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Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters, Book One
by Kay Bratt
Book Reviewed by:Inspired by a true story, and set against the backdrop of a country in transition, The Scavenger's Daughters is a sweeping present day saga of triumph in the face of hardship, and the unbreakable bonds of family against all odds.
Having survived torture and imprisonment during China's Cultural Revolution, Benfu escaped to find love with his compassionate and beautiful Calla Lily. Together they build a fulfilling life around the most menial of jobs - Benfu's work collecting trash.
As he sorts through the discards of others, he regularly discovers abandoned children. With unwavering determination, he and Calli spend decades creating a family of hand-picked daughters that help heal the sorrow and brighten their modest home. But all is not perfect and when crisis threatens to separate their family, Benfu - or possibly his band of headstrong daughters - must find a way to overcome the biggest hardship yet.
Inspired by a true story, and set against the backdrop of a country in transition, The Scavenger's Daughters is a sweeping present day saga of triumph in the face of hardship, and the unbreakable bonds of family against all odds.
Chapter One
Beitang City, Wuxi, China, 2010
On a cloudy day in early January, Benfu stood outside his house and held
the red pail under the spigot, waiting for it to fill. Today was a good day;
when he pumped the handle, the old pipes didn't moan and rattle too much
before deciding to cooperate. But he didn't mind it so much either way—like
him, the piece of iron was ancient but stubbornly kept going. And anyway,
they had a history together, and if a man could feel affection for a thing, then
Benfu absolutely did. A silly fondness, but there all the same, for it was the
very same temperamental water spigot that had been the matchmaker that
brought him and his precious Calli together so many years before.
When the water reached the top, he pushed the pump handle down and
carried the pail across the street to the old widow's house. Quickly he filled
the tins for her chickens and used the last of the water on her pot...
The Scavenger's Daughters is an engaging look at the cultural and economic differences that resulted from the Cultural Revolution, and is also a heart-warming drama and love story all rolled into one..continued
Full Review
(655 words)
(Reviewed by First Impressions Reviewers).
Amazon Vine Reviewer
This is a story full of morals and lessons, each one will touch a spot on your heart....Chinese customs and stories and revelations about Mao's reign and just how the Chinese live in general kept me absolutely entranced. Karen McQuestion, best-selling author of women's fiction
The Scavenger's Daughters is the kind of novel I'd love to write, but never could. Simply told but beautifully rendered...A phenomenal story of life and love.The scavenger in The Scavenger's Daughters adopts many unwanted Chinese girls and adds them to his growing family. The casting away of girls has been noted as one of the many devastating impacts of China's one-child policy.
More than 30 years ago, China implemented a program where couples were allowed to have only one child with some exceptions: in villages, for example, you were allowed another if the first was a girl. Critics of this harsh rule have pointed to increased female infanticide, forced abortions and sterilizations, and abandoned children. Many Chinese girls have been adopted around the world and charities expressly formed to foster a better understanding of Chinese culture among these children and their adoptive parents. ...
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