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There are currently 24 member reviews
for The Scavenger's Daughters
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Kathleen S. (Oshkosh, WI)
Inspiring Story
Kay Bratt tells the story of a Chinese man and his wife who have chosen to stand by their principles and show love and compassion to girls who have been abandoned, without regard for their own impoverished circumstances. Although it is set in the context of Mao's "cultural revolution" and its aftermath, the lessons this story teaches are valuable in all societies, political environments, and religions.
I enjoyed the story and was interested to learn details about what an impact Mao's policies have had in the mindset of modern-day Chinese. I found the characters to be a little too "representative" for my taste- while each was interesting, it seemed like the author was trying a bit too hard to give each character qualities that could represent a particular group of people (physically disabled or altruistic government official, e.g.) rather than really making me feel that they were a real individual. Even so, I found the book entertaining and believe that it has a message that everyone needs to hear.
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Mary Ellen B. (Boynton Beach, FL)
Chinese family ties
A lovely story of a simple man who makes a better life possible for unwanted young girls in China. He and his wife find abandoned orphans and share the little that they have. Based on true events, this heartwarming saga points out flaws in how the Chinese government deals with adoption. A sequel that will the story of this unusual family is planned.
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Doris K. (Angora, MN)
The Scavenger's Daughters
The setting for this book is modern day China. However, the prologue and frequent references to the Cultural Revolution make a strong comparison between these two times. This could lead to an interesting discussion of the lasting effects of the Cultural Revolution on the people of China. Consequently it would be a good read for a book club or anyone interested in historical fiction.
The descriptions of the daughters' personalities made the book interesting and gave an insight into the Chinese culture. The author leaves enough unfinished in the lives of these girls to encourage the reader to continue the series. I look forward to reading the other books as they become available.
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Margaret M. (Keshena, WI)
The scavengers daughters
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The subject matter is unusual. The references to the cultural revolution were informative. The relationships of the daughters to each other and the scavenger were well delineated.
The conclusion was a bit fairytale and disappointing. However the book is easy to read and keeps ones interest.
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Cheryl W. (Crosby, MN)
Enjoyable read
I enjoyed this story of a junk man and his wife. He saved many girl children after they were abandoned due to Mao's policy. All the children are named after flowers. There is such love in this family as they took all girls no matter their condition. I like that this is a series and look forward to reading more about this family.
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Kathleen W. (Appleton, WI)
The Scavenger's Daughter
I only give 5's to "must reads". I was tempted to rate this book a 3 because some of the dialogue just didn't ring true and because I have read many other novels about being a girl in China. This being said, I couldn't stop reading The Scavenger's Daughter and am intrigued by the fact that it is the first in a forthcoming series. I look forward to reading the next book, both to see if the writing improves, but more importantly because I've grown attached to the characters. I think this will be an excellent book for discussion, and will be an eye-opener for readers unfamiliar with this recent period in Chinese history.
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Melinda H. (Midlothian, VA)
Great read!
I have to admit, when I saw the cover - I judged. It looks like it is going to be one of those flowery, sappy books with absolutely no depth. I was wrong! This is an intelligent, albeit quick read. I loved everything about this story, from the poverty stricken, but gloriously giving couple, to each of their rescued daughters. In more than just the obvious way, this book is a fabulous reminder to not judge a book by its cover.
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