Review of The Baji Mantis
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- Laney K
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Review of The Baji Mantis
The Baji Mantis by A. Joshua Chiatovich is a creative coming-of-age novel set in ancient China that features martial arts and fantasy elements. The main character, Wu Liang, is a young praying mantis who is studying to be a warrior in his village alongside his best friends. However, he has a fascination with the human world, while the rest of the mantises are terrified of humans. Wu Liang is determined to find a way to visit the human world and learn their language, as he believes that is where his parents went. Will he be able to follow his dreams, or will he give up and follow the wishes of the village and stay in line?
My favorite part of this book was that culture and martial arts were subtly explained throughout the book. Principles of martial arts were woven into the book, and I found myself learning alongside the characters. The author was quite knowledgeable about the topic and was able to share that knowledge in easy-to-understand ways. It was fascinating.
I also enjoyed the character growth that Wu Liang showed. He started the book thinking that he was already a warrior and didn't have much to learn. He soon realized that was not the case. I found that the principle of humility was thoroughly explored and could be a good lesson for young people.
Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I can think of nothing I disliked about the book; I see no reason not to give it full marks. I only noticed a few minor errors; I believe that the book was professionally edited. I also thought it was engaging from start to finish. I enjoyed the themes of personal growth, exploration, and learning to discover one's own path. I think that anyone over the age of ten would be able to understand and enjoy this book; the language used was simple yet descriptive at the same time. It would be especially suited for those who are interested in Chinese culture and martial arts.
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The Baji Mantis
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