You Must Take Part in Revolution
Three youths unite in protest against an authoritarian government, afterward winding up on different paths, in the thoughtful, provocative graphic novel You Must Take Part in Revolution.
Andy, Maggie, and Olivia meet during political protests in 2019, inspired along with other Hong Kong residents to take to the streets. When the resistance turns violent, Maggie embraces the change; Olivia and Andy have doubts. A baby is killed during one of Maggie’s operations, and she’s sentenced to life in prison.
A decade later, Andy is recruited into a paramilitary organization battling Chinese aggression. He reunites with Olivia and becomes part of a daring attack on the jail where Maggie is held. The action brings the three former friends together again and leads to tragedy.
The story incorporates actual historical events and extrapolates an intriguing but bleak possible future. Military tensions between China and the US provide an ominous backdrop. While the book includes plenty of excitement, its greatest strength is the depth of its characters. Andy, Maggie, and Olivia are complex, intelligent individuals whose views on protesting and the ethics of violence change throughout the book. Their dynamic characterizations anchor the narrative, reflecting how people looking to do good differ in situations where moral clarity is hard to discern. The moody black-and-white art includes splashes of red and yellow to grab attention—an effective approach that lends kinetic appeal to the images.
You Must Take Part in Revolution is a thrilling, heartbreaking graphic novel about the price of accepting—or fighting against—an oppressive government.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
