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gellyreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
5.0
great book and it really added to the story. this was really good
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad that most of the lists and review outlets consider Boxers and Saints together, because they really are a unit. I don't think this was quite as balanced a view of Christianity as it could have been. It was an amazing presentation of one life in a very complicated war, and what brought her to be on the "side" she was on. I love the way the stories combine, and how simply the format allows the idea that concepts such as right and wrong and winnersin war are not so simple at all.
ponch22's review against another edition
3.0
It feels only right to review [b:Boxers|17210470|Boxers (Boxers & Saints, #1)|Gene Luen Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1359199413l/17210470._SX50_.jpg|23691809] and [b:Saints|17210471|Saints (Boxers & Saints, #2)|Gene Luen Yang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1359199657l/17210471._SX50_.jpg|23691810] together since they're companion pieces, each telling a similar story from two different points of view.
[a:Gene Luen Yang|68959|Gene Luen Yang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1415919636p2/68959.jpg] tells a fictionalized version of the Boxer Rebellion from the POV of Little Bao, a young man who ends up becoming a leader of the Boxers, and from the POV of Four-Girl, a young girl from Bao's village who becomes a Christian after being visited by the spirit of Joan of Arc (not yet Saint-ed).
I read the larger Boxers first & loved Yang's illustrations and [a:Lark Pien|2679817|Lark Pien|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s colors. The slimmer Saints has a much more muted color palette (I suppose to make the ghostly Joan glow all the more?) but goes well as the second book read. (I feel like a reading of Saints before Boxers would have been wrong, especially since the epilogue of Saints negates the powerful ending of Boxers)
While I've heard of the Boxer Rebellion before, I never knew much about what it was (or even who fought in it). These two stories do a good job setting up the pros & cons for both sides—neither group is presented as fully good nor fully evil. It was interesting seeing the handful of scenes that are in both volumes. Boxers definitely feels like the stronger book (given its length, more details, and stronger ending); as I said previously, the Epilogue in Saints felt lazy when looking back at the first book's ending (although I did enjoy the quick callback to the prayer Four-Girl seemingly teaches without any text).
[a:Gene Luen Yang|68959|Gene Luen Yang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1415919636p2/68959.jpg] tells a fictionalized version of the Boxer Rebellion from the POV of Little Bao, a young man who ends up becoming a leader of the Boxers, and from the POV of Four-Girl, a young girl from Bao's village who becomes a Christian after being visited by the spirit of Joan of Arc (not yet Saint-ed).
I read the larger Boxers first & loved Yang's illustrations and [a:Lark Pien|2679817|Lark Pien|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s colors. The slimmer Saints has a much more muted color palette (I suppose to make the ghostly Joan glow all the more?) but goes well as the second book read. (I feel like a reading of Saints before Boxers would have been wrong, especially since the epilogue of Saints negates the powerful ending of Boxers)
While I've heard of the Boxer Rebellion before, I never knew much about what it was (or even who fought in it). These two stories do a good job setting up the pros & cons for both sides—neither group is presented as fully good nor fully evil. It was interesting seeing the handful of scenes that are in both volumes. Boxers definitely feels like the stronger book (given its length, more details, and stronger ending); as I said previously, the Epilogue in Saints felt lazy when looking back at the first book's ending (although I did enjoy the quick callback to the prayer Four-Girl seemingly teaches without any text).
historybowler's review against another edition
3.0
Closer to 3.5 stars. I think this is the weakest of the duology because it seems like the story isn't as well developed as Boxers. It is still good though!
hannahmcclee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
megadeathvsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Boxers was, overall, better. But this did a nice job of filling in the blanks.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book, but I can't help but compare it to the other volume, Boxers. I agree with another reviewer who said this seemed like an afterthought, or a special edition with "deleted scenes" that didn't make it into the final product. I really liked Four-Girl's story and wanted to see more. I really think Yang could have added a lot more detail into the story, especially with the Joan story line. At times that got a little confusing, and if you're not familiar with Joan of Arc it might be VERY confusing. I did still like it though!
tessadehart's review against another edition
5.0
The companion to Boxers, Saints is masterfully intertwined with the first side of the story while still being just as impactful. Showing the importance of acceptance and having something to believe in amongst the horrors of this conflict.
Incredibly powerful until the very end. Highly recommend. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!
Incredibly powerful until the very end. Highly recommend. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!