This book, published in 1999, is a memoir describing the author's experiences growing up with her family in WWII-era China. It is actually a revised section of Yen Mah's full autobiography, Falling Leaves, which was published in 1997. The book takes the reader through much of Mah's childhood, from her first week of kindergarten to her days as a 14-year-old. Despite growing up in an affluent family, Yen Mah lacks the love and understanding from her family that she yearns for. Being a stepchild of her stepmother Niang, her parents do not give Yen Mah and her siblings the same kindness as Niang's biological children. In addition, Yen Mah's mother died giving birth to her, earning her the reputation from her parents and siblings as bad luck. As Yen Mah is physically, verbally, and psychologically abused and cast away by her family over and over again, she finds a few people among her family who have been hurt just like her by other relatives and pledges to get them and herself out of their troubles, one way or another. By winning prizes in and outside school, earning perfect grades, and going to college in England, she attempts to earn her family's appreciation by standing out; however, she tries her best not to let her suffering show, or else her family will find out and never come to love her. In this book, the reader receives a firsthand picture of life in WWII and post-WWII China, including how warfare and foreign occupation affected Chinese society during that time. Finally, the reader learns what abuse may look and feel like, learns how Yen Mah and her biological siblings dealt with it using their courage, integrity, and perseverance, and maybe even finds a main character whom they can relate to and empathize with.