Reviews

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

drearyletters's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

annemariewellswriter's review

4.0

Even though I'm 0% Christian, I found this graphic novel captivating and finished it in one sitting. Four-girl/Vibiana is funny and quirky and you want to know what happens to her in her life.

grid's review

3.0

Eh, I liked this slightly better than the first book, but it was still depressing and without moral compass. (Though maybe that was the point.)

nglofile's review

2.0

Frankly, a disappointment. I'd hoped I'd like Boxers even better once I considered the books in tandem, but instead I find my favorable opinion lessened. I have great respect for stories told from opposing points of view, but the technique needs to show equal sympathy for both sides. I can't say in good conscience that this accomplishes that.

margaretemm's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jbmorgan86's review

4.0

This book recommended to me by a friend after I praised Yang’s most famous work, “American Born Chinese.” This book was equally is good. It is half of a two-part series that retells the story of the Boxer Rebellion in 19th century China. In this one, the protagonist, Four-Girl, wants to become a “devil.” When she sees a Christian missionary destroy idols, she thinks that becoming a Christian is the ultimate way to become a devil. She then starts having visions of Joan of Arc.

This book was very well done. It seems simple on the surface, but there’s some real depth here.

hao_ming_zi's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

God! This whole series beautifully (and horrifically) shows how events are connected and how ideas breed violence and that "violent" revolutions are in no way comparable on any scale to the oppression of class struggle and the abusive, manipulative evangelicals who promote their religion to save "the lessers" just like capitalism and fascism suggest they do too. Especially when the US uses free market politics and the pursuit of saving third world countries from "terrorists" and "rebels" in an attempt to further those who have the most money and resources by building infrastructure and literally constructing the society to best serve capitalist interest all the while subverting the narrative to cater to the so called saviors aka western countries.

ajcain92's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

nakedsushi's review

3.0

This is less about the Boxer rebellion and more like a story that takes place a little before it. I liked the blending of fantasy (the raccoon) and reality. Some spots had humor, but mostly, this is a serious story. I couldn't help but feel it was a bit shallow, though.

risabella's review

5.0

I wish this was one was longer because I enjoyed this storyline more than Boxers. (I may be biased as a Catholic...) I really liked how this also had a magical element to it, St. Joan of Arc is also one of my faves. But tying both Joan and Vibiana's story together was really clever.