Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom

by Katherine Paterson

Abducted from his home by bandits, fifteen-year-old Wang Lee is rescued from slavery by a mysterious girl who introduces him to the Taiping Tienkuo, a secret society partly based on Christian principles and dedicated to the overthrow of the Manchu government.Mei Lin, a woman warrior, and pigboy Wang Lee find love, intrigue, adventure, and danger as rebels seeking to overthrow the Chinese emperor during the 1850s amid the Taiping Rebellion

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, China, Childrens, Asia

229 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 1983

About the author

Katherine Womeldorf Paterson is an American writer best known for children's novels, including Bridge to Terabithia. For four different books published 1975–1980, she won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. She is one of four people to win the two major international awards; for "lasting contribution to children's literature" she won the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 1998 and for her career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" she won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council in 2006, the biggest monetary prize in children's literature. Also for her body of work she was awarded the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature in 2007 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal from the American Library Association in 2013. She was the second US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving 2010 and 2011.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still debating my issues with this book. It's really hard for me to read something that is hugely based in religion. Not that I'm not religious (I am), or that I don't like reading about religions (I do), but I'm more of a philosophical, true religious history, or subtle religious influence kind of reader than a fictional religious story. More especially I'm not a blatant religious fanaticism kind of reader. Fanaticism of any sort makes me uncomfortable. I also hold religion sacred and private. I don't know why it is so hard to write why I wasn't totally entranced by this book, but I found it almost disrespectful to read about others' beliefs in this light. I thought the religious fanaticism was handled very well, but the story left me with a bad taste in my mouth. This was basically the Chinese version of the Christian crusades, which I've always felt was a black mark (or more like black era) on Christian history.

I think this story was more about the human side of religion, how our humanity affects how we handle the divine. And in that light, I can appreciate it much more. It helps to see how we justify our actions to fit into our religious notions. It doesn't make it right, but it does make it understandable, and forgivable. Where there is a very clearly stated belief, "Do not kill," there are soldiers who are no longer fighting their fellow man, but killing demons. It makes them feel better about their "holy war". They are going to liberate their fellows from the demon Manchu, but when one character sees the humanity of the enemy, the war can no longer be holy, and he comes to question everything he's been led (or made) to believe.

I found the most interesting part of the story was the transformation of one character from skeptic and sometimes cynic to a fanatic who would look for a traitor in a friend and student, then back into a skeptic in a way. And that transformation really didn't take long. It made me very sad, especially in light of what this character (and others) discovers about their leaders in the end.

The story finished on a mostly happy note for the main characters, but it was still a sort of depressing read. I hate to see basically good people corrupted by power and the lusts of humanity. The fact that it is happening now in my day and age doesn't make this story of the past any better. Are we learning from the mistakes of the past or not? Apparently not well enough.

[Kimberly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never really learned much of the Taiping Rebellion, so this was an interesting book to share with my kids as a read-aloud, during our history study. An interesting piece of historical fiction. This is definitely more YA than middle grades. I skipped over some short parts, as my 7 y.o. listens, too.

[Matt Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, intense YA novel that focuses on how military life, religious indoctrination, and violence can change a person, for better and for worse. Unique in that its focus in on a little-remembered (in the West anyway) war in China with the protagonists speaking as cultural nobodies who are caught up in it and changed by it. The text is well written and engaging, the ultimate goals of the book unclear until the end. And, much to its credit, the book does not try to hammer home a single, definitive conclusion. Instead, the results are mixed, much like the process of the war the characters fight in.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story about a time and place that I am not at all familiar with, 1850's China. I am debating whether I would recommend it to my teens. It is so full of culture and history, but at the same time the realities of issues such as concubines and prostitution are not my favorite.

[Amy]

DNF at 30% The story was interesting up to 15%, then our main character fell into the clutches of Christian fanatics and the book became vastly less interesting as they preached at him. Katherine Paterson was a missionary herself for a while, and claims in her autobiography that she didn’t force anyone to be Christian, but simply provided services to the community and instruction if asked. The Christian characters in this book, however, do not wait to be asked, and smash the religious idols and icons they disagree with, and prevent the main character from leaving them when he wants to leave. He had nowhere to go after meeting them and tried to spend the night un-housed at the gate to their building. They bring him back inside for the night, and then tell him the next day that he can’t leave them as he wanted to. Forced membership is not ok.

I suspect this book will appeal much more to Christians who think their religion is the only true religion than anyone who doesn’t think that. While the book shows examples of how Christianity might be a positive change for some abused Chinese (such as slave women), fanaticism from any religion is abhorrent to me. I came to Goodreads to read reviews and see if the book would turn around, but it sounds like there is material later on that’s even more disturbing, so I have decided not to finish.

[Michael Haase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not enough is said about this insane period in history—basically everything I know about it I learned from non-Chinese sources; in a book on China I have, it appears as a mere footnote, despite causing a greater estimated number of casualties than WWI. That said, I appreciated this book as a bold effort at vividly depicting those times. The book is rich with detail and the mannerisms and vernacular described shows how much time and effort Paterson put into making the book as accurate as possible. You can tell from the amount of detail and passion in the writing that the author felt very invested in this history.

However the book does suffer from a lack of depth, plot-wise. The story feels rushed, quickly leaping ahead in time randomly, wrapping up major events too quickly for their relative significance, and picking up subplots and then dropping them again. By the end, the reader is left feeling a bit disoriented by all of it.

I loved the ending though. It was very moving and hopeful, though melancholy, given today's circumstances. I was on the fence about whether to give the book three stars, but that ending alone won it a fourth.

[Dee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible Plus 7 hours 4 min. Narrated by George Guidall (A)

This is an intriguing introduction to the Chinese culture set 1850 and the Taipang Rebellion. Paterson is a talented writer, and her childrens books have more awards than those of any other writer. Her books cause the reader to challenge what is written, which is a part of learning to be a critical reader.

“It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations – – something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own.”
—Katherine Patterson

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”
—Jacqueline Kennedy

From the book:
"An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger."
"What hymn is sung for the death of a friend? "
"The seed rice is hidden behind the fifth brick of northeast corner of the house."

[Barbara Brydges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paterson is pegged as a children’s/YA author, but this could easily have been written for adults. I previously knew nothing about the mid-nineteenth century Taipei rebellion, and I learned a great deal. It was particularly interesting that these rebels saw themselves as Christians, and their precepts included the Ten Commandments. But just as with Western Christianity, their leaders exulted themselves to god-like status, and in turning to warfare as an act of rebellion, they broke most of those precepts (especially the one about not killing). I thought the story was weakened when it became partly a love story with a relatively happy ending, but that was probably necessary given Paterson’s usual audience.

[Dane Danish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this is one of the most underrated books ever. I read this as a teen and it left a mark on me the rest of my life. The Taiping rebellion is an obscure chapter of history, at least to the westerner, but the perfect backdrop for a story of religious conversion and religious doubt. If you like history or religion this is most certainly a book for you to read, if only to get you interested in a more obscure part of Christianity.

This book won't be a favorite for everyone, but it was certainly for me. I would recommend it highly.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about a time period/event that I knew very little about. It was also a good look t how easily people can use religion to put themselves above others in order and how easy it is to convince yourself that the other is less than human, and so you can kill them, even if you preach peace. It was also a good look at how people with power can either be corrupted/use it to embrace their corruption.

[K.D. Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing and engaging story about a point in China's history that I knew very little about before reading the novel. I have to say, I read this to pre-read it for my 9 year old son who was going to read it for our homeschooling curriculum, and I decided it was a bout too gruesome for his age.

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how accurate it is, but this novel certainly provided a clearer look at this period in Chinese history. My son and I read it aloud, and we both enjoyed it. The ending was somewhat confusing and ultimately a bit disappointing.

[Hannah K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting children's book overall. I did think the cult stuff and violence, while historically accurate, was a little heavy for kids. Maybe it's supposed to be more for teens, but the characters are younger at the beginning.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book is hard to understand, listen to it on audio book. That's what I did and it helped me understand it better.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad story of a peasant boy caught up in a really different rebel movement and religion in 1850s China. More for adults I think but worthwhile.

[Hope Alden · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t even tell you what this book was about it was so dull 😭 like I tried to listen but could not stay focused long enough to care about any of it, def avoid

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction set in China, 1800’s

[Laurie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom transports readers into China’s Taiping Rebellion in the mid-nineteenth century. Fifteen-year-old Wang Lee is kidnapped from his peasant family and sold into slavery. His new master Mei Li turns out to be an eighteen-year-old woman dressed as a man who immediately sets him free. He chooses instead to join his rescuer’s Christian rebel group in its mission to overthrow China’s oppressive emperor and spread Christianity throughout the land. Wang Lee moves from ignorance and arrogance toward humility and an acceptance of his own humanity as he trains to become a soldier, experiences the harsh realities of war and struggles to find his way back home.

Katherine Paterson uses elegant prose and a tale of adventure to explore a foreign culture through universal characters whose underlying hopes and aspirations are recognizably our own. The militant Christian group preaches equality regardless of class or gender and abolishes the crippling custom of binding women’s feet into dainty, pointed hooves. The rebels are known to be kind to the poor, never stealing or pillaging as they march to battle. However, the group resorts to draconian penalties for every infraction, including any violation of the war-time order for strict separation of the sexes. When Wang Lee’s philosopher friend suggests that the enemy soldiers they are killing are no different than themselves, Wang Lee reports this disloyalty and sees his friend beheaded as a traitor.

Wang Lee knows that his friend spoke the truth, though, and struggles with the same questions we still wrestle with today: How can a God of love ordain the killing and destruction that accompanies any war and who can we trust to hear the voice of God better than our own selves? Originally published in 1983, this historical novel belongs in every young-adult library collection.

