1994, rural China: Twelve-year-old Chen Di loves and protects her long-awaited little brother, but when she witnesses an unforgettable scene with her aunts and the authorities, everything she thought she knew about her community collapses. 2002, Shanghai: The daring young Chen Di, who practices aikido, has undergone a radical change from her innocent younger self. Now, hardened by her experiences, her determination to avenge her mother's murderer is stronger than ever - and she has prepared herself not to allow any kind of love. Alone in the big city, and with the unwanted attentions of an arrogant, charming teenager and a martial arts teacher who insists on peace over violence, her toughness begins to crumble - planting a seed of doubt about completing her revenge plan. Spanning a decade in the early twenty-first century, The Cry of Silk is an emotional and challenging coming-of-age story - and a harsh look at the impact of the one-child policy in China, from a strikingly fresh new voice.