Although some Chinese phrases do not translate well into English, this self-aware depiction of how foreign language denotes outsider status adds an ironic twist to the novel. Yang creatively portrays conversations between foreigners and native Chinese by transcribing the foreigners’ speech as a gibberish script that has to be translated into English with an annotation, while the Chinese language is simply shown in English. Surprisingly, supporting characters in Saints become monstrous adversaries in Boxers, and vice versa, because of the opposing perspectives of the main characters from each story. The story also intersects very nicely with Yang’s companion book, Saints, even if reading one gives away the ending of the other. Any reader can understand it without prior knowledge of the subjects. It has a well-structured plot, with few plot holes and not too much exposition. Chinese concepts like Yin and Yang, Chinese opera, and local gods create a rich, cultural backdrop that informs the actions of the characters. The writer does an excellent job developing his characters’ ambivalent personalities while humanizing them in this troubled era.īoxers contains a ton of Chinese history and culture. Because of his hesitation at obeying the emperor’s amoral demands, Bao becomes a flawed and complicated hero, and the threat of the emperor’s power leaving him makes his journey all the more perilous. However, unlike these heroic personas, Ch’in Shih-huang is stern, cruel, and heavy-handed. When Bao merges with the emperor, he transforms like Thor or Captain Marvel. This internal conflict stems from Bao’s summoned spirit, Ch’in Shih-huang, the first emperor of China who inhabits Bao when he fights. Slowly, the character becomes progressively violent and radical, despite his initial inhibitions.

At first, Bao is not single-minded in his quest to protect China, often questioning his decisions, but in time he is determined to do anything to rid China of Western influence, including killing innocent people. He constantly faces insurmountable odds but overcomes adversity every time. Bao is a complex, vastly developed character in Boxers. It is these events that shape Bao into the leader of the rebellion. The youngest of three sons, Bao learns at a young age the dangers of foreigners. Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers follows Bao, founder of the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist and instigator of the Boxer Rebellion. Cover Price: $18.99 THE RISE OF A REBELLION

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang