Why is Father’s recognition of her medal so special to Adeline? What does the scene tell you about this father-daughter relationship? And the evidence.(page number)

"I was winning the medal every week and wearing it constantly. I knew this displeased by siblings, especially Big Sister and Second Brother, but it was the only way to make Father take notice and be proud of me."

Chinese Cinderella, p.15

Adeline's flaunting of the medal can be seen as another show of excessive pride within the novel but it is instead the means through which a young girl looks to gain acceptance within an uncaring family. The pride over that measly medal shows the sadness that is Adeline's day to day, with her siblings hating her achievement and her dad only caring when she receives it. Adeline only truly matures when she realizes that her achievement should only matter if it makes her happy, not her dad. As long as she is stuck in this dependent cycle, Adeline will never be content and independent.