A Reese's Book Club YA Pick andNew York Times Bestseller
From the critically acclaimed author of Luck of the Titanic,Under a Painted Sky, and Outrun the Mooncomes a powerful novel about identity, betrayal, and the meaning of family.
By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender. While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light. With prose that is witty, insightful, and at times heartbreaking, Stacey Lee masterfully crafts an extraordinary social drama set in the New South.
"This vividly rendered historic novel will keep readers riveted as witty, observant Jo deals with the dangers of questioning power." --The Washington Post
"Holds a mirror to our present issues while giving us a detailed and vibrant picture of life in the past." --The New York Times
"A joyful read . . . The Downstairs Girl, for all its serious and timely content, is a jolly good time." --NPR
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
From the critically acclaimed author of Luck of the Titanic,Under a Painted Sky, and Outrun the Mooncomes a powerful novel about identity, betrayal, and the meaning of family.
By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender. While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light. With prose that is witty, insightful, and at times heartbreaking, Stacey Lee masterfully crafts an extraordinary social drama set in the New South.
"This vividly rendered historic novel will keep readers riveted as witty, observant Jo deals with the dangers of questioning power." --The Washington Post
"Holds a mirror to our present issues while giving us a detailed and vibrant picture of life in the past." --The New York Times
"A joyful read . . . The Downstairs Girl, for all its serious and timely content, is a jolly good time." --NPR
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Praise for this book
"A bold portrait of this country's past, brilliantly painted with wit, heartbreak, and unflinching honesty." - Stephanie Garber
"Immersive, important, and thoroughly entertaining, The Downstairs Girl sparkles with all of Stacey Lee's signature humor, charm, warmth, and wisdom." - Kelly Loy Gilbert
"Prepare to fall headlong in love with The Downstairs Girl. I certainly did!" - Robin LaFevers
"Clever, funny, and poignant, The Downstairs Girl is Stacey Lee at her best." - Evelyn Skye
"Immersive, important, and thoroughly entertaining, The Downstairs Girl sparkles with all of Stacey Lee's signature humor, charm, warmth, and wisdom." - Kelly Loy Gilbert
"Prepare to fall headlong in love with The Downstairs Girl. I certainly did!" - Robin LaFevers
"Clever, funny, and poignant, The Downstairs Girl is Stacey Lee at her best." - Evelyn Skye
Visitors also looked at these books
Used availability for Stacey Lee's The Downstairs Girl