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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Graphically, this book has great appeal. The pictures are well drawn and the text is not too wordy.
I haven't read anything else about the Boxer Rebellion, but it seems to me that the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist was a natural response to the European imperialist invasion of China and the use of the Christian religion to protect them. The use of the opera characters added to the story visually and highlighted the cultural differences between the two sides.
This book could lead to an excellent research unit about the time period and Chinese culture and history in general.
I haven't read anything else about the Boxer Rebellion, but it seems to me that the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist was a natural response to the European imperialist invasion of China and the use of the Christian religion to protect them. The use of the opera characters added to the story visually and highlighted the cultural differences between the two sides.
This book could lead to an excellent research unit about the time period and Chinese culture and history in general.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
even tho I'm not really into graphic novels this one was really good. it was fun reading it and learning! on to the next one :)
Boxers & Saints is an incredibly powerful piece of historical fiction told in the format of a graphic novel. The illustrations are potent and the story is heartbreaking. There are no winners; only losers. It is a story of revenge and intolerance. Gene Luen Yang has written an amazing novel that you will not forget.
The images in both books tell a very strong story. At times, it is very graphic where I suck in my breath as I see the next image. Yang depicted all the intolerance of the Boxer Rebellion from the Chinese and Christians alike. I found myself getting angry at both sides. I found no heroes; only villains and victims. War is horrific and Mr. Yang captured it with his words and illustrations. Just so very powerful!
As I read more graphic novels, I’m finding that they tell amazing stories and are a great medium for historical fiction. The use of vivid colors and graphic illustrations really bring a story to life. I enjoy looking at an author’s vision of a certain piece in history; in this case, The Boxer Rebellion. I knew very little about it. From this book, I really didn’t names, dates or place; instead I learned about love, hate, faith and loyalty. Those are true emotions of war and were depicted in a way that penetrates your mind and definitely leaves a permanent mark.
Boxers & Saints is a wonderful graphic novel that needs to be read and appreciated for a great work of historical fiction.
The images in both books tell a very strong story. At times, it is very graphic where I suck in my breath as I see the next image. Yang depicted all the intolerance of the Boxer Rebellion from the Chinese and Christians alike. I found myself getting angry at both sides. I found no heroes; only villains and victims. War is horrific and Mr. Yang captured it with his words and illustrations. Just so very powerful!
As I read more graphic novels, I’m finding that they tell amazing stories and are a great medium for historical fiction. The use of vivid colors and graphic illustrations really bring a story to life. I enjoy looking at an author’s vision of a certain piece in history; in this case, The Boxer Rebellion. I knew very little about it. From this book, I really didn’t names, dates or place; instead I learned about love, hate, faith and loyalty. Those are true emotions of war and were depicted in a way that penetrates your mind and definitely leaves a permanent mark.
Boxers & Saints is a wonderful graphic novel that needs to be read and appreciated for a great work of historical fiction.
Full review of both Boxers & Saints can be found here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
This graphic novel was another Christmas present from my mother. I was really into Chinese history and art as a youngster, so I am sure that grabbed my mother’s attention when she heard about Boxers and Saints. Gene Yuan Yang writes a story about the Boxer Rebellion that took place from 1898-1900. Many Chinese movies and books focus on the fall of the wealthy more so than the uprising of the poor, so this was interesting read.
The series is divided into two stories that intertwine at the end. Boxers, the first novel, is about a Bao who grew up being oppressed by the Christian missionaries. He bands togethers with his brothers and some locals to study kung-fu and fight the foreign invasion (the Christians). The other story is about Vibiana, who seeks equality and happiness through the church. Both characters struggle on the path they have chosen. Bao battles morals to bring peace to China. Vibiana struggles to find her place in society as a woman and questions her faith.
First, I am not a huge fan of the art style of this graphic. Visually speaking, the characters are well designed and distinguishable from each other. Nationalities are easy to differentiate without becoming stereotypical. But I found the bright and clean color scheme unfitting for the serious subject matter. The panels were too uniform and became a little boring after awhile.
