sducharme 's review for:

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

4.0

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This graphic novel fictionalizes the events leading up to the Boxer Rebellion in China in the early 1900s. From his origins as a simple villager to his rise as a kung fu fighter, we follow Little Boa's journey through the Chinese countryside as he kills Christians (bloodily) and battles his inner guilt about the violence. He subconsciously transposes beloved gods from Chinese opera onto his compatriots, seeing them (and himself) as archetypes. In his dreams, he's visited by the First Emperor, who serves as his conscience and also his nemesis.

Overall, an engaging read and a quick (and sometimes funny) introduction to the history behind the Boxer Rebellion.

Must read: the companion "Saints" tells the other side of the story.