The Downstairs Girl

 

A. Bibliographic Data

     Lee, Stacey. 2021. The Downstairs Girl. G.P. Putnam’s Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 1524740977

B. Summary

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

C. Critical Analysis

 This was an amazing historical fiction, and I truly enjoyed learning about life during this period for Asians living in the South. You often hear about the white and black issues of the past and may have learned about the Asian people being brought here to build trains, etc. but I have always wondered what it was like during these times for others. I had always wondered if Asians, Mexicans, and other races had to use the “other doors” as well, so it was interesting to find at the beginning of the story that they didn’t have to but it was often unclear for them what they were supposed to do. I hated that Jo would be fired for jobs for no reason even though everyone knew it was becoming she was Asian. This book encompassed many topics from race, women's rights/positions during this time, honor, finding yourself, and much more. I love how she figured out who she was in the end and used it to her advantage from writing as Miss Sweetie, friendships, finding love, and winning a horse race even though women weren’t supposed to be women jockeys. In the end, I wanted to know what else happened here with Jo and Nathan, her career, and Old Gin.  I would love part 2 but I know that isn’t the point of the book. I just really connected with the characters, and I feel this is a book that is not just for young adults. I find it interesting it fits into that category. I guess because she is finding herself, and she is a late teen herself they are equating that with being a young adult genre book. I find it is a great book for all.

D.  Book Reviews

A Reese's Book Club YA Pick
A New York Times Bestseller
An Indie Bestseller
A People Magazine Best Book of the Year
A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Year
One of NPR's Favorite Books of the Year
A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Booklist Editors’ Choice
A Book Page Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year
A Crystal Kite Award Winner

“The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee is clever, poignant and funny. It’s a bold portrait about a young Chinese-American woman named Jo who is faced with adversity and finds a creative way to use her voice for greater good.” —Reese Witherspoon

“Vividly rendered, intriguingly plotted . . . Jo’s example of resistance and hope is sure to resonate with today’s readers.” —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

“A triumph of storytelling. The Downstairs Girl is a bold portrait of this country’s past, brilliantly painted with wit, heartbreak, and unflinching honesty. Everyone needs to read this book.” —Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

E. Connections

·         Students can consider elements of the story (such as setting, characters, and elements of expectations) to compare their own life experiences.

·         Create a list of character traits for Jo, Carolina, Nathan, and Old Gin. Discuss what you think about these characters. Can you relate to these characters?

·         Learn more about Women suffragettes and dig into the text. The discussion about race within the suffragette movement and discuss the numerous quotes Jo and Noemi state during the book about “All Women” in correlation to the movement.

·         Depending on students could discuss Jo and Nathan- is interracial relationships in any form still issues today?

·         Discussion questions provided by the author: Link