Reviews

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

raeanne's review against another edition

5.0

I love Gene Luen Yang's work. It always hooks me right away, keeps me wondering, and sticks with me long after finishing. Saints is no different.

I felt so bad for Four-Girl! And I was really hoping for a different end, even though I knew better. I honestly wasn't expecting the prologue at all though.

Like I said for Boxers, this is a much better way to learn about history, IMHO.

No matter what's next for Luen Yang, I can't wait to read it!

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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.