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From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Acclaimed graphic novelist Yang brings his talents to historical fiction in these paired novels set during China's Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900). In Boxers, life in Little Bao's peaceful rural village is disrupted when "foreign devils"-a priest and his phalanx of soldiers-arrive. The foreigners behave with astonishing arrogance, smashing the village god, appropriating property, and administering vicious beatings for no reason. Little Bao and his older brothers train in kung fu and swordplay in order to defend against them, and when Little Bao learns how to tap into the power of the Chinese gods, he becomes the leader of a peasant army, eventually marching to Beijing. Saints follows a lonely girl from a neighboring village. Unwanted by her family, Four-Girl isn't even given a proper name until she converts to Catholicism and is baptized-by the very same priest who bullies Little Bao's village. Four-Girl, now known as Vibiana, leaves home and finds fulfillment in service to the Church, while Little Bao roams the countryside committing acts of increasing violence as his army grows. Mysticism plays a part in both stories, and Yang's spare, clean drawing style makes it clear that Vibiana's visits from Joan of Arc and Bao's invocation of the powerful Chinese gods are very real to these characters. The juxtaposition of these opposing points of view, both of them sympathetic, makes for powerful, thought-provoking storytelling about a historical period that is not well known in the West.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MDα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In American Born Chinese (2006), Yang spoke to the culture clash of Chinese American teen life. In Boxers—the first volume in a two-book set, concluding with Saints (2013)—about the Boxer Rebellion at the end of the nineteenth century in China, he looses twin voices in harmony and dissonance from opposite sides of the bloody conflict. Boxers follows a young man nicknamed Little Bao, who reacts to religious and cultural oppression by leading the uprising from the provinces to Peking, slaughtering “foreign devils” and soldiers along the way. Between the two books, Yang ties tangled knots of empathy where the heroes of one become the monsters of the other. Little Bao and his foil from Saints, Four-Girl, are drawn by the same fundamental impulses—for community, family, faith, tradition, purpose—and their stories reflect the inner torture that comes when those things are threatened. Yang is in superb form here, arranging numerous touch points of ideological complexity and deeply plumbing his characters’ points of view. And in an homage to the driving power of stories themselves, Bao is captivated by visions sprung from lore: the spirits he believes possess him and his fighters. Much blood is spilled as Little Bao marches toward his grim fate, which is even more unsettling given that Yang hasn’t fundamentally altered his squeaky clean, cartoonishly approachable visual style. A poignant, powerhouse work of historical fiction from one of our finest graphic storytellers. Grades 7-11. --Ian Chipman

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Amazon.com: Boxers (Boxers & Saints, 1): 9781596433595: Yang, Gene Luen, Yang, Gene Luen, Pien, Lark: Books

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From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Acclaimed graphic novelist Yang brings his talents to historical fiction in these paired novels set during China's Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900). In Boxers, life in Little Bao's peaceful rural village is disrupted when "foreign devils"-a priest and his phalanx of soldiers-arrive. The foreigners behave with astonishing arrogance, smashing the village god, appropriating property, and administering vicious beatings for no reason. Little Bao and his older brothers train in kung fu and swordplay in order to defend against them, and when Little Bao learns how to tap into the power of the Chinese gods, he becomes the leader of a peasant army, eventually marching to Beijing. Saints follows a lonely girl from a neighboring village. Unwanted by her family, Four-Girl isn't even given a proper name until she converts to Catholicism and is baptized-by the very same priest who bullies Little Bao's village. Four-Girl, now known as Vibiana, leaves home and finds fulfillment in service to the Church, while Little Bao roams the countryside committing acts of increasing violence as his army grows. Mysticism plays a part in both stories, and Yang's spare, clean drawing style makes it clear that Vibiana's visits from Joan of Arc and Bao's invocation of the powerful Chinese gods are very real to these characters. The juxtaposition of these opposing points of view, both of them sympathetic, makes for powerful, thought-provoking storytelling about a historical period that is not well known in the West.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MDα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In American Born Chinese (2006), Yang spoke to the culture clash of Chinese American teen life. In Saints—the concluding volume in a two-book set beginning with Boxers (2013)—about the Boxer Rebellion at the end of the nineteenth century in China, he looses twin voices in harmony and dissonance from opposite sides of the bloody conflict. Saints follows Four-Girl, an outcast in her own family, who embraces the Christian faith spreading through her country and places herself in the dangerous path of the Boxers. Between the two books, Yang ties tangled knots of empathy where the heroes of one become the monsters of the other. Four-Girl and her foil in Boxers, Little Bao, are drawn by the same fundamental impulses—for community, family, faith, tradition, purpose—and their stories reflect the inner torture that comes when those things are threatened. Yang is in superb form here, arranging numerous touch points of ideological complexity and deeply plumbing his characters’ points of view. And in an homage to the driving power of stories themselves, Four-Girl is captivated by a vision sprung from lore: a young Frenchwoman clad in golden armor, Joan of Arc. Much blood is spilled as Four-Girl marches toward her grim fate, which is even more unsettling given that Yang hasn’t fundamentally altered his squeaky clean, cartoonishly approachable visual style. A poignant, powerhouse work of historical fiction from one of our finest graphic storytellers. Grades 7-11. --Ian Chipman

