Ambush
Two thousand years ago the Qin Empire in China was overthrown. Civil war erupted. The Chu Kingdom, led by Xiang Yu, and the Han Kingdom, led by Liu Bang, struggled for ascendency. This exquisitely illustrated picture book tells the story of this conflict.
Hongcheng Yu’s illustrations vividly evoke the Chinese culture and historical period depicted in this book. The style is reminiscent of Chinese paper cut art, and the somewhat somber color palette of browns, blacks, red, and yellow reflects the emotional tone of the story. The tale itself examines an episode of Chinese history that may be unknown to foreign readers. The tragic ending of the hero, Xiang Yu, might make this a difficult read for younger readers; the book doesn’t have a fairy tale ending despite the gorgeous illustrations. However, children wanting to learn more about early Chinese history and young readers mature enough to appreciate historical accuracy will enjoy this superbly illustrated picture book. It is a beautiful read.
