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lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
What an incredible graphic novel! I don't really know much about history, so this was a welcome lesson--and what an intriguing one it was. Yang's illustrations and characters all lend themselves to a convincing and engaging story. Every aspect was rich and vibrant, and I loved the cultural aspects of Chinese opera, farming vs city, and gender.
For those not in the know, like me prior to reading this, Boxers details the struggle that many Chinese folks had towards the Christian missionaries/colonizers. Their ways of living and entertainment were affected, and their ways of being certainly weren't being respected.
Little Bao's story of being the under dog and coming out on top as a successful grassroots leader is hopeful, inspiring. One can easily empathize with him and his call to arms, and understand the tragedies which happen to him and around him.
Overall, this was such an intense, wonderful, fast read that educated while it entertained.
Review cross-listed here!
For those not in the know, like me prior to reading this, Boxers details the struggle that many Chinese folks had towards the Christian missionaries/colonizers. Their ways of living and entertainment were affected, and their ways of being certainly weren't being respected.
Little Bao's story of being the under dog and coming out on top as a successful grassroots leader is hopeful, inspiring. One can easily empathize with him and his call to arms, and understand the tragedies which happen to him and around him.
Overall, this was such an intense, wonderful, fast read that educated while it entertained.
Review cross-listed here!
lannthacker's review against another edition
4.0
FINALIST - A beautifully strange and sad imagining of the Boxer Rebellion. I loved the artful facial expressions and use of color.
smallafterall's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure how I feel about this one. Made me want to read the good earth again, and I will definitely be reading the companion book Santa, as I'm sure it will broaden my understanding of this one. I felt as if I wasn't sure where the author stood. Or perhaps my own assumptions and biases were just being challenged.
lee214's review against another edition
5.0
an incredible read. the art style is and use of color is beautiful. the story is tragic and gripping. the violence is graphically depicted, making the reader really feel the horror and tragedy at play. Gives me interest into a historical event I had not previously heard of. I would recommend this book at both young adult audiences and older audiences.
dynamicdylan's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful story about the chinese revolution and the movement of Christianity. That's not an accurate discription at all because I read this over a year ago. I just remember crying and loving it.
thisisstephenbetts's review against another edition
Not without its charm - I'm reserving judgement until I've read the companion volume, "Saints".
jwinchell's review against another edition
5.0
This is an awe-inspiring story of imperialism and rebellion. The color is astounding. I loved the gods, especially when they were in action. Just-right humor brought much-needed levity to very dark situations. This is a generic & wimpy statement, but I learned a lot through Little Bao's story.
liketheday's review against another edition
3.0
Both books in this set provide a fantastic overview of this whole Boxer Rebellion thing that I know so little about, what with my established antipathy toward all things history. My knowledge is a lot better now that I've read these books and done some cursory Internet searches, so three thumbs up for learning things! I love that Yang shows "both" sides of the story, Boxer and Christian, but also shows that each side has its own good and bad guys and that history and life are super complicated.
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oltombom's review against another edition
4.0
This was excellent and bleak. It is the first of two books about the Chinese Boxer Rebellion in 1899. This was when some of the Chinese people fought against the Europeans and Chinese collaborators (like Christian converts). This book is from the Chinese, Boxer perspective. I really like the mix of natural and supernatural in Gene Luen Yang's graphic novels. The main characters are guided and empowered by Chinese ancestors and gods/goddesses. Sometimes their guides tell the characters to do some terrible things in order to win, and they have to decide whether or not to follow their commands.
This was the first graphic novel I read by Gene Luen Yang, and it had a few instances of objectifying women. I really like the author's graphic novels, except for these moments, so it is disappointing to come across the very few objectifying comments. This book was published in 2013, and hopefully he has learned and changed over the years.
This was the first graphic novel I read by Gene Luen Yang, and it had a few instances of objectifying women. I really like the author's graphic novels, except for these moments, so it is disappointing to come across the very few objectifying comments. This book was published in 2013, and hopefully he has learned and changed over the years.
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
This graphic novel fictionalizes the events leading up to the Boxer Rebellion in China in the early 1900s. From his origins as a simple villager to his rise as a kung fu fighter, we follow Little Boa's journey through the Chinese countryside as he kills Christians (bloodily) and battles his inner guilt about the violence. He subconsciously transposes beloved gods from Chinese opera onto his compatriots, seeing them (and himself) as archetypes. In his dreams, he's visited by the First Emperor, who serves as his conscience and also his nemesis.
Overall, an engaging read and a quick (and sometimes funny) introduction to the history behind the Boxer Rebellion.
Must read: the companion "Saints" tells the other side of the story.
Overall, an engaging read and a quick (and sometimes funny) introduction to the history behind the Boxer Rebellion.
Must read: the companion "Saints" tells the other side of the story.