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A review by laflormorada
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
4.0
Forthright Jo Kuan is living in the wrong time. She's a no-nonsense, hardworking, clever and sometimes very opinionated Chinese-American girl living in 1890's Atlanta. To put it mildly, she doesn't really fit in. Despite the fact that she was born in Atlanta, speaks English AND has a southern accent to boot, to most people she will always be "other". When she is forced to leave her dream job as a hat maker's assistant, her best option is to serve as a lady's maid to the wealthy and cruel Caroline Payne (her childhood playmate and tormentor). To make matters worse, her only safe haven could be discovered if she doesn't find a way to help her "roommates" save their floundering newspaper business. Then she has the brilliant idea to pen an advice column and "Miss Sweetie" is born. She just didn't know how much happiness... and trouble... it would bring.
This dramatic tale set in the Old South after Reconstruction has a lot going on, but somehow it works. It's just the right mix of coming-of-age, sweet romance and a treatise on race/racism/gender. The heroine is a saucy, witty, likeable character who knows her lot in life but doesn't accept it wholeheartedly. Her tale was intriguing to me because although at times it didn't seem entirely believable, it still brought to light a perspective that has been mostly forgotten or lost to history. I had no idea that Chinese immigrants took over working on plantations after slavery and that many later moved and settled in southern cities. There are probably so many stories that could be told about this time and so much history I have yet to learn. The period details, the sharp and funny thoughts of "Miss Sweetie" and the heart-wrenching story of Jo's life and family made this story shine. The romance was pretty good too ;) A recommended read.
This dramatic tale set in the Old South after Reconstruction has a lot going on, but somehow it works. It's just the right mix of coming-of-age, sweet romance and a treatise on race/racism/gender. The heroine is a saucy, witty, likeable character who knows her lot in life but doesn't accept it wholeheartedly. Her tale was intriguing to me because although at times it didn't seem entirely believable, it still brought to light a perspective that has been mostly forgotten or lost to history. I had no idea that Chinese immigrants took over working on plantations after slavery and that many later moved and settled in southern cities. There are probably so many stories that could be told about this time and so much history I have yet to learn. The period details, the sharp and funny thoughts of "Miss Sweetie" and the heart-wrenching story of Jo's life and family made this story shine. The romance was pretty good too ;) A recommended read.