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Amazon.com: Saints (Boxers & Saints, 2): 9781596436893: Yang, Gene Luen, Yang, Gene Luen, Pien, Lark: Books

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Can you summarize your story in a few sentences? What "Key Issues" ideas helped you to understand your story? What are some key points for students to understand?

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What are some ideas from your book or readings, graphics/images, or objects to use in a discussion with your students?  What terms might be needed to help students understand more?

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How do our own cultural perspectives create our own stories?

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What ideas from the readings can you bring into your classroom?  How might you do so?

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Seminar Website: Resources > NCTA Lesson Plans > NCTA 2022 Lesson Plans

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Seminar Website: Resources > NCTA Lesson Plans > NCTA 2022 Lesson Plans

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Connecting Students to the Protagonist Bao from Yang's Boxers

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Connecting Students to the Protagonist Bao from Yang's Boxers

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While Chinese history and culture may seem distant from the lives of some students, there are several universal themes and moral conflicts that teachers can use as a framework to help students connect to the protagonist Bao.

1. Dealing with adversity: Our students face various challenges and hardships. Like Bao. they may face their own forms of oppression, violence, and loss. Bao's resilience and determination can inspire students to confront their own challenges.

2. Facing moral dilemmas: Students might relate to Bao's internal conflicts and struggle to navigate decisions in difficult circumstances. Bao transitions from an idealistic boy to a complex young man. His growth may provide an opportunity for students to conduct their own self reflection. Where are they in their journey to adulthood?

3. Search for identity and purpose: Part of growing up requires teens to struggle with these questions and discover their own self-worth. As students read, they join Bao on his journey to find his purpose and as a leader in the rebellion. His search for purpose and his desire to protect something he loves (his culture) may resonate with students.

4. Feelings of isolation or alienation: Many students feel disconnected from their peers or society. Like Bao, they may feel overlooked. Students may empathize with Bao's desire to find a sense of belonging in his family and community.

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Lesson Plan: Imperialism and the Boxer Rebellion

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Lesson Plan: Imperialism and the Boxer Rebellion

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Brainstorming Paired Readings to Use With Boxers and Saints As We Explore the Themes Surrounding Perpectives

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Brainstorming Paired Readings to Use With Boxers and Saints As We Explore the Themes Surrounding Perpectives

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1. That Was No Brother/ That Was No Welcome

Native African's perspective vs. British Explorers

https://www.bu.edu/africa/files/2013/10/Mojimba-Stanley-Meeting-Accounts.pdf

Lesson Idea: Distribute "That Was No Brother" to half the class. Distribute "That Was No Welcome" to the other half. *Note the students should not be told that they have different readings. Ask students to underlin  evidence of "fault" as they read. When finished, conduct a whole class discussion on fault. Students will realize they  did not read the same passages and are discussing two different perspectives. This is a gateway to discussing perspectives.

