. A book everyone must read someday, In the reviewers opininion.
