Scan barcode
kayladaila's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Downstairs Girl tells the story of Jo Kuan, a Chinese American woman struggling to find her place in post-Civil War Georgia. Jo is employed as a servant for a wealthy family while she lives illegally in the basement of a struggling newspaper owner’s house. She decides to write an advice column to help her upstairs neighbor boost newspaper sales and give herself an outlet.
Stacey Lee seamlessly touches on so many themes over the course of The Downstairs Girl. My favorite was Lee’s handling of intersectional feminism. From Jo’s column to her involvement with the Women’s Rights movement, there is so much to unpack, and sadly, most of it still needs to be unpacked today.
The Downstairs Girl reminded me of Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It didn’t help that Emily Woo Zeller read the audiobook for both. However, they are both about young Chinese American women dealing with inter-generational conflict and discrimination. I think these books are worth looking at next to each other.
Stacey Lee seamlessly touches on so many themes over the course of The Downstairs Girl. My favorite was Lee’s handling of intersectional feminism. From Jo’s column to her involvement with the Women’s Rights movement, there is so much to unpack, and sadly, most of it still needs to be unpacked today.
The Downstairs Girl reminded me of Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It didn’t help that Emily Woo Zeller read the audiobook for both. However, they are both about young Chinese American women dealing with inter-generational conflict and discrimination. I think these books are worth looking at next to each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent, Hate crime, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racial slurs, and Rape
katypicken's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was an enjoyable YA read, but with rather too much going on. Numerous interlocking storylines, and several of them - concerning difficult and emotional issues - were wrapped up rather too easily or glossed over. Still it was a fun read, and I learnt some things about the southern USA in the late 19th century that I hadn't known before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Infidelity
wear_sun_screen's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Infidelity, and Violence
kikicochrane's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Infidelity
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Bullying
tesshersh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
a little predictable but all in all a fun read :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Xenophobia
plantbasedbride's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Downstairs Girl absolutely blew me away with its heart, boldness, and defiance.
Set in 1890s Atlanta, The Downstairs Girl shines a light on the life of Jo Kuan, a 17-year-old Chinese American girl trying to find her way in a world that is doing its best to box her in. Working as a lady's maid to a vicious mistress in a grand house, Jo finds solace in evenings at home where she and Old Gin, the kind man who took her in as an infant, live like stowaways in the basement under a print house. While listening in on a conversation in the rooms above and learning that the newspaper that is printed there is at risk of folding, Jo hatches a brilliant plan to anonymously pen a rousing advice column under the pen name "Miss Sweetie" in an attempt to save both the paper and her home.
In a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, betrayal, and the true meaning of family, Stacey Lee weaves the tale of the incomparable Jo into the fabric of a society on the brink of a seismic shift. The suffragette movement and their exclusion of women of colour take centre stage as Miss Sweetie tears down misconceptions of race and gender one witty and neoteric column at a time.
I adored Jo and that the focus of this story was on her goals and love of found family over a romantic relationship. Even the secondary characters were well-developed and vibrant, and the pacing felt just right. I couldn't put this one down and finished it in a single afternoon, crossing the finish line with tears in my eyes and my heartstrings thoroughly pulled.
I couldn't recommend this novel more. Please read it!
Set in 1890s Atlanta, The Downstairs Girl shines a light on the life of Jo Kuan, a 17-year-old Chinese American girl trying to find her way in a world that is doing its best to box her in. Working as a lady's maid to a vicious mistress in a grand house, Jo finds solace in evenings at home where she and Old Gin, the kind man who took her in as an infant, live like stowaways in the basement under a print house. While listening in on a conversation in the rooms above and learning that the newspaper that is printed there is at risk of folding, Jo hatches a brilliant plan to anonymously pen a rousing advice column under the pen name "Miss Sweetie" in an attempt to save both the paper and her home.
In a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, betrayal, and the true meaning of family, Stacey Lee weaves the tale of the incomparable Jo into the fabric of a society on the brink of a seismic shift. The suffragette movement and their exclusion of women of colour take centre stage as Miss Sweetie tears down misconceptions of race and gender one witty and neoteric column at a time.
I adored Jo and that the focus of this story was on her goals and love of found family over a romantic relationship. Even the secondary characters were well-developed and vibrant, and the pacing felt just right. I couldn't put this one down and finished it in a single afternoon, crossing the finish line with tears in my eyes and my heartstrings thoroughly pulled.
I couldn't recommend this novel more. Please read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Infidelity, and Sexism
thevietvegan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Dangit, I wrote a whole review and then pressed back by accident and lost it. Ok, here are the things I loved about the book:
- Writing style was so descriptive in ways that are so unlike most literature I typically read. The use of proverbs (no idea if they are traditionally Chinese proverbs or simply Stacey Lee being incredibly wise) were lovely and poetic, and at times, quite funny
- The characters are so fully fleshed out and real. Protagonists, villains, even the horses have such distinct personalities that you can imagine what they are doing even after the narrative ends.
- The historical references are really interesting and explore the racism and impact of being Asian in the 1800s: the slurs, the shared oppression with Black people, and the extra intersection of also being a woman during a time where women were fighting for the vote (and excluding women of colour too)
- I loved the narrative and the defiance of the main character. I empathized with her iron will but kind heart.
- I appreciated that all loose ends were tied and the ending seemed improbable but what my heart had hoped for in the end anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical trauma, Hate crime, and Slavery
leannj's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Infidelity
More...