2. The Clergyman's Letter/Letter From Birmingham Jail

https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/files/Excerpts%20Clergymen%20%26%20King%20letters.pdf

Lesson idea: compare the perspectives of the clergymen vs. King. Identify specific rhetorical device that convey their different perspectives.

3. An Outpost of Progress by Joseph Conrad
(Natives vs. British)

4. Olaudah Equiano's Narrative
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, laying the foundations for new genres of literature and new ways of understanding the experiences of enslaved people. In this autobiography, the author, Olaudah Equiano, detailed his life journey from African captivity to Atlantic slavery to British freedom. In twelve chapters, Equiano presented a body of evidence that helped to support the cause of abolition and the end of transatlantic slaving by Britain and others.

https://slaveryandremembrance.org/people/person/?id=PP003

5. Narrative of Captivity by Mary Rowlandson

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What are some of the problems associated with modernizing in relation to Minamata and natural disasters?  What social-emotional issues are brought up through this story?

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Backgrounder on China in the 19th Century

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Backgrounder on China in the 19th Century

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Here's a Google Slides presentation that can provide students with some background that will help them understand the historical context for "Boxers and Saints."

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Backgrounder:  China in the 19th Century

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As we wrap up the first week, what is something about East Asia that you can better explain to your students now?

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Boxer Rebellion Historical Background (Flippity)

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Boxer Rebellion Historical Background (Flippity)

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Here's a review game that can be used with students as a follow-up to John's Google Slides Boxer Rebellion Historical Background presentation.

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Resources and Websites That Helped Me Think about and Better Understand the Books

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Resources and Websites That Helped Me Think about and Better Understand the Books

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Discussion of the character Four/Vibiana and Catholism:

https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2018/10/cookies-christ-in-gene-luen-yangs-boxers-saints/

Book Summaries:
https://readingartreviews.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/boxers-and-saints/

Book Discussion & Character Review
http://goodokbad.com/index.php/reviews/guide/boxers_and_saints_study_guide

A Reader's Review/Perspective
https://froginawell.net/frog/2014/02/boxers-and-saints/

Visual Introductions to the books on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzGhV-mlpM4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Facademic.macmillan.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

An interview with the author Gene Luen Yang:
https://geekdad.com/2013/09/gene-yang-boxers-saints/

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When I started writing about religion and literature for my dissertation, I never dreamed that I'd also get to write about comics. I loved comics and knew that they were finally being taken seriously at an academic level, but I still couldn't connect them to religious studies. That is, until I came across the work of Gene Luen Yang.

Probably like many WWAC readers, I first encountered Yang's comics through his 2006 graphic novel American Born Chinese. I enjoyed it for so many reasons, including his engaging art, his compelling story, and his bold honesty about racism and Asian American identity. I quickly devoured his contributions to the Avatar comics as well as The Shadow Hero, his collaboration with Sonny Liew.

Throughout this reading binge, I was struck by how Yang consistently and powerfully focuses on representing Asian American issues - including the struggles of both shaping a hyphenated, diasporic identity and dealing with negative societal stereotypes - in his comics writing and artwork. But until I recently picked up his graphic novel set Boxers and Saints (2013), published by First Second Books, I wasn't aware of how important Catholicism has been to him artistically as well as spiritually.

As a literary scholar working in postcolonial studies and religion, I was immediately fascinated by how Yang merges his interest in both Chinese history and religious identity. Pitched to young adults, the two graphic novels follow main characters Lee Bao and Vibiana as they live with the expansion of foreign imperial power and missionary influence at the end of the nineteenth century in China. Local resentment about this situation spurred the Boxer Uprising that occurred between 1899 and 1901, when many young men with martial arts backgrounds organized around nationalist views and battled the foreign soldiers and missionaries.

