The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Review by Lauren
Source: library copy; all opinions are my own
Official Summary (add to Goodreads): 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.
Review: The Downstairs Girl is a book I’d seen around, but if not for the Cybils Awards, I might not have given it a shot…and what a shame that would have been! This book takes place after the Civil War, when race relations are still bad and people who are Chinese, like Jo, are viewed almost as badly as those who are black. If you’re Chinese, you can’t rent or own a home, so Jo and her surrogate father/grandfather live in the basement of a white family’s home, without them knowing. There is always the fear that they will be caught and kicked out, and then where would they go?
Despite it being upsetting, I did appreciate learning more about this time period in U.S. history. I didn’t realize that so many people from China came to the U.S. when the Civil War was over because they could no longer keep slaves. The Chinese people were just substitutes and still viewed as lesser than.
In The Downstairs Girl, Jo starts writing an advice column for a local newspaper, calling herself “Miss Sweetie.” People assume she’s a Southern, white woman, but Jo uses her new role to talk about racism and sexism, in as polite a manner as she can since she doesn’t want the newspaper to be negatively affected.
I thought the book was really good, though it’s not necessarily a fast-paced novel. It’s a bit slow here and there, but I always wanted to keep reading. I love that it had so many little mysteries throughout the book. The summary hints at one, but there is a lot more going on behind the scenes and Jo eventually finds everything out, shocking her, and I assume, most readers.
This is a perspective I have never read a book from before – I love that about reading!
I saw this around and didn’t know much about it. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for sharing – adding to my TBR list.
So interesting to get an Asian character’s POV in that time period. I like the sound of this one.
This sounds like such a good read! I wasn’t aware of that aspect of the history, so I think it is great that this book highlights the plight of this group of people.
This is one that I have been interested in, and your review makes me definitely want to give it a try. Great review!
Thank you! I hope you love it too.
This sounds interesting and definitely a unique perspective from that time in history.
This one is on my TBR, I’m glad you liked it!! I’m curious about the historical aspect of the book.
When I saw the title of this, I immediately made assumptions about it, and they were completely blown out of the water by your review, and you know, what the book really is about. This is such a gem of a story, that tackles such big topics!
I’m glad I could introduce you to it – it’s such a good read!
I love books like this, especially ones with a different view point than we regularly see written. Thank yo ufor sharing this!
I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by the cover, but I love the cover!
Me too!
This sounds like a really interesting book actually. I am going to add it to my Good Reads to read list now I think.
Oh yay, I hope you enjoy it!
I definitely agree with you here! It was a slower pace no doubt, and it WAS incredibly hard to read at times because historically (and you know, presently) humanity has been trash to each other. But that is what made it so good, too! Great review, so glad you liked it too!
So so true! Definitely worth the read though.
I love when I read a book that is out of my norm, and end up loving it! It’s great when you can learn more history and be entertained at the same time. I’m glad this was a hit for you!
Ahh this is a lovely review! I’ve read one book by the author and have been curious about The downstairs girl for a little while now. It sounds lovely 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Sounds like the kind of book I should listen to instead of reading. Slow-paced books work much better for me that way.
This was such a good review. I really need to read The Downstairs Girl sometime. 🙂
This is new to me. It sounds interesting, but I am not sure I could handle the slow pace. Great review.
I am a sucker for pretty cover art. And this cover is lovely. The story sounds interesting, too. Going to add it to my Goodreads.