Laurie A. Gray
Reprinted from the Christian Library Journal (Vol. XIII, No. 4/5 October December 2009); used with permission.

[Chance Jimenez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom was very hard to understand for me to read. It was pretty boring. Anyways this book is about a 15 year old chines boy named Wang Lee. He gets kidnapped and sold into slavery. He gets a new master named Mei Lee who is a 18 year old woman dressed up as a man. That was the first thing that confused me. Wang Lee is set free and decides to join his rescuers group, a christian rebellion group. There goal was to overthrow China's emperor and to spread christianity throughout the land.

He trains to become a soldier and learns how hard it is, and struggles to find his way back home. There group goes around fighting devils in villages, mountains, cities, and rivers. I think the main reason why i didnt really understand this book is because it was about religion and war and im not to clear with that.

This book ended kinda sad i didnt really like it. The leador dies and there is no more "Heavenly Kingdom". He dies and so does his family. All the kings died as well. I never really knew what they were talking about at the end of this story. It said that the long noses beat the Manchu emperor, then it said that they joined. Than it says that they were not destroyed by foreign devils, and it says that the Mandate of Heaven was taken from them.

I do not reccomend this book at all. It is a tough book to understand for me. Uses alot of emperors and religion vocab, and that confuses me as a reader. I will not be reading something like this next time I read a book of the reccomended list.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book once I found out it was written by the author of The Bridge to Terabitha. While there are some parallels, the two are not very similar. I liked this one for the historical accuracy. It tells the story of a peasant boy in China who gets caught up in the Taiping rebellion. The main character is not especially likable, even though you are encouraged to root for him, because he's the main character. The supporting characters seem a lot more like real people, and I found myself caring for them a whole lot more than the main boy. The overall story was good, and the moral was good - noble causes can veer off their noble causes and soon become just as murky as those things they were originally fighting against - but the execution left a little something to be desired.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of depth and detail in this historical novel about a young, ignorant farm boy in China who gets swept up in a society at war in the mid 1800's. While there are some dastardly characters and heroic types to enjoy, I got bogged down in the all the religious fervor-the rebels who adopt Wang have adopted Christianity and I felt overloaded with worship and doctrine. That may intrigue those with a taste for and knowledge of Manchu era politices, but not me. There's also some focus on brutal combat and death between the imperialists and the rebels-a 'yuck factor' for younger readers to be wary of.

[Edy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cerita tentang tragedi kemanuasiaan akibat perang dan penindasan kekaisaran. Agama yang mengajarkan cinta kasihpun seringkali kehilangan prinsipnya dalam sebuah kancah perang karena pilihan yang ada hanya "membunuh" atau "dibunuh"... Sayangnya alur cerita buku ini agak datar dan sisi nilai dan budaya lokal kurang dieksploitasi dengan optimal. Karya ini sudah ditranslate ke bahasa Indonesia. Namun kayaknya terjemahannya masih agak kaku dan kurang mengalir...

[Kellyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1850 a massive rebellion broke out by the Chinese peasants against the ruling Manchu. The Chinese peasants espoused a curious mixture of beliefs combining nationalism, Christianity and Confucianism.

This spell-binding story describes the brutalities of war and the wonders of self-discovery.

The vocabulary and the contents require a mature reader—at least 6th grade.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book. not only did it give an interesting perspective on imperial china, but i really enjoyed the story as well. the character developement of the main character was something that made me want to keep reading, to see how he would change even more. great read, especially if you are interested in china's history.

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this book was pretty confusing at times. And not appropriate for kids younger than ... middle school age? What's confusing about it is that all the religious leaders have more than one name. So I can't keep them straight. But it's an interesting way to learn about that particular part of Chinese history - I wasn't aware of this rebellion before.

[Gwen Cooper]

It is a very interesting book and well written. My main problem is that it moves very slow. I was trying to read it to my 11yo son, and he just could not stay focused or interested. As an adult, I find it interesting. Maybe I will go back and finish it some day. For now, we are putting it back on the shelf and moving on.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wang Lee is kidnapped by bandits in 1850's China, then "rescued" by Mei Li to become a soldier in the Heavenly Kingdom during the Taiping Rebellion. But is killing the only answer? Interesting info, didn't like Wang during much of the book, quick turnaround at end, but satisfying

[Li Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in probably junior high, and I remember being amazed by it. I should probably read it again before I say anything about it, but I sort of intrinsically trust the author of the Bridge to Terabithia, knowwhatImean?

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

a combination of Christian and Chinese beliefs for growing teens, but not clearly defined and introduced in the history of the Taipin rebellion. Very disappointing. oh yeah, there is a love story there as well.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

wew kelar juga bacanye ni buku walo gw bercepat cepat baca biar kelar aja bah

ending yg pas lah buat ini buku walo aawal nye gw ngantuk setengah mati bacanye