Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society
 2004 Puffin edition | |
| Author | Adeline Yen Mah |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Adeline Yen Mah |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Chinese Cinderella Series |
| Genre |
Children's novel historical novel |
| Published | 5 Aug 2004 Puffin Books |
| Media type | Paperback |
| Pages | 280 |
| Preceded by | Chinese Cinderella |
| Followed by | Chinese Cinderella: The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting |
Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society is a historical novel by Adeline Yen Mah, published in 2004. It is the fictional sequel to her autobiography for children, Chinese Cinderella.
Summary
The main character is a twelve-year-old girl called CC (Ye Xian) who lives in China in the middle of World War Two. CC's mother died when she was five years old and her father barely talks to her. Now she is twelve. CC is told 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 and insists that CC call her 'Father's New Woman'. When CC insults Niang her father throws her out of his house. In desperation, CC remembers the young boy acrobat of around her age who gave her a business card, who said "You never know, you might need our help one day." CC finds the boy, whose name is David Black, 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.
The Japanese, angered by the escaping of the American bombers decide to punish the Chinese at Nan Tian Dao by a massacre. Big Aunt, Grandma Liu and many more Chinese people are killed brutally. However, Master Wu is not killed as he was absent, taking Mei Mei the panda to Sichuan. It is he who tells CC.