The boy from Clearwater. Book 1.
Written by Yu Pei-Yun.
Illustrated by Zhou Jian-Xin.
Translated from Chinese by Lin King.
Levine Querido, 2023.
A true story in graphic novel form, that lays bare the
tortured and triumphant history of Taiwan, an island claimed and fought over by
many countries, through the life story of a man who lived through its most
turbulent times. Tsai Kun-lin, an ordinary boy was born in Qingshui, Taichung
in 1930s Taiwan. Part 1 depicts a carefree childhood despite the Japanese occupation:
growing up happily with the company of nursery rhymes and picture books on
Qingshui Street. As war emerges Tsai's memories shift to military parades, air
raids, and watching others face conscription into the army. It seems no one can
escape. After the war, the book-loving teenager tries hard to learn Mandarin
and believes he is finally stepping towards a comfortable future, but little
does he know, a dark cloud awaits him ahead.
A mammoth book, with text colours used to show what the
original languages were. The use of darkness to signify the differences in the character’s
situation is subtle but clear.
A glimpse into a little-known (especially to the West)
episode in history.
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