Themes Flashcards
“Continue studying hard and bringing honour to the Yen family name so we can be proud of you.” (Page 11)
Family and relationships- because she wants to bring honour to her family so she can be accepted.
“I’m nothing… A piece of
garbage to be thrown out”
Abandonment/Loneliness - after being treated very poorly by her family, Adeline was feeling down and worthless, she was feeling like she wasn’t needed.
“Unlike my siblings, no one looked down on me.” (Refers to people at school) (page 14)
Relationships- Adeline is comparing her family to her friends, she feels like at school she can be who she is and say what she wants to say, unlike at home where she feels self conscious all the time.
“It was the loss of the nicest parts of Third Brother which saddened me.”
Family/Relationships- this quote shows that Adeline, despite the horrible actions of her brother, she cares deeply about his loss of character.
“…perhaps I, too, might one day reverse everyone’s poor opinion of me.”
Self esteem- this quote highlights how good of a person Adeline is, despite the horrible actions of her brother she still had faith that he would remain the good person she could see in him.
“…Does he truly hate me or is he just going along with her because he loves her more and wants a peaceful life?”
Family/Relationships- Her father sides with Niang because he knows if he was to side with Adeline Niang would get very mad and possibly Adeline would’ve probably been punished.
“They thought of being separated from my aunt filled me with dread.” Page 131
Loneliness- Aunt Baba and Adeline had a very strong relationship with each other and loved each other and for them to be separated from each other, Adeline felt that now she had no one to talk to at home.
“Now they knew the pathetic truth! Unwanted and unloved by my parents! How long did it take for a person to die of shame?” Page 129
Self esteem- Now that the kids found out about Adeline family she thinks they will now tease her and wouldn’t be seen highly anymore.
“…We have become one single unit known as all of you.”
Family/relationships - this quote shows the extent to which Niang has created a divide between her own children and adeline’s fathers children. She has created different sets of rules for different children and rewards those children who praise and obey Niang.
“It all stems from mama dying when you were born… Things were much nicer when she was alive. You made her go away.” Page 74
Loneliness- All of adeline’s life she was blamed for her mothers death when really it wasn’t her fault at all, it was a misfortunate tragedy.
“I imagined Niang introducing me to a strange man and ordering me to marry him. The thought filled me with horror and fear.” Page 100
Loneliness- Adeline is frightened by the fact that she will possibly be given up for marriage and is very scared because she knows that Niang won’t care how old or how bad the man would be.
“I was winning the medal every week and wearing it constantly… It was the only way to make father take notice and be proud of me.” Page 16
Self esteem- Adeline wanted to be accepted so she worked hard for her father be notice her achievements and be proud of her.
“I took the duckling to my heart… It comforted me to know I was needed.” Page 84
Loneliness -‘to have PLT Adeline knew she had someone there that needed her. She loved PLT and considered her as Adeline’s best friend.
“You are bad luck” (Page 3)
Family/Relationships: All of Adeline’s life she has been told from her family apart from Aunt Baba that she is bad luck because of her mothers death shortly after her death, although at school everyone seems to love Adeline as a friend.
“But where was I” Page 31
Self Esteem and loneliness: When Adeline had not been picked up from school because her family forgot about her, she asked her self “Where was I”, meaning she felt like she didn’t have a family and she didn’t belong in this world.
