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library_kb 's review for:
Boxers
by Gene Luen Yang
challenging
sad
medium-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
This can be a hard graphic novel to read--it deals with a tragic topic: the racism, stereotypes, and colonization that led to the Boxer Rebellion. I haven't read Saints yet, but I know that while this book follows the perspective of a rural Chinese boy who is against foreigners presence in China, the other book presents the other side of the conflict. This book definitely succeeds in having the reader understand some of the factors that led to such hatred of foreigners and any Chinese people who adopted Western religion (Christianity--though it seemed the hatred had less to do with the religion and more to do with its association with the Westerners) or ways of life. The art style is really vivid and fits well with the Chinese legends interspersed throughout--do be aware that there is a lot of violence and death depicted on page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry