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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I was fortunate enough to meet and help host Gene Luen Yang at our school on his rise to stardom, just as American Born Chinese was being recognized by the Printz. I have followed his career ever since, and this book adds to the piles of things that make me admire him. He is an exceptionally kind man, and his voice is strong in this well-told and imagined story.
Well done, Gene.
Well done, Gene.
This graphic novel combines history and fantasy in telling the tale of the Boxer Rebellion. Currently, my knowledge of the Boxer Rebellion is limited, so I am unable to comment on the historical accuracy of events portrayed, but I was definitely intrigued after reading this! I would say that this would be best for 5th/6th and up due to the violence and themes portrayed-it is war, after all. It is a bit gory, but not unnecessarily so. This was well-done and I am looking forward to reading the companion novel, Saints. In the back, it does helpfully list other sources that the reader might be interested in information about the Boxer Rebellion, the Chinese Opera, Missionaries to China, and the general culture of China.
I am looking forward to reading more from Gene Luen Yang. Storytelling was simple, straightforward and with heart. Graphics were clean, simplistic and beautiful.
2018 Around the Year in 52 Books: A book about or inspired by real events - 13/52
2018 Around the Year in 52 Books: A book about or inspired by real events - 13/52
Definitely made me want to learn more about the actual Boxer Rebellion.
This. Book. Broke. my. Heart.
Drawing style was deceivingly cute and very clean. I enjoyed it, but be forwarded that this graphic novel does not hold back violence. There are multiple graphic beheadings and deaths that may not suit a young child or those with a weak stomach.
This. Book. Broke. my. Heart.
Drawing style was deceivingly cute and very clean. I enjoyed it, but be forwarded that this graphic novel does not hold back violence. There are multiple graphic beheadings and deaths that may not suit a young child or those with a weak stomach.
Boxers & Saints is a set of graphic companion novels. The story centers on the Boxer Rebellion in China, and anti-foreigner and anti-Christian movement from 1898 and 1900. Both books feature the same fantastic art by Yang, backed up with interesting characters and strong storylines. I liked, too, how the author indicated the white foreigner's language in Chinese characters (or what appear to be Chinese characters), so that as English language readers we can share the sense of incomprehension when the foreigners speak.
In Boxers, Little Bao learns martial arts and calls upon the spirits of ancient Chinese gods to give him strength in order to rise up with an army of Boxers to fight off and free China from the foreign devils that oppress the country. As the violence begins to grow and Little Bao is forced to break the moral edicts he vowed to follow, he begins to question whether he is truely following the right path.
In Saints, the main character is a fourth and unwanted child, who does not even have a name. Called Fourth-Child by her family, she eventually finds a name, Vibiana, and a place for herself among the Christian community. As the Boxer rebellion grows, she has to decide whether to hold onto the community that has accepted her or join her countrymen in defending China.
Both storylines present a moral ambiguity to the events, the subtle questioning of what is really the right path and whether China can really be made whole through battle. Both also contain supernatural elements, with the Chinese gods appearing to Little Bao and the spirit of not-yet-sainted Joan of Arc appearing to Vibiana. Both work fairly well as stand alone stories, but reading them together is a much more complete and enjoyable experience.
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Sample art from Boxers:
In Boxers, Little Bao learns martial arts and calls upon the spirits of ancient Chinese gods to give him strength in order to rise up with an army of Boxers to fight off and free China from the foreign devils that oppress the country. As the violence begins to grow and Little Bao is forced to break the moral edicts he vowed to follow, he begins to question whether he is truely following the right path.
In Saints, the main character is a fourth and unwanted child, who does not even have a name. Called Fourth-Child by her family, she eventually finds a name, Vibiana, and a place for herself among the Christian community. As the Boxer rebellion grows, she has to decide whether to hold onto the community that has accepted her or join her countrymen in defending China.
Both storylines present a moral ambiguity to the events, the subtle questioning of what is really the right path and whether China can really be made whole through battle. Both also contain supernatural elements, with the Chinese gods appearing to Little Bao and the spirit of not-yet-sainted Joan of Arc appearing to Vibiana. Both work fairly well as stand alone stories, but reading them together is a much more complete and enjoyable experience.
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Sample art from Boxers:
While not everything in here is literally true (like, the warriors didn't actually turn into gods, I'm certain), this humanizes the Boxer Rebellion. In this volume, we see the Chinese who are trying to defend their country's culture from the "foreign devils" bringing Christianity; in the companion, we see the Rebellion from the POV of the Christians. Yang tells both stories in such a way that the reader's sympathies are with everybody--nobody is completely wrong or right, but everyone is in a terrible situation and wants what's best.
