The Palest Ink

Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters

By: Kay Bratt

Narrated by: Will Damron

A sheltered son from an intellectual family in Shanghai, Benfu spends 1966 anticipating a promising violinist career and an arranged marriage. On the other side of town lives Pony Boy, a member of a lower-class family - but Benfu's best friend all the same. Their futures look different but guaranteed...until they're faced with a perilous opportunity to leave a mark on history.

At the announcement of China's Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao's Red Guard members begin their assault, leaving innocent victims in their wake as they surge across the country. With political turmoil at their door, both Benfu and Pony Boy must face heart-wrenching decisions regarding family, friendship, courage, and loyalty to their country during one of the most chaotic periods in history.

The prequel to the beloved Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters series, The Palest Ink depicts Benfu's coming-of-age during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution.

©2015 Kay Bratt (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

loved it!!

The history was sad and amazing. The reader was very good. I really enjoyed it.

very intriguing historical fiction

I learned so much about the history of this era through this book. There is so much I never knew. The combination of the history and the fictional story kept me so intrigued I didn't want to put it down. I read the rest of the stories in the series and loved them all. Highly recommended.

Prequel to The Scavengers Daughter

It isn't necessary to read Palest Ink before SD but it gives a good background of Benfu. It reviews his teen years, how he got to the farm collective and details of his relationship with his best friend, Pony Boy. All these experiences mold him into the man he became, to have compassion and the big heart that allowed him to welcome abandoned girls. He meets Callie but because she is not welcomed by his parents he decides to become his own man, which in China, denying family is a very hard thing. Enjoyed the book very much, again it has some hard parts to read regarding the cruelty of Mao on his own people, but at the same time how thru fear, these same people are totally devoted to him even coming to turn in their own family. Don't think its quite as good as SD but nice to have Benfu's background.

Historically interesting, but juvenile writing

Would you listen to The Palest Ink again? Why?

The story, and subject is interesting, which makes the book worth reading.

But the writing itself is rather juvenile.

Fascinating

It’s a truly sad story but told(written) in a beautiful way. The reader can feel the characters intense emotions.

Breathtaking Story

This novel will stay with me for a long time. I can't help but compare what happened in China in 1966 to with what is happening in America today. A deparity between the rich having more than their share of resources and a life threatening famine brought revolution to China through Moa's Extremist, repressive policies and the stories of the peoples it affected. You'll have to read this to see what I mean.

so enjoyable

I really loved this story. The characters were heartwarming . Set in China and it is just good. It makes you understand the Mao communism like no other fictional book I have read. Listen to it, you will like it

China a country I never want to visit

The Palest Ink is a good book about the beginning of Mao revolution. In my opinion the best book in this subject is Red Azalea by Anchee Min, this book really tell you what happen in China during the years a Mao.

Will Damron awesome

Will Dameon is excellent in narrating this story. He brings it to life. Great character build up, great story line.

A beautiful piece of historical fiction

I enjoyed this book a great deal. The historical aspect was very well done and setting a coming of age story in it was lovely. Of course given the setting, it was sad as the history itself was, but it was a beautiful story that also included hope and love, not just tragedy.