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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
A fascinating story of the Boxer Rebellion from one particular perspective. I loved the simple illustrations, the magical realism, and the passion of the main character, Bao. Bao was complex and believable and it was a very human depiction of a complicated time in history.
I haven't read the companion book, Saints (told from the opposite side of the Boxer Rebellion), yet, but am very much looking forward to it.
I haven't read the companion book, Saints (told from the opposite side of the Boxer Rebellion), yet, but am very much looking forward to it.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Why does the artwork make caricatures of the Chinese? Why did the Chinese use the term that the Portueges and others used for them? (I.e. Foreign devils was a term used in the west, to my understanding. Chinese natives used the term for Western people or people from the west and that encompassed everyone from the edge of China onward so...). What was the message? What is the takeaway, the meaning that the children this book is aimed toward are supposed to learn? The fact that the boy who became a martial arts master got to live while the girl died takes away from the power of the ending of both books. I think there are other books by Chinese and Chinese Americans or other Chinese immigrants around the world that would be a better middle-grade introduction to the Boxers war. I was sorely disappointed that the author did not take the chance to weave in what history means for current-day Beijing and Hong Kong.
I would not recommend this book to middle-grade readers.
I would not recommend this book to middle-grade readers.
dark
informative
reflective
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
After reading the companion volume, "Saints," it really gave a sense of completion to a complicated story, wonderfully told from 2 different perspectives. 3.5/5
Live chat with Gene Luen Yang: https://youtu.be/ex7YKG02_N4
Live chat with Gene Luen Yang: https://youtu.be/ex7YKG02_N4
I had a feeling Gene Luen Yang would do a wonderful job of turning a horrific period of Chinese history into a graphic novel sprinkled just right with humor as well as reality, and I was right. Also, as in previous books, both Boxers and Saints (the companion to this titles) are rich with visual and textual elements of Chinese culture, as well as the Boxer Rebellion itself. He truly brings the period to life through his fictional (and some probably nonfictional) characters' experiences and personalities.
I give this 4 1/2 stars. Highly recommended for teens and adults who like graphic novels, are Yang fans, or are interested in history. I hope this gets onto a lot of pleasure-reading lists as well as school assignments and summer-reading options.
I give this 4 1/2 stars. Highly recommended for teens and adults who like graphic novels, are Yang fans, or are interested in history. I hope this gets onto a lot of pleasure-reading lists as well as school assignments and summer-reading options.
Ambiguous story of a tragic time. I like what Yang is doing here, I like the history he presents, and how he does that. I like that he tells more than one story and how those stories intersect and reverberate. I like that he leaves so much unanswered in the end, and that it made me want to know more about the Boxer rebellion. At the same time, war is hard to read about, even in graphic novel form, and the ambiguity both enhances the story and makes it frustrating, much like life, I guess.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Did I _like_ it? That's a question I can't answer.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Did I _like_ it? That's a question I can't answer.
Finally sat down and actually read this, after flipping through it occasionally for a week or so.
This was really fantastic. It did what all the best historical fiction does -- it left me insanely curious and wanting to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the characters' plight. I can't wait to read Saints, the companion volume.
This was really fantastic. It did what all the best historical fiction does -- it left me insanely curious and wanting to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the characters' plight. I can't wait to read Saints, the companion volume.