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The Downstairs Girl
the must-read Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 41,448 ratings, 5,269 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This novel is ideal for readers of historical fiction, young adult fiction, and anyone interested in stories about identity, social justice, and the American South. Fans of compelling, character-driven narratives that combine rich historical detail with a feminist perspective will find this book especially rewarding.
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
A Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club Pick!
A New York Times bestselling novel, The Downstairs Girl is a compelling and poignant story following seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan, a Chinese American girl living in segregated 1890s Atlanta.
'Everyone needs to read this book' — Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
'A jewel of a story. By shining a light on the lives of those whom history usually ignores, Stacey Lee gives us a marvellous gift: an entirely new and riveting look at our past' — Candace Fleming, award-winning author of The Family Romanov
*
Seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan is leading a double life. By day, she works as a lady's maid, navigating life on the margins of a society determined that a person's worth is measured by the colour of their skin. By night, she's the voice behind the most radical advice column in 1890s Atlanta.
Jo is used to feeling invisible, but she won't let it hold her back. While her priority is making sure that she and her father, Old Gin, remain safe in their hideaway beneath a print shop, she still has ambition. And strong opinions of her own that she begins to share in a newspaper advice column under the pseudonym 'Miss Sweetie'. Suddenly, all of Atlanta is talking about her ideas, although little do they know that the witty advice comes from a penniless Chinese girl.
As curiosity about Miss Sweetie mounts, Jo's secret identity may not stay secret for much longer. And as she learns more of the hard truths about her identity and her country, she must find the courage to decide between being herself or staying invisible...
*
Praise for The Downstairs Girl:
'Immersive, important, and thoroughly entertaining, The Downstairs Girl sparkles with all of Stacey Lee's signature humour, charm, warmth, and wisdom' — Kelly Loy Gilbert, Morris Award Finalist for Conviction
'A gorgeously researched, feminist historical novel' — Melissa Albert, bestselling author of The Hazel Wood
'This vividly rendered historic novel will keep readers riveted as witty, observant Jo deals with the dangers of questioning power' — The Washington Post
'I couldn't put it down. It was so much fun. Stacey writes great historical fiction centring people of colour' — Camryn Garrett, author of Full Disclosure
'[A] thrilling historical novel' — Booklist
'A detailed and vibrant picture of life in the past' — The New York Times
'Clever, funny, and poignant'
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
A triumphant and clever story, The Downstairs Girl is praised for its humour, charm, warmth, and unflinching honesty. Reviewers call it immersive, important, and thoroughly entertaining, shining a light on overlooked histories with wit and heartbreak. The novel is described as a gorgeous, feminist, and gorgeously researched historical tale that resonates with contemporary themes and showcases Stacey Lee at her best.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349423609
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 13 August 2019
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Piatkus Books
Audience: General / adult, Children
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 32.0mm
Width: 124.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 260g
Pages: 384
About the Author
Stacey Lee is the critically acclaimed author of the novels Under a Painted Sky and Outrun the Moon, the winner of the PEN Center USA Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction. She is a fourth-generation Chinese American and a founding member of We Need Diverse Books. Born in Southern California, she graduated from UCLA and then got her law degree at UC Davis King Hall. She lives with her family outside San Francisco.
You can visit Stacey at staceyhlee.com. Or follow her on Twitter @staceyleeauthor.Also by Stacey Lee
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