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The Boy from Clearwater: Book 1 by Yu Pei-Yun and Zhou Jian-Xin (illustrator) (translated by Lin King)

Review:

The Boy from Clearwater (published by Levine Querido in November 2023) is a YA graphic biography written by historian Yu Pei-Yun and illustrated by Zhou Jian-Xin. It is a poignant Odessey about the life of Tsai Kun-lin, a (real-life) young man arrested during the White Terror for his association with a political book club. Beginning with Kun-lin's childhood, readers experience tender childhood moments of sneaking sugar cane along with the confusion and chaos surrounding the Japanese and Chinese occupations of Taiwan.

Overall, this is a solid graphic novel with a lot of educational value. The years of Kun-lin's life are intersected with notes regarding the many political shifts and thought movements occurring during his childhood and early adulthood.

I loved how the translators differentiated the different languages being used through the color of the text--it added a deeper emotional element to the whole thing, especially in chapters where the characters who grew up in a Japan-occupied Taiwan struggled to communicate with their older peers. I was particularly touched by how this element related to Kun-lin's father and the difficulties he endures in the "background" of the novel. Throughout, Kun-lin's once-rebel father expresses subdued sadness about the desecration of Hoklo Taiwanese and its connections to traditional Taiwanese culture (there is a particularly thoughtful scene in which he checks in on Kun-lin's studying, speaking Hoklo, before shifting to Chinese after Kun-lin expresses the need to meet Chinese standards). I reread the book just to take notes to see how the different languages weaved in and out of each other and the larger meaning in that tapestry.

It would be impossible not to highlight the work of Zhou Jian-Xin, the graphic novel's illustrator. The hand-penciled artwork was both refreshing and gut-wrenching in its unflinching portrayal of Kun-Lin's struggles and the beauty of Taiwan. I appreciated the combination of hand-drawn and print techniques the artist utilized, especially in the application of heavy, dark linocut prints to depict Green Island. Zhou Jian-Xin's portfolio can be found here: Jian-Xin Zhou – Literarische Agentur (mertinwitt-litag.de)

I did find myself wishing that the novel contained more insight into Tsai Kun-lin and the people around him. While we get hints of who they were as people and their struggles, the biography invests more time in summarizing events than investing in personal portrayals of its figures. The real Tsai Kun-lin became a human rights activist after his imprisonment and was very vocal about his political opinions. It seemed like a loss to not explore the development of his passion for human rights and politics during such a politically tumultuous time in Taiwan's history--particularly when The Boy from Clearwater explores his time in prison after he was wrongly arrested for his supposed political affiliations. Tsai Kun-Lin was largely portrayed as apolitical, which doesn't necessarily seem accurate to his real-life pursuits. However, this may have been influenced by the current stress on the Taiwanese people.

This would be an excellent graphic novel to introduce teenagers to the complex history of Taiwan and the suffering native Taiwanese people endured during the rotating occupations of the 19th and 20th centuries. With the continued turmoil in Taiwan, this novel couldn't have come out at a better time.

The second tome of The Boy from Clearwater is set to release in May 2024.

More information: Tsai Kun-lin:

Human rights activist Tsai Kun-lin dies at the age of 93 - Taipei Times

Encrypted apps and false names: new Taiwan book club takes no chances | Taiwan | The Guardian

Tsai exonerates White Terror victims - Taipei Times (the translation of this article appears to contain some errors)

For those interested in more media concerned with the White Terror/its impacts:

ELEGY OF SWEET POTATOES by Tehpen Tsai: A heavily-reality-based novel focused on the story of Tehpen Tsai, a young man detained by the Kuomintang regime during the White Terror. This novel explores the idea of "thought crimes", punishment, and trauma.

TRANSITIONS IN TAIWAN: STORIES OF THE WHITE TERROR edited by Ian Rowen: A collection of non-fiction and fiction works by many of Taiwan's most celebrated authors focusing on the events of the White Terror and their impact on Taiwanese culture and life.

THE MAN WHO COULDN'T LEAVE: A VR short film directed by Singing Chen that depicts the life of a political prisoner on Green Island during the White Terror. (Trailer can be found here: The Man Who Couldn’t Leave (2022) | IDFA Archive)

DETENTION: A Taiwanese psychological horror game created by Red Candle Games. This story explores the White Terror, Taiwanese religion, and the multi-generational impact of colonization and violence.

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Anyone who knows me knows that The Singing Hills Cycle has been one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. As someone who has to read a lot for work, I often read novellas in my free time. Very few novella authors are able to capture complex worldbuilding, theming, and characterization as well as Nghi Vo. Vo creates complete, impactful stories every single time. So, naturally, I was super pumped when Mammoths at the Gates was added to my library’s collection.Mammoths at the Gates is a story centering on the value of storytelling, grief, and the complexities of human nature. After many years traveling, Cleric Chih finally returns to their beloved Singing Hills Abbey–only to find that their mentor, the great Cleric Thien, has passed away, and that their granddaughters are trying to pressure the Abbey into surrendering their body. These women ride impressive mammoths and threaten to destroy the entire Abbey if they don’t get what they want. However, their aspirations for Thien’s body go against the life and identity their grandfather chose, leading to conflict with the clerics of Singing Hills.

I appreciated the way Vo weaved the narrative around Cleric Thien and how she incorporated that characterization through the tale-telling structure of the Singing Hills Cycle. Considering the Abbeys expertise, it felt natural that they would have a grieving ritual centered around the living discussing stories of their deceased. As each character told their stories, reflecting on the version of Thien that they knew, I really felt the gravity of their death and the complicated life they led. The tension between the granddaughter’s wanting to honor their grandfather (in their own way) and their anger at them for abandoning the wife they once physically abused felt messy and genuine and poignant.

Like always, Vo includes interesting commentary on colonialization and the importance of record-keeping. All of the characters, be they old or new, are given their opportunity to shine and develop. While Chih usually is secondary to the narratives they are transcribing, they really stood out in this volume. Vo really flexed her writing skills as Chih struggled to contend with the changes in their life and the realization that all things must pass. Additionally, I loved seeing Almost Brilliant again and learning more about her people’s culture. The connection between Thien and Myriad Virtues was emotional throughout. And that ending! I teared up so many times when reading this.

Out of all the books in the series, Mammoths at the Gates is probably the one I would recommend to newcomers to the series. It highlights all of the series’ greatest strengths and the complex relationships between the characters are likely to connect to readers who might not typically read books from this genre.