Wild Ginger - Valerie

I am not that far into the book, Wild Ginger, by Anchee Min, but so far it is interesting. We have met three main character in this book so far, the narrator, Hot Pepper, and Wild Ginger. The narrator talks about how her parents and grandparents were teachers instead of participants in the Red Guard, so she wasn't always welcome around Hot Pepper. Hot Pepper is the leader of the Red Guard, and was a firm believer in violence, hitting was apart of her treatment. I am assuming this book took place during some kind of war or revolution because the Red Guard is all they talk about. The narrator considered Hot Pepper the bully girl. These people had to bring "three piece treasure everywhere they went to show loyalty toward Chairman Mao, we have not yet met Mao. The three pieces were: a mao button, a little red book -which contained Mao quotations- and if you were a Red Guard, an armband. The other character we met is named Wild Ginger, when she first enters the classroom Hot Pepper questioned her about the Red Guard and her name, trying to make Wild Ginger look like a reactionary. At this part after Wild Ginger gets badgered by Hot Pepper she stands up for herself. The narrator seems to really look up to her after this part, because no one has ever stood up for themselves to her, everyone is to scared of Hot Pepper. I think the narrator and Wild Ginger will become good friends/allies.