A happier ending to both volumes would have been satisfying, but then also unfaithful to the story being told.
A happier ending to both volumes would have been satisfying, but then also unfaithful to the story being told.
It was very good and an easy read! The ending seemed a bit forced, but I am very excited to read Saints now!
A horrifically sad account of the Boxer Rebellion that will bring forth a new perspective to what occurred in China during that time. It removes itself from the distant and western gaze of history and explores personal feelings of both converts and boxers--both victims of western imperialism--as well as the disgusting lengths people go for patriotism and strength.
*Review for both "Boxers" and companion book "Saints."
This is a hard one to review. I had a thousand and one thoughts while I was reading it, and I'd love to talk to someone about this book. but I don't know how to organize those thoughts into a cohesive overview of this duo. It made me want to learn more about the Boxer Rebellion, but I don't think that's a requirement to read and enjoy this book.
I keep trying graphic novels because the first one I read (American Born Chinese) was AMAZING, but I keep feeling let down by all the others I've tried. I can't decide if the first graphic novel was a fluke, or if I'm just really bad at picking good ones to read. This duo is by the same author as "American Born Chinese" so I figured I'd give it a go and see if I it would help me decide if it's the genre that's the problem.
Much like "American Born Chinese," this duo is heavily driven by character, which is kind of strange for a story I expected to learn a lot of historical information from. I thought it would be more plot heavy. This isn't a downside, but it made for a constant readjustment on my part as I read the book and tried to figure out what I was getting from it. That's sort of the thing about this author's book... they make you feel like there's so much more there than just what is on the surface, but I couldn't really understand what was underneath the surface of this duo.
I also expected that since each book told one perspective of the Boxer Rebellion, it would be a really interesting look into the convictions of either side of a conflict. I thought it would be interesting to see what drives each side of such a conflict to fight to the death for their beliefs... but because it was so dependent on these imperfect characters, it was more about them slowly coming to find conviction... they didn't begin with strong beliefs, but rather grew into them as the conflict wore on (particularly the character in "Saints.") It didn't seem like they were driven by conviction... or at least the accidental Christian wasn't.
I enjoyed, as always with Gene Luen Yang, the mythic aspects in both stories, and I'm now resolved to learn more about Joan of Arc. I love the subtle way Gene Luen Yang slowly intertwines the different aspects of his stories, but while "American Born Chinese" does this seamlessly and magically, "Boxers" and "Saints" left me feeling vaguely confused and dissatisfied.
It is almost certain I will read more books by Gene Luen Yang... but I still haven't cracked the Graphic Novel genre, and now I suspect I never will.
This is a hard one to review. I had a thousand and one thoughts while I was reading it, and I'd love to talk to someone about this book. but I don't know how to organize those thoughts into a cohesive overview of this duo. It made me want to learn more about the Boxer Rebellion, but I don't think that's a requirement to read and enjoy this book.
I keep trying graphic novels because the first one I read (American Born Chinese) was AMAZING, but I keep feeling let down by all the others I've tried. I can't decide if the first graphic novel was a fluke, or if I'm just really bad at picking good ones to read. This duo is by the same author as "American Born Chinese" so I figured I'd give it a go and see if I it would help me decide if it's the genre that's the problem.
Much like "American Born Chinese," this duo is heavily driven by character, which is kind of strange for a story I expected to learn a lot of historical information from. I thought it would be more plot heavy. This isn't a downside, but it made for a constant readjustment on my part as I read the book and tried to figure out what I was getting from it. That's sort of the thing about this author's book... they make you feel like there's so much more there than just what is on the surface, but I couldn't really understand what was underneath the surface of this duo.
I also expected that since each book told one perspective of the Boxer Rebellion, it would be a really interesting look into the convictions of either side of a conflict. I thought it would be interesting to see what drives each side of such a conflict to fight to the death for their beliefs... but because it was so dependent on these imperfect characters, it was more about them slowly coming to find conviction... they didn't begin with strong beliefs, but rather grew into them as the conflict wore on (particularly the character in "Saints.") It didn't seem like they were driven by conviction... or at least the accidental Christian wasn't.
I enjoyed, as always with Gene Luen Yang, the mythic aspects in both stories, and I'm now resolved to learn more about Joan of Arc. I love the subtle way Gene Luen Yang slowly intertwines the different aspects of his stories, but while "American Born Chinese" does this seamlessly and magically, "Boxers" and "Saints" left me feeling vaguely confused and dissatisfied.
It is almost certain I will read more books by Gene Luen Yang... but I still haven't cracked the Graphic Novel genre, and now I suspect I never will.