The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea By Anne Sibley O'Brien is a Grapic Novel about a young boy in ancient Korea named Kil Dong, who's father is a Minister to the King, but he cannot inherit his father's nobility because his mother is a servant. When he leaves home to find his true destiny, he receives training in magic and martial arts, and forms an army of bandits whose purpose is to "rob the rich to give to the poor".
This graphic novel has beautiful Korean style water color pictures, as well as an exciting and suspenseful plot. From the first couple of pages I got an impression that the story might be boring to me because of the highly historical language used, but as I continued reading, the dynamic plot caught my attention and drew me in. Although I felt disappointed at the beginning because Kil Dong could not become a nobleman like his father, by the end of the book I was inspired by all the amazing feats he had done to bring justice and dignity back to the poor people of his country. I also felt empowered by the message of good conquering over evil, and the book gave me hope that maybe someday justice could be restored to the poor people of our time.
At first I felt that there were a couple of things that might have been inappropriate for children, such as the fact that Kil Dong's father had obviously had an affair, and that he had another woman "companion", but after reflecting I realized that this was most likely the practice of the culture at that time, and that it would be important to point that out to children. I also thought back to the fact that self-censorship would be even more inappropriate and that it would be a shame to deny children of a book with such a wealth of cultural and historical significance, as well as excitement and action. That being said, I would recommend this book for older elementary children in grade 5 or 6.
The style of the comic-like graphic novel is very effective for this story because the pictures and the conversation bring the story to life in a way that would be more interesting to someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy the history aspect. The pictures are very bold and eye catching and show a great deal of movement, perfect for a story that is chocked full of action. During the times when Kil Dong uses his magical powers, the illustrations almost seem mystical with swirling clouds and detailed dragon-like smoke figures. When Kil Dong is depicted using great strength, fighting vigorously with martial arts or using magic to overcome his opponents, the pictures are drawn in such a way that is energizing and exciting.
The character of Kil Dong was very inspiring to me because although he aspired to be something great, he was always humble enough to obey his father and those around him. When he obtained his training in martial arts and magic, he continued to humbly use his talents to serve the poor of his country. By remaining true to himself, he eventually was rewarded with the high position of Minister of War and was able to help the people even more than he could ever imagine. His actions showed me the importance of helping others who are less fortunate, and how much reward comes along with it, even if it's just the feeling of having made someone's day a little brighter.
This graphic novel has beautiful Korean style water color pictures, as well as an exciting and suspenseful plot. From the first couple of pages I got an impression that the story might be boring to me because of the highly historical language used, but as I continued reading, the dynamic plot caught my attention and drew me in. Although I felt disappointed at the beginning because Kil Dong could not become a nobleman like his father, by the end of the book I was inspired by all the amazing feats he had done to bring justice and dignity back to the poor people of his country. I also felt empowered by the message of good conquering over evil, and the book gave me hope that maybe someday justice could be restored to the poor people of our time.
At first I felt that there were a couple of things that might have been inappropriate for children, such as the fact that Kil Dong's father had obviously had an affair, and that he had another woman "companion", but after reflecting I realized that this was most likely the practice of the culture at that time, and that it would be important to point that out to children. I also thought back to the fact that self-censorship would be even more inappropriate and that it would be a shame to deny children of a book with such a wealth of cultural and historical significance, as well as excitement and action. That being said, I would recommend this book for older elementary children in grade 5 or 6.
The style of the comic-like graphic novel is very effective for this story because the pictures and the conversation bring the story to life in a way that would be more interesting to someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy the history aspect. The pictures are very bold and eye catching and show a great deal of movement, perfect for a story that is chocked full of action. During the times when Kil Dong uses his magical powers, the illustrations almost seem mystical with swirling clouds and detailed dragon-like smoke figures. When Kil Dong is depicted using great strength, fighting vigorously with martial arts or using magic to overcome his opponents, the pictures are drawn in such a way that is energizing and exciting.
The character of Kil Dong was very inspiring to me because although he aspired to be something great, he was always humble enough to obey his father and those around him. When he obtained his training in martial arts and magic, he continued to humbly use his talents to serve the poor of his country. By remaining true to himself, he eventually was rewarded with the high position of Minister of War and was able to help the people even more than he could ever imagine. His actions showed me the importance of helping others who are less fortunate, and how much reward comes along with it, even if it's just the feeling of having made someone's day a little brighter.
The Legend of Hong Kil Dong is primarily a window to the outside world for me because I don't necessarily see myself in the story, but I gain knowledge and appreciation for the Korean culture and heritage, as well as gaining insight into the gap that exists between class systems. However I do relate some of the story's elements, such as the fact that it is similar to the familiar story of Robin Hood, as well as the values of justice and caring for the poor.
This graphic novel would be a great addition to any grade 5 or 6 classroom and would be an excellent resource for Social Studies when teaching about History and Culture.
This graphic novel would be a great addition to any grade 5 or 6 classroom and would be an excellent resource for Social Studies when teaching about History and Culture.
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