Perspective

The autobiographical account of the early life of Adeline Yen Mah is written from her own recollections of that period. In writing her story, Adeline effectively balanced the account between the emotional and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepmother with the unyielding support she felt from her Aunt Baba, who raised her, and her grandfather, Ye Ye.

Despite her demoralizing beginning, Yen Mah was able to withstand and eventually triumph over the abuse and humiliation to become a renowned writer and physician. No one other than Yen Mah could have been better placed to write this book. It is a perfect and personal representation of her heart and soul. Having won an international writing contest when she was just a young teenager was early evidence of her exceptional communication skills and potential for a future in writing.

There is no direct corroboration of the...