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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Boxers & Saints are beautiful graphic novels that need to be read together. They give the history of the Boxer Rebellion from both sides, through the eyes of young people. In Saints, Four-Daughter grows up in a harsh home. She finds kindness in some Chinese Christian converts and a missionary. In visions of Joan of Arc, Four Daughter begins to realize she can make decisions regarding the course of her own life. The books use magic realism in the form of spiritual visions. The complexity of history is well portrayed. I want to know more about the Boxer Rebellion after reading these books.
If you would have asked me what the Boxer Rebellion was before reading this book, I couldn't have even told you it took place in China. Yang's duet (Boxers & Saints) paints an interesting storyline from both sides of the rebellion. This fictional retelling is notably young-adult, with stifled innuendos and muted violence, but it was still an effective way to tell the story. I especially liked when The Society of Righteous and Harmonious FIsts would transform into Chinese deities. Informative and interesting, and a fast-paced read.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read Boxers and Saints one right after the other essentially as one book. As they overlap timeframe and just follow different people, I'm going to write one review for the two.
I'm aware that this is a fictional story regarding a real war, but I'm not sure what my takeaway should be. Like, is this a critique of religious zealotry inciting violence in general? Was it meant to be point out how crappy it is to overrun a people's culture because you think you're right and they're wrong?
We get both sides. And we're kind of led to believe that both sides are right.
BUT, the invaders' side (Saints) is presented by a Chinese girl who seemingly barely understand the religion she's been adopted into. She grows into more understanding, but still not much. Her father seemingly had delusions and now she sees people that aren't there, too. So is she a reliable narrator?
The "rebels" are Chinese people that are rejecting the invaders and their religion, which should be acceptable, but is it? They're killing everyone - women and children, too. And are they delusional? They seem to think a ritual turns them into actual gods. The leader sees people that no one else sees. How reliable is his narration?
Maybe the takeaway is just that life is messy and complicated and there's no simple answer for things? But I feel like there's at least one simple solution here: don't force your beliefs on others and don't try to change others' briefs unless they are causing harm with their beliefs.
I'm aware that this is a fictional story regarding a real war, but I'm not sure what my takeaway should be. Like, is this a critique of religious zealotry inciting violence in general? Was it meant to be point out how crappy it is to overrun a people's culture because you think you're right and they're wrong?
We get both sides. And we're kind of led to believe that both sides are right.
BUT, the invaders' side (Saints) is presented by a Chinese girl who seemingly barely understand the religion she's been adopted into. She grows into more understanding, but still not much. Her father seemingly had delusions and now she sees people that aren't there, too. So is she a reliable narrator?
The "rebels" are Chinese people that are rejecting the invaders and their religion, which should be acceptable, but is it? They're killing everyone - women and children, too. And are they delusional? They seem to think a ritual turns them into actual gods. The leader sees people that no one else sees. How reliable is his narration?
Maybe the takeaway is just that life is messy and complicated and there's no simple answer for things? But I feel like there's at least one simple solution here: don't force your beliefs on others and don't try to change others' briefs unless they are causing harm with their beliefs.
This sequel to Boxers was interesting in the way Vibiana's journey mirrored Bao's. They both were bullied from a young age and ran off to join an environment where they could thrive. They were both drawn into the fanaticism of protecting the causes that a friend and father figure had introduced them to, and they both died at the end of their books (the difference being that in Saints, it is revealed that Bao is not dead). I loved the irony at the end when Bao lets Vibiana pray before he kills her for her religion only to be saved by pretending to be Christian in order to escape after he loses the battle. It was also interesting to see the differences between the two main character's mentors, Joan of Arc and Ch'in Shih-huang, and how in the end, they both abandon Vibiana and Bao. This was all around a good and intriguing read and it made me think in ways I hadn't before.
The opposite perspective of the Boxer Rebellion told from the point of view of a Christian. It intersects with Bao's story from the Boxers book.
dark
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, War
Minor: Drug abuse
'Saints' wasn't as good as 'Boxers'. I don't know if that's because Little Bao was a cooler main character than Vibiana, or if the opera gods were a more interesting fantasy element than Joan of Arc. Yang's coverage of two opposing sides of the Boxer Rebellion is unusual and appreciated.