Monday, April 1, 2013

Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk


Today I’m going to review a book I have owned for a long time. It’s called “Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk” by Ben Costa. It’s the story of a young monk named Pang. Pang was separated from his brothers when the monastery he lived in was attacked by the Chinese Emperor’s men. He is always attacked by soldiers in the cities he passes through.

                    Pang is very passive, but he is always put in positions where he has to fight or innocent people will get hurt. I really like Pang’s character. He he’s just a really likeable guy. He just always seems very clueless in the most ridiculous situations, like he has no idea what’s going on when he watches a puppet show because he lived in a monastery his whole life.

                       Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk is actually educational. The first time I read it, I knew so much about Shaolin.


        I really like the art in Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk. I’m certain that it’s drawn with a paintbrush and colored with a computer. The way the eyes are drawn is so simple but so effective. I never thought that vertical lines would make such perfect human eyes, but they do. One thing I like is how all of the side characters look different from each other. In Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk, there are some pages packed with text, and some packed with scenery.


                      Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk is very child friendly. There’s only one scene with blood in it. Even then the blood looks like tomato sauce. If you like action, then you will like this. If you are into romance, then you will like this because there is a relationship between Pang and a village girl named Yang Yang. I would give Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk 5 evil emperors out of 5.






I would also like to mention that Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk is self published by Iron Crotch University Press.

6 comments:

  1. Is this a series? I agree with you that the images are really nice. I like the sound if this one and like series a lot. Weren't you reading one about a martial arts animal that was a series? Thanks again Milo

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  2. this review makes me want to buy Pang for my son.

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  3. Good review! Interesting how Pang is likable because of his passive nature. Here's a question: is a "Shaolin" monk a kind of monk? In the West, we have "Franciscan" and "Benedictine" monks, among others. Is "Shaolin" like that?

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  4. Would you say that this is a book that is interesting enough to read over an over again? Or more of a one time read?

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  5. "I would give Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk 5 evil emperors out of 5." That is a kickass rating system! Also, I agree with Greg Kotis that it's interesting that Pang's passive nature is what makes him likable, because we here in America are so conditioned to believe that go-getters and people of action are the likable ones, and passivity is always a bad thing.

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  6. Have you run into a lot of kids or adults that find graphic novels inaccessible? I have and I've wondered why. Maybe because they don't "look" like a book or a comic, strictly speaking. Or maybe because some are read back to front? I'm not sure. Your reviews lift some of the mystery and I think will make other kids and adults give them a try. I like that!

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