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willoem's review against another edition
4.0
Captivating from the start, with an immediately engaging concept where you know you will get two sides of a story. Endearing graphics and powerful allusions to cultural traditions and heritage while keeping it simple by following two main characters through their childhood and youth. These two graphic novels have their collective finger on the pulse of the emotional, ethical, and personal complexities in the time of the Boxer Rebellion. Come away sad, but sympathetic.
breakfastgrey's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fantasy is my jam right now. The premise of this story is fantastic and both sides of the conflict show a variety of characters with a variety of motivations with their own moral triumphs and shortcomings. I will say that I found Boxers to be a stronger book, though. Still, great reads that are all but impossible to put down. Highly recommended.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
My knowledge of Chinese history is pitifully limited, but I've now learned about the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901). In this set of YA graphic novels, Gene Luen Yang does a brilliant job telling the story of the rebellion from two points of view. Boxers features Little Bao, a young villager fed up with mistreatment by the 'foreign devils.' He becomes a leader of a fighting group charged with ridding China of the foreign devils and Christianity. Saints features Four-girl (Vibiana), a young, unwanted girl who finally finds a home and a name within Christianity. She becomes a secondary devil (Chinese who converted to Christianity) and her path crosses with Little Bao's path in both books. Neither book has a happy ending and both do a decent job of recognizing that neither group was all right or all wrong.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
4.0
Amazingly powerful, but I really wished for an author's note giving some of the historical background.
wambamstrawberryjam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
jameshousworth's review against another edition
4.0
About a year ago, I had a realization: I know next to nothing about Asian history. In particular, I knew next to nothing about the Boxer Rebellion. Who were these "Boxers"? How did they get so much influence? And why on earth did they go around China killing any Christian they could find?
The information I found was interesting, but I still didn't really understand why these people did what they did. This book changed that.
Gene Luen Yang gets you in the shoes of the average traditional Chinese kid of that era, and helps you see and feel the built-up anger and resentment that led so many people to trust and join the Boxers. But what I thought was most powerful in the book was the way he shows the characters battling back and forth between being ashamed for killing innocent Christians and feeling ashamed for not having the resolve to "do whatever it takes to save China." He walks that line almost perfectly with his characters.
That all happens in the "Boxers" volume of "Boxers and Saints", which was my favorite of the two volumes. The "Saints" volume just wasn't as good. There was much less action, the characters were much less interesting, and I felt like the the author squandered his opportunity to get a clear picture of a terrified but faithful Chinese Christian caught in the crisis. Still worth reading (these are graphic novels, so it takes like 2 hours to read both volumes in their entirety), but "Boxers" was definitely the better half.
This is one of the best graphic novels I've read, and I definitely recommend it.
The information I found was interesting, but I still didn't really understand why these people did what they did. This book changed that.
Gene Luen Yang gets you in the shoes of the average traditional Chinese kid of that era, and helps you see and feel the built-up anger and resentment that led so many people to trust and join the Boxers. But what I thought was most powerful in the book was the way he shows the characters battling back and forth between being ashamed for killing innocent Christians and feeling ashamed for not having the resolve to "do whatever it takes to save China." He walks that line almost perfectly with his characters.
That all happens in the "Boxers" volume of "Boxers and Saints", which was my favorite of the two volumes. The "Saints" volume just wasn't as good. There was much less action, the characters were much less interesting, and I felt like the the author squandered his opportunity to get a clear picture of a terrified but faithful Chinese Christian caught in the crisis. Still worth reading (these are graphic novels, so it takes like 2 hours to read both volumes in their entirety), but "Boxers" was definitely the better half.
This is one of the best graphic novels I've read, and I definitely recommend it.
funyuns_the_movie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
bengresik's review against another edition
4.0
I knew nothing about the Boxer Rebellion before reading these books. Now I know slightly more than nothing, and am also aware that the story has nuance to it that I might not otherwise have been aware of. I'm interested to learn more.
I also enjoyed the storytelling in this book. The way it makes use of parallel stories from different characters encouraged me to consider where they might be meeting up while reading the first volume and then seeing the reveal in the second.
I also enjoyed the storytelling in this book. The way it makes use of parallel stories from different characters encouraged me to consider where they might be meeting up while reading the first volume and then seeing the reveal in the second.
glowbird's review against another edition
4.0
Very nicely done. Clear story telling, excellent art. Yang creates a complex world of people and consequences without taking sides or moralizing.
nssutton's review against another edition
4.0
Masterfully executed work of historical fiction, combining the realities of the Boxer Rebellion with larger realities of what it means to be human, protect what you believe in, and find yourself. The artwork is as stunning as the storytelling.
Although the two are meant to compliment each other, Saints will stick with me a little more. Vibiana's story is so heart-wrenching compared to the violence of Little Bao's choices. Both stories touch upon what is lost in the fight to try and save something, and when the two characters finally intersect.. well.. it's best left unsaid.
I felt deeply ashamed about how little I know on the Boxer Rebellion while reading these books. I can tell you exactly when we learned about them in high school, but little else. I am left with so many questions.
Although the two are meant to compliment each other, Saints will stick with me a little more. Vibiana's story is so heart-wrenching compared to the violence of Little Bao's choices. Both stories touch upon what is lost in the fight to try and save something, and when the two characters finally intersect.. well.. it's best left unsaid.
I felt deeply ashamed about how little I know on the Boxer Rebellion while reading these books. I can tell you exactly when we learned about them in high school, but little else. I am left with so many questions.