The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

The Downstairs Girl

by Stacey Lee

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 poig

Reviewed by Angie on

4 of 5 stars

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Proceed With Caution:

This book contains period-typical racism, a mention of rape, and violence.

The Basics:

Set in 1890 Atlanta, The Downstairs Girl follows seventeen-year-old Jo, a Chinese American girl just trying to get by. But certain events lead to her stepping up, finding her voice and her family.

My Thoughts:

The Downstairs Girl is a very subtle novel. What I mean is that there's no big plot or sweeping romance. There is a good plot, but it takes a long time to come together. There is some romantic elements, but not a full-blown romance. When we meet Jo, she's being fired from her job as a milliner and she's been blacklisted from all of the other millinerys in the city. She didn't do anything wrong. She's just an opinionated Chinese girl and that's enough for her boss. Not all is lost though as she overhears a very promising conversation in the newspaper press above the basement where she lives with Old Gin, her adoptive father.

Jo is going to become the new advice columnist! Of course, she has to remain anonymous, but this gives her a way to help out the family that doesn't know she's been living in their basement for years. And she can voice opinions that she'd never get to say in her everyday life, such as pushes for gender and racial equality! Obviously being unmasked is one of the minor plot points, but it all works out in the end.

There is small and adorable romance blossoming in The Downstairs Girl. Jo has a crush on the boy who lives and works upstairs. They've had a couple of run ins, but she knows nothing can happen. However, when she's disguised as Miss Sweetie, the two can flirt with word play and puns! They're too freaking cute! There's no drama between them, no "you lied to me" nonsense. It's just sweet cuteness and I wish there was more. And he has a dog named Bear who helps push them together!

I just really enjoyed The Downstairs Girl. It was a pleasant way to spend my day watching Jo come into herself, uncover the truth and fight for those who can't fight for themselves in the small ways that she can.

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Reading updates

  • 16 March, 2021: Started reading
  • 16 March, 2021: on page 0 out of 384 0%
  • 16 March, 2021: Finished reading
  • 3 April, 2021: Reviewed