Chinese Cinderella
Adeline Yen Mah
This is the true story of Adeline, who grows up in China in the 1940s as the unwanted youngest daughter of a rich family. Her mother died just after she was born, and her cruel stepmother favours her own children. Adeline's only escapes are her kind aunt, her grandfather and working hard to be top of the class.
- Length
- About 45,000 words
- To read it
- About 30 days
- Stage
- Key Stage 3
Reading time at 1,500 words a day, the pace we start from until we know your child’s own.
Where it is taught
Why Chinese Cinderella is on the list
- Year 8, Core. The books most schools teach in this year. A good place to start.
Reading it here
What your child does with it
- 1
Choose it and set a finish date
You get a suggested target from the length of the book and your child's reading pace.
- 2
Check in along the way
A longer book has short check-ins every week or two, so it keeps moving and nothing is forgotten.
- 3
Answer two questions
When they finish: a review of the book, and a deeper question about how it works.
- 4
Get it marked, and redraft
Every answer is marked against the rubric for their year, with a reason for every score.