When I finished reading the stories, I felt that not every part of the stories sat well with me. A lot of themes in the stories made no sense to me. But after I read a detailed history about the Boxer Rebellion, it suddenly made sense. For example, the author introduced a supernatural element in the beginning of “Boxers,” which I found odd. It became confusing when it vanished from the story and was never revisited even in the “Saints” story. It turns out that this was actually a historical reference, as boxers perform special rituals that made them invulnerable from attacks. Other examples would be the Red Lanterns and some of the characters exaggerated xenophobic views.
Overall the book is great if you’re already educated about the Boxer Rebellion, or to spark your interest in such a subject. It gives a great view of the people who were most affected by the Boxers, instead of focusing on political powers. I can see how this would be a great book for students to read in order to paint a bigger picture of what was going on.
The series is divided into two stories that intertwine at the end. Boxers, the first novel, is about a Bao who grew up being oppressed by the Christian missionaries. He bands togethers with his brothers and some locals to study kung-fu and fight the foreign invasion (the Christians). The other story is about Vibiana, who seeks equality and happiness through the church. Both characters struggle on the path they have chosen. Bao battles morals to bring peace to China. Vibiana struggles to find her place in society as a woman and questions her faith.
First, I am not a huge fan of the art style of this graphic. Visually speaking, the characters are well designed and distinguishable from each other. Nationalities are easy to differentiate without becoming stereotypical. But I found the bright and clean color scheme unfitting for the serious subject matter. The panels were too uniform and became a little boring after awhile.
When I finished reading the stories, I felt that not every part of the stories sat well with me. A lot of themes in the stories made no sense to me. But after I read a detailed history about the Boxer Rebellion, it suddenly made sense. For example, the author introduced a supernatural element in the beginning of “Boxers,” which I found odd. It became confusing when it vanished from the story and was never revisited even in the “Saints” story. It turns out that this was actually a historical reference, as boxers perform special rituals that made them invulnerable from attacks. Other examples would be the Red Lanterns and some of the characters exaggerated xenophobic views.
Overall the book is great if you’re already educated about the Boxer Rebellion, or to spark your interest in such a subject. It gives a great view of the people who were most affected by the Boxers, instead of focusing on political powers. I can see how this would be a great book for students to read in order to paint a bigger picture of what was going on.
I am quite unfamiliar with the Boxer Rebellion that took place in China but I am quite pleased to have a well rounded history lesson from [a:Gene Luen Yang|68959|Gene Luen Yang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1415919636p2/68959.jpg]. Wonderfully told and illustrated the story of Little Bao will spread for others to learn.
Really a 3.5. The only thing I knew about the Boxer Rebellion before this graphic novel was from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (Angel killed a slayer during the confusion). In pro-Christian America, you don't hear a lot about conflicts between missionaries and the people they are trying to convert. So it was difficult for me to not take this account as a straight up history lesson.
That being said, it's decidedly one-sided which makes it both a bit brilliant and a bit flat. I've already started Saints to get both sides of the story and if Yang had left Boxers alone, he would not have been successful at all. Because he presents both sides of the same issue, there is a greater appreciation for both volumes.
In terms of Boxers alone, the art was fantastic, the storyline compelling, but I wanted a bit more. I'm definitely going to add some sort of book to learn more about the Boxer Rebellion. And isn't that what great books do? Make you think, propel you to seek out more about the subject?? Kudos, Mr. Yang!
That being said, it's decidedly one-sided which makes it both a bit brilliant and a bit flat. I've already started Saints to get both sides of the story and if Yang had left Boxers alone, he would not have been successful at all. Because he presents both sides of the same issue, there is a greater appreciation for both volumes.
In terms of Boxers alone, the art was fantastic, the storyline compelling, but I wanted a bit more. I'm definitely going to add some sort of book to learn more about the Boxer Rebellion. And isn't that what great books do? Make you think, propel you to seek out more about the subject?? Kudos, Mr. Yang!
“What is China but a people and their stories?”
Very well written! Interesting way to present a historical event I vaguely knew of and now know more. Looking forward to the alternative perspective in Saints!
Very well written! Interesting way to present a historical event I vaguely knew of and now know more. Looking forward to the alternative perspective in Saints!