[In Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom Wang Lee's] rise and fall and his recapture by the kidnappers while on a spying mission are stark and gripping; his ecstasy and growing disillusionment as the killings increase and spread to civilians in the name of peace are well conveyed. More closely bound to specific events and causes than Paterson's Japanese historic fiction, this book will have to be introduced. A "Note to the Reader" provides some background information about the events and the times, but Paterson does not adequately integrate the historical facts into the story. Often the characters are vehicles for the theme rather than individuals in their own right. However, Paterson has written a strong adventure tale whose parallels to today's cults and movements could lead to interesting discussions.
Ruth M. McConnell, in a review of "Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom," in School Library Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1, September, 1983, p. 138.
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