Boxers and Saints Review A Powerful 2-book set of graphic novels

Fantasy Book Review and Discussion Questions: Boxers and Saints review by the Hobbit

Know before you read:

Books: Boxers, Saints
Author and Illustrator: Gene Luen Yang (Color by Lark Pien)
Pages: 328 (Boxers); 170 (Saints)
Published: 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Age Suggestion: 14+
Trigger Warnings: Some intense and scary images. Lots of violence. A principal character dies.

General Summary

In the late 1800’s, a rebellion is brewing in China. A group known as the Boxers starts a violent rebellion that succeeds in reclaiming parts of China for the Chinese, and killing or driving out all foreigners (which includes Chinese who have converted to Christianity). But this rebellion not only has a toll in lives, it has a spiritual cost also. The lives of two people, one on either side of the rebellion, interact in the midst of the violence. We see the impact on both of their lives, which gives you an incredible perspective.

General Boxers and Saints Review

**SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!**

These are two very well done graphic novels that give you the history of the Boxer rebellion and blend the supernatural into the natural. The two are meant to be read together. They won the 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature, were a finalist in the National Book Awards, and were named to several best books lists in 2013.

Both books are driven by the main character and history is presented through their personal perspectives. In other words, not your usual history book. This makes them, I believe, very appealing to young adult/teen readers.

We have included these as part of our Fantasy reviews for a reason. There are many types of fantasy. While my favorite is high fantasy (think Lord of the Rings), one popular type of fantasy that intrigues me is magical realism. Most of the story takes place in a completely realistic setting. However, there are elements of the fantastic or supernatural that are assumed to be just as real. For a Christian this can be appealing and, indeed, faith plays a large role in these novels.

These books easily show us why graphic novels are becoming more widely known and accepted. They are well written and tell a compelling story. If you are looking for a book in world history at the beginning of the 20^th century, this set would be an excellent choice. They also would be a great resource on the consequences of taking bad advice and listening to the wrong people.

Book Summary: Boxers

In rural China, 1894, Bao (known as Little Bao) leads a peaceful life with his family. They worship various Chinese deities. At the spring fair, his father confronts a thug who is attempting to cheat a widow. Later, the thug returns – with a Christian priest. Foreigners were afforded special status, and when the priest destroys the village’s specific god, the villagers seek out the magistrate. Bao’s father is one of those who go. He returns severely beaten. So much so that he can no longer care for himself.

Four years later, Bao learns kung-fu. He is visited by Chinese gods, and recruits a group of others. They all are visited by various Chinese deities, which enable them to have a supernatural fighting ability. Bao is visited by Ch’in Shih-huang, the first emperor of a unified China. In time, this group becomes know as the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist, or Boxers. They believed themselves immune to attack, and set off for Peking, the capital.

Although Bao has established an honorable code to live by, Ch’in Shih-huang increasingly pushes him to do anything to accomplish his goals. Finally, they take a village, and Bao has his men execute women and children. We see him struggle with what has happened to him and what he has done in the name of justice and a supernatural being that believes winning is more important than anything or anyone else.

Book Summary: Saints

Saints takes place during the same period, but the protagonist is a girl who is known only as “Four-Girl”. She is the fourth daughter born, and all other children in her family die before reaching the age of one. Four is an unlucky number, and her family refuses to give her a name. At age nine she goes to a nearby village, is taught by the Christians in this village, and eventually comes to live with them.

She, like Bao, has a supernatural visitor. Hers is Joan of Arc. She is given a name, Vibiana, and becomes a Christian. Joan sometimes appears to give her advice. Joan is a guide, rather than a god attempting to, in effect, take over a person – as with see with Bao. And this is an important difference when Vibiana and Bao meet.

Discussion questions:

There are a lot of potential questions. Here are the four that we think would result in continued conversations.

1. Why is it important WHO you listen to? How did this affect Bao’s actions? Vibiana’s actions?
2. Who seems to win throughout most of Boxers? Are they really winning? What are their victories costing them in their souls?
3. How do the Christians in Saints grow and mature throughout the book?
4. Did you see Bao’s rescue coming? What does this tell you about how to treat our enemies?

If you enjoyed our Boxers and Saints review, check out some of our other graphic novel reviews below!
–DogMan: Fetch 22
–Space Boy Vol. 1 and Space Boy Vol. 2
–DogMan: For Whom the Ball Rolls
–Alls Faire in Middle School
–Awkward
–Cardboard
–Gear

What was your favorite part of the book?! If you found this review helpful, please take a second and share it on social media!

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