Patron Pick: No Jumping on the Bed by Tedd Arnold
A couple of weeks ago, a little boy about 4 or 5 years old gave us a great recommendation. We were helping his older sister find a book when he showed us this book:
Staff Pick (Lisa): Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
I ordered these graphic novels for the library based on their subject matter and high praise, but I probably wouldn't have read it if it weren't for YALSA's The Hub Reading Challenge. I've fallen a bit behind in the challenge, so I thought this two-volume set would catch me up quicker (it counts as 2 books). I was hesitant to read these graphic novels because I wasn't a fan of American Born Chinese, Yang's other highly acclaimed and award-winning graphic novel, but I ended up liking the story and artwork of Boxers & Saints a lot.
These graphic novels are told by two different points of view (hence the two volumes) during the Boxer Rebellion in China. It's an interesting and heartbreaking look at a time in history that is hardly covered in literature and often forgotten. Some might find the violence and bloodshed excessive; I would recommend it for older teens and adults. It's better if you read them in order, but it's not completely necessary. That said, I agree with others that have said it would have been better if the volumes were just combined into one complete alternating story.
Watch the book trailer for Boxers & Saints:
