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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
(I can't possibly review these books separately, so I am just going to copy/paste this review into both.)
Listen, did I know ANYTHING about the Boxer Rebellion before reading these books? I probably could have told you that it was in China and MAYBE that it had something to do with opium, but that's it. Now, these books aren't a history, exactly, but are the stories of two young people (each getting their own volume) caught up in the forces surrounding the conflict.
While this doesn't attempt to tell the whole story of the rebellion, these two quick reads tell compelling stories filled with context that makes the issues feel immediate, graspable, and definitely relatable. These books should be taught in schools.
The white European entitlement/compulsion to both spread Christianity and make money is one of the familiar and tragic roots here. There is so much to rave about in both the art and the story-telling that I don't know where or how to start. I loved both of these volumes with a fierceness, and will definitely be urging both of my children to read them.
Listen, did I know ANYTHING about the Boxer Rebellion before reading these books? I probably could have told you that it was in China and MAYBE that it had something to do with opium, but that's it. Now, these books aren't a history, exactly, but are the stories of two young people (each getting their own volume) caught up in the forces surrounding the conflict.
While this doesn't attempt to tell the whole story of the rebellion, these two quick reads tell compelling stories filled with context that makes the issues feel immediate, graspable, and definitely relatable. These books should be taught in schools.
The white European entitlement/compulsion to both spread Christianity and make money is one of the familiar and tragic roots here. There is so much to rave about in both the art and the story-telling that I don't know where or how to start. I loved both of these volumes with a fierceness, and will definitely be urging both of my children to read them.
I love everything I've read by Gene Luen Yang, and I'm definitely going to read Saints now. This book gutted me, it's such a simple art style and story, but it's so powerful.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Boxers, the larger of the two works, tells the story of the events leading up to and including the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. It focuses on one character, Little Bao, who essentially is the single person who organizes the rebellion to take China back from the imperialist foreigners who are taking away their culture. Like Yang's other works, there is magic realism in the story, but unlike his other works, there's actually a historical precedent behind that magic realism. That isn't to say that the Chinese actually used magic in the rebellion, but the history tells us that the leaders of the rebellion did believe that they were channeling their Gods when they went into battle. The story is fictionalized, in that Little Bao wasn't a real person, but merely an invention to make the story more interesting, and to relate the events back to the reader through the character.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s about the Boxer Rebellion. The protagonist Little Bao comes to lead a group that aims to overthrow foreign interests in China. It’s his coming of age story. It’s wonderfully told. It’s emotional, it’s inspiring, it’s surprisingly quite violent in its imagery for a book aimed perhaps initially at quite young readers. However, it aims to provoke discussion. In that sense it’s exemplary and a must read regardless of age. On to the companion book Saints soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
All the triggers in this book are in service of showing the reality of this war but in a relatively all ages friendly manner. This is a must read and will inspire a lot of discussion of the conflicting themes and belief systems shown through this narrative. Do not miss out on this book. On to the companion book Saints soon.
A comic book/graphic novel retelling of the Boxer Rebellion, with a healthy dose of magical realism injected in, cleverly using the spiritual beliefs of the Boxers. Needs to be read together with Saints.
I learned a lot about the Boxer Rebellion and Yang has a knack for putting magical realist elements to good use.
Boxers begins the two-part story of the Boxer Rebellion, which took place in China at the end of the 19th century. Fed up by increasing presence of foreign missionaries and soldiers, a boy named Little Bao begins training in the traditional art of Kung Fu along with several others from the village. As foreign influence spreads, so too does the general sense of discontent among many of the Chinese commoners. Bao and his friends believe that they have taken on the power of their own gods; gods who help them win their battles against the "foreign devils" that appear to be taking over China. They travel from town to town, training more men (and even some women) to join the fight. As the violence reaches its apex, Bao finds his band of men winning over and over. Even still, there is a heavy price to pay as many of Bao's own countrymen and women are being identified as "secondary devils" (Chinese converted to Christianity) and are slaughtered for it. Is this what the gods wanted?
The first half of this story is gripping and action-packed. It is difficult, however, to review this book without referencing the second, so I'll save my thoughts on the work as a whole for my review of Saints.
The first half of this story is gripping and action-packed. It is difficult, however, to review this book without referencing the second, so I'll save my thoughts on the work as a whole for my review of Saints.
I really liked this. I had heard of the story of the so-called Boxer Rebellion (so-called by the West who claimed imperial ownership) but had not really read much about it. This book and the companion book providing 2 viewpoints from the Chinese perspective.
I really also enjoyed the story without racialized drawings, meaning that in a few other cartoons, such as Hergé's 'Tintin' comics, it was typical for Western Cartoonists to draw stereotypes based on common racist attitudes, attitudes often put forward by their own imperialist countries to justify taking the country without permission. (Just to say, while Hergé has a few books lazily depicting stereotypes, for The Blue Lotus story, he took the time to meet people from China & speak with them about their culture & perspective. His story ended up being much more than a comic story and became an internationally well-known historical fictional work.)
Yang, author of American Born Chinese, doesn't deal directly with stereotypes but rather with basic concept of men (a people) defending themselves. Very different from how the West has understood it or portrayed it, as far as my experience, anyway.
I really also enjoyed the story without racialized drawings, meaning that in a few other cartoons, such as Hergé's 'Tintin' comics, it was typical for Western Cartoonists to draw stereotypes based on common racist attitudes, attitudes often put forward by their own imperialist countries to justify taking the country without permission. (Just to say, while Hergé has a few books lazily depicting stereotypes, for The Blue Lotus story, he took the time to meet people from China & speak with them about their culture & perspective. His story ended up being much more than a comic story and became an internationally well-known historical fictional work.)
Yang, author of American Born Chinese, doesn't deal directly with stereotypes but rather with basic concept of men (a people) defending themselves. Very different from how the West has understood it or portrayed it, as far as my experience, anyway.