Rebecca Freeman

Rebecca Freeman
Falling Leaves
Adeline Yen Mah
Autobiography
Challenge
25

1. Right now in my book the author is describing the history of her family, starting with her great-grandparents. In the book, Adeline Yen Mah is describing how her grand aunt, the youngest daughter, was the only child to have a formal education because her father (Adeline Yen Mah's great-grandfather) aquired wealth over time and did not have enough money to send anyone to school until 'Grand Aunt' was school age. Out of all of Grand Aunt's brothers, she only had one respectable one, Ye Ye. Ye Ye was Adeline Yen Mah's grandfather. The author's father (Joseph Yen) was a very good businessman- starting a successful business when he was only 19. Although her father was offered to have a second wife, Joseph always said he was a one- woman man. Adeline was born very easily so Joseph thought he could take care of her by himself. The next day Adeline's mother got a fever and died within a week.

2. I like this book right now. Since it is only talking about the ancestors in a way that reminds me of a textbook, it is a little difficult to keep reading. However, I think that it will get better soon. I just finished the first chapter and, since it ended with the author's birth, I think that the book will become more of a story very soon. Other than the writing style, the history of Adeline Yen Mah's ancestors is very interesting. I like reading about people and cultures from different countries. This is also interesting because it takes place from 1903-1988. (That is the most recent date mentioned in the book).

3.I think that so far the theme is determination. I think that this is the theme because, when Grand Aunt was a child she refused to have her feet bound. Later on, she also makes a woman's bank in Shanghai. It was run by women, for women. That was an idea sneered at by most people but Grand Aunt was determined to make it happen so it did. Also, when Joseph Yen was 19 he started his own business (which I mentioned before). Most people would never dream of starting a succesful business at the age of 19, never mind without a college education, but he was determined to make headway in life, so he did.

4. My favorite character right now is Grand Aunt. She is my favorite character because she is very stubborn and won't let anything get in her way. I like how she does things no matter what other people think, like not binding her feet. She didn't want to disable herself, (not be able to walk) because someone wanted her to. Also, I liked how she was very respected and good at the kind of things that were usually thought of as work for men.

5. My least favorite character is probably one of Grand Aunts brothers (not Yen Yen). One of the is my least favorite character because all of her brothers, other than Yen Yen gambled. Also, they all took drugs and, because of the opium, they died at a very early age. One of Grand Aunts nameless brothers was my least favorite character because none of them made good decisions in life and they all died early because of it.

6. I think that soon the book will begin to talk about the main story, the story of Adeline Yen Mah's childhood. I think that the book will narrate Adeline growing up with her father and siblings and being the least favorite of all of her many sisters and brothers. I think that she will feel lonely because, since she is the least favorite and 'unlucky' because her birth caused her mother's death most people will avoid her. I think this because the cover says 'The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter' on it.