Boxers & Saints offers a unique take on this historical moment: it presents two parallel stories, that of Lee Bao, a young boy who becomes involved in the Uprising, and Vibiana, a girl who becomes a Chinese Catholic convert - a "secondary devil" as Lee Bao calls them. Converts like Vibiana were despised and thought to be traitors because they gave up their own Chinese gods. With Vibiana's story, Yang complicates how religious identity, colonialism, and gender come together.

Vibiana originally doesn't have a real name - she's just called "Four" because she's her mother's fourth daughter as well as the only child who survived. Her grandfather refuses to give her a name, and the name "Four" sticks with her, even though it also means "death." She is very much an outsider in her own family, and this constantly worries her.

In a quirky turn of events, Four becomes interested in Christianity initially because of cookies. The local acupuncturist offers her cookies along with religious lessons. Most times, she falls asleep after these lessons, but she keeps going back for the companionship as well as the food. By showing her initial boredom, Yang emphasizes that Four's gradual conversion to Christianity is less about its religious message and more about how it offers her a kind of domestic nourishment she can't get at home.

And this aspect is so important to Vibiana: she finds a home, a family, and a domestic life in the Chinese Christian church. In her own family home, her grandfather calls her a devil and every time she tries to fit in or seek attention from her family, it backfires. She accidentally chops off the head of her grandfather's god statuette and gets beaten for it. She tries to warn everyone that she's a devil, just like her grandfather said, and they end up thinking she's got some kind of disease.

The Christian community she joins isn't perfect by far - it's very patriarchal and the foreign priests get most of the control. But she appreciates its sense of community and how she can help others, such as the orphans she cares for. She also finds a spiritual mentor when she has visions of Joan of Arc. Joan sympathizes with Vibiana being an outsider and helps the young peasant girl find personal and religious meaning in her life.

The result is that Four gains a name - Vibiana - as well as an identity. The panel illustrating her baptism shows her smiling and surrounded by the doctor, his wife, and Joan of Arc - the people who have supported her. Of course, her decision once again makes her an outsider, this time to members of the Chinese community who dislike the influence of Western colonialism and religion.

Feminist theologian Kwok Pui-Lan writes that Asian women have historically been very aware of the colonial frameworks of Christianity, including its collusion with Western domination, capitalism, and patriarchalism. But she emphasizes that Asian women like Vibiana have also re-worked Christian elements for their own purposes and contexts. These kinds of stories are also important to understand because they acknowledge and honor the complex socio-religious realities of women's lives.

By giving Vibiana her own story and not simply enfolding it into Lee Bao's narrative in Boxers, Yang carves out a clear space for discussing Asian women's complex experiences of religion. He shows Vibiana's struggles with patriarchy in her own home, from her grandfather's preference for her male cousin Chung, as well as her initial indifference to the foreign religion. She's originally more interested in cookies than Christ. Nonetheless, she decides to convert, an action which emphasizes her agency as well as her desire to incorporate Christianity into her life for her own reasons.

Like Kwok Pui-Lan, Yang complicates the narrative of how Christianity has historically interacted with local peoples, especially women. At the same time, he also explores the trajectory of his own Catholicism and its complicated relationship with Chinese history through his comics. As I've had the pleasure finding out through Yang's work, comics can be a dynamic platform for important discussions about identity, society, and religion.

Works Cited:

Pui-Lan, Kwok. Introducing Asian Feminist Theology. Sheffield Academic Press Ltd., 2000.

Yang, Gene Luen. Boxers & Saints. First Second, 2013.

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Cookies & Christ in Gene Luen Yang's Boxers & Saints - WWAC

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A literary scholar explores the religious themes presented in Gene Luen Yang's Boxers & Saints from First Second books.

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Boxers and Saints Character Karuta Style Review Game (Flippity)

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Boxers and Saints Character Karuta Style Review Game (Flippity)

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Use this matching game (Flippity) to review the characters in Gene Luen Yangś graphic novels Boxers and Saints

https://www.flippity.net/mg.php?k=1TCawJKos-vrrzmodX2Rwwh_svcrTuWT3KKxxFsPXKpA

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