Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society
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| Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society | |
 2004 Puffin edition |
|
| Author | Adeline Yen Mah |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's novel historical novel |
| Publisher | Puffin Books |
| Publication date | 5 Aug 2004 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Preceded by | Chinese Cinderella |
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society is a historical novel by Adeline Yen Mah, published in 2005. It is the fictional sequel to her autobiography for children, Chinese Cinderella.
[edit] Plot summary
The main character is a twelve year old girl called CC who lives in China in the middle of World War Two. CC's mother died when she was five years old and her father thinks of her as a thorn in his side. CC is forced to call her father's new girlfriend 'Niang' which is the Chinese term for mother. Her father's sister, 'Big Aunt', is not pleased with this arrangement and insists that CC call her 'Father's New Woman'. When CC does this, 'Niang' gets so enraged that she begins to choke CC. Fearing for her life, CC bites her captor's arm to force her to let go. When CC's father learns of this, he throws her out of the house. In desperation, CC remembers a kind acrobat of around her age who gave her a business card, saying "You never know, you might need our help one day." CC finds the boy, whose name is David, and an old woman at a book stall in the street. After she tells them of her predicament, David and Grandma Wu, as the old lady is known, offer to let CC stay with them. She does so. After seeing David demonstrate his kung fu ability, CC begs Grandma Wu to teach her so she will be just like David and the other two acrobats who live with them, Marat and Sam. CC is initiated into the Society of Wandering Knights which is a group that Grandma Wu and the boys are a part of. She begins to learn kung fu and improves her English while her school friends think things are going on as usual. Father and Niang still do not want her back. Marat's brother Ivanov had been captured by the Japanese after he uncovered the truth about his best friend's murder.
The Americans (who are fighting for China) are planning an attack on Japan and require assistance so Grandma Wu, her son Master Wu, CC, David, Marat and Sam travel to Nan Tian Island. They help five crew members of one of the American planes, called the Ruptured Duck, and the children form a friendship with the five. On their way to the boat home the group must split up and the children go into the forest. They encounter a lone Japanese soldier who was not much older than them. At first the atmosphere is tense but they share a laugh and the tension goes away. CC spots the paw prints of Master Wu's giant panda and David and Sam pretend that she is a giant monster to scare the soldier. They lure the panda down and the Japanese soldier is called back to his plane. Master Wu calls the panda and the children follow. CC is delighted to see her Big Aunt with Master Wu but their reunion is cut short.
