“The tricky thing about giving opinions is that sometimes they cost you more than you wanted to spend.”–Stacey Lee, The Downstairs Girl
I really liked this book. It is charming, witty, and laugh out loud funny. It is also poignant, thought provoking, and hopeful. 17 year old Jo Kuan has a secret. By day she works as a lady’s maid to the arrogant and mean daughter of one of the wealthiest and most important men in Atlanta. By night, she writes an advice column for the genteel southern lady under the pen name Miss Sweetie. As her column becomes more and more popular, Jo begins writing columns that address some of the social issues of the day. She is shocked by the backlash to some of the columns particularly those that deal with traditional ideas regarding race and gender. The more vocal she is, the more her critics are determined to find the identity of Miss Sweetie. While working to protect her identity, Jo comes across a mysterious letter that sets her off on a search to discover the parents who abandoned her as a baby. This journey brings new danger as she crosses paths with a powerful Atlanta criminal and she must decide whether to remain in the shadows as a downstairs girl or take her place in the light. Jo is a delightful heroine with a wonderful sense of humor. While often funny, this is book about identity, betrayal, and what it means to be a family.
Stacey Lee is a wonderful writer and her books about the Chinese-American experience are insightful and engaging. You can’t go wrong with a book by Stacey Lee.
Content Advisory: Sexism, misogyny, racism