One of Paterson's solemn historical adventures, on a par with her exquisitely evoked Japanese novels, this one set in China in the thick of the Taiping Rebellion. Teenage Wang Lee is kidnapped from his father's humble farm by swinish bandits, then purchased by a kind stranger who turns out to be Mei Lin, a woman, little older than himself, strong and shockingly unwomanly in her large unbound feet. Mei Lin brings him into the secret society of the Heavenly Kingdom and teaches him its Christian-derived, anti-Manchu, class-free doctrines—but it is not until they and their traveling companion Chu have been some time in the society's mountain headquarters, preparing for war with the reigning Demons, that Wang Lee becomes caught up in the Heavenly fervor. By then the males and females have been separated, Mei Lin has become an officer among the horseback Women Warriors, and Wang Lee is in charge of a small group of soldiers. He learns to kill but never overcomes for long the unease at some of the deeds performed in the name of Heavenly peace. He comes to love Mei Lin but she discourages all personal feelings and spouts the dicta of the society. Finally, however, Mei Lin—who in her earlier life had been sold as a slave to satisfy the lusts of soldiers—is summoned to be the bride of the Heavenly King, a man we've seen only from a distance but one who is projected as an absolute monarch as tricky and corrupt as any other. To escape the wedding—in a rather abrupt change of attitude—Mei Lin flees with Wang Lee and the two settle happily to raise a family on his father's land. Before their reunion he's had other adventures, including a period of kitchen service disguised as a girl—a result of being recaptured, when sent out as a spy, by the same bandits who had kidnapped him originally. The pair has also been through a number of battles with the army and imperative celebration within the camp. The whole course of Wang Lee's awakening, disillusionment, and return is set down quite formally, with Paterson's talent for tapestry-like recreations.
Pub Date: June 21, 1983
ISBN: 0888998856
Page Count: 266
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1983
An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel.
Sandy and his family, Japanese Canadians, experience hatred and incarceration during World War II.
Sandy Saito loves baseball, and the Vancouver Asahi ballplayers are his heroes. But when they lose in the 1941 semifinals, Sandy’s dad calls it a bad omen. Sure enough, in December 1941, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in the U.S. The Canadian government begins to ban Japanese people from certain areas, moving them to “dormitories” and setting a curfew. Sandy wants to spend time with his father, but as a doctor, his dad is busy, often sneaking out past curfew to work. One night Papa is taken to “where he [is] needed most,” and the family is forced into an internment camp. Life at the camp isn’t easy, and even with some of the Asahi players playing ball there, it just isn’t the same. Trying to understand and find joy again, Sandy struggles with his new reality and relationship with his father. Based on the true experiences of Japanese Canadians and the Vancouver Asahi team, this graphic novel is a glimpse of how their lives were affected by WWII. The end is a bit abrupt, but it’s still an inspiring and sweet look at how baseball helped them through hardship. The illustrations are all in a sepia tone, giving it an antique look and conveying the emotions and struggles. None of the illustrations of their experiences are overly graphic, making it a good introduction to this upsetting topic for middle-grade readers.
An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel. (afterword, further resources) (Graphic historical fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0334-0
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A solid series starter for tinkerers and adventurers alike.
Even robot cats have a mind of their own.
All 12-year-old Canadian Lacey Chu’s ever wanted was to become a companioneer like her idol, Monica Chan, co-founder of the largest tech firm in North America, Moncha Corp., and mastermind behind the baku. Bakus, “robotic pets with all the features of a smartphone,” revolutionized society and how people interact with technology. As a companioneer, Lacey could work on bakus: designing, innovating, and building. When she receives a grant rejection from Profectus Academy of Science and Technology, a school that guarantees employment at Moncha Corp., she’s devastated. A happenstance salvaging of a mangled cat baku might just change the game. Suddenly, Lacey’s got an in with Profectus and is one step closer to her dream. Jinx, however, is not quite like the other bakus—he’s a wild cat that does things without commands. Together with Jinx, Lacey will have to navigate competitive classmates and unsettling corporate secrets. McCulloch effectively strikes a balance between worldbuilding and action. High-stakes baku battles demonstrate the emotional bond between (robotic) pet and owner. Readers will also connect to the relationships the Asian girl forges with her diverse classmates, including a rivalry with Carter (a white boy who’s the son of Moncha’s other co-founder, Eric Smith), a burgeoning crush on student Tobias, who’s black, and evolving friendships new and old. While some mysteries are solved, a cliffhanger ending raises even more for the next installment.
A solid series starter for tinkerers and adventurers alike. (Science fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8374-2
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
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