Book Review: The Palest Ink

The Palest Ink takes place in China during the Cultural revolution. It follows two boys who are maturing while having to make choices during this upsetting time. Their values differ from what China is expecting from them. 

The two boys, Benfu and Pony Boy show all the traits that are looked for in  young men...responsibility, friendship and care for others. As with her other books, I was not able to take this book down. The saddest thing is this is the last of her books that I own that I haven't read until now. She is able to make the characters in each of her books come to life so that I feel like I am there with them. 

Kay Bratt writes on topics that she has experience with. She has lived in China and has brought the love she feels for this land and the people into her writing. When an author writes from their experiences they help the reader stay with them and to build compassion for the topic. 

I would recommend this book for anyone.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Red Skies

This is the fourth book in Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters.

As was learned in the previous book, life in Beijing is difficult. When Mari's husband has a back injury which has him turn to pain-killers, and then become addicted to them, she is made to take tourists pictures on the Great Wall. She is hired by an American photojournalist as a translator and guide, but then she is faced by tragedy.

There are also two girls who were kidnapped by an adult syndicate. They are given the choice to beg on the street or to be beaten and starved. When the older girl breaks her leg trying to escape, the younger one has to find help.

Thank you Kay Bratt for another beautiful, touching book. I feel like my life is turned around with each book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Bitter Winds

This is the third book in Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters and it is as intriguing as the first two.

This book follows the story of Lily. The content of the book were a little more difficult to handle because of the subject matters of metal illness, physical disability and homelessness in China. It is not unusual for a child that is not wanted, or those that go against the government to be committed.

As in the other books, the characters became a part of my heart. It begins with Benfu's and Callie's family trying to keep the shelter for the homeless and unwanted. Lily and Ivy are 16 and Lily is blind. She played her violin in public so she was taken by the officials. Her family could pay for her release but they do not have the money. When she is placed in a mental hospital her family have to deal with red tape to help their daughter.

Once again the subject matters may not be easy to read but they do need to be seen and understood.
Thank you Kay Bratt. You have such a gift.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Tangled Vines

In this second book of the Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters we go with Linnea as she looks for Dahlia. This puts a mystery in her path. She slowly puts the pieces together.

Dahlia, meanwhile, is facing her own successes and pain. My heart went with her through her journey.

Kay Bratt was able to make this seem like an effortless sequel to the previous book. She reacquainted us with each of the characters so the new reader would not be lost. In fact it might whet their appetite so much they will want to go back and start with book one. Each book brings the Chinese culture to our back door, from the descriptions of the surroundings to the changing of the times. Once again, I was not able to put this book down until I finished it. 

There is some adult content in it, so I would only recommend it for adults. I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Scavenger's Daughter

The Scavenger's Daughters, by Kay Bratt, is set in China. The author lived there for five years and the knowledge that she harvested on this country comes forth in the book.

The story begins with Benfu being beat and jailed during the Cultural Revolution. After this introduction we are sent to the present day to discover that there has been something that has happened between these two times that is yet to be discovered.

The characters are so well developed and the descriptions of the surroundings is superb. I felt myself hoping, without certainty, that the characters would be able to face their challenges successfully.

I am now getting ready to read the second book with excitement. I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.