The Downstairs Girl

A Reese's Book Club YA Pick and New York Times Bestseller

From the critically acclaimed author of Luck of the Titanic, Under a Painted Sky, and Outrun the Moon comes 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.

1. StaceyLeesaysinherauthor'snotethatshe's"alwaystryingtotellthestoriesofpeople who've fallen through the cracks." Why are these important stories to tell? In what ways both literal and metaphorical is Jo Kuan someone who has fallen through the cracks?

2. PartofJo'sidentityisinformedbytheracialdichotomyofblackvs.white.AsaChinese person, Jo doesn't fall into either side of this divide, providing her with both privileges as a non-black person and marginalizations as a non-white person. What are the different ways both Jo's privilege and lack thereof are exemplified throughout the story? What does that mean for someone who experiences intersectional identities?

3. Jo often shrouds herself in shadows, whether it's literally in the basement of the Bells' home, or figuratively under the pseudonym of Miss Sweetie. How else do shadows appear throughout The Downstairs Girl? What characters also spend time in the shadows? How do the intersections of race and gender play into their hidden selves?

4. Jo is criticized for being opinionated at Mrs. English's millinery, but subscribers love Miss Sweetie's saucebox comments-think about what distinguishes Jo from Miss Sweetie and compare.

5. Characters in the book are both encouraged to and discouraged from sharing their opinions based on their race and gender. What does this say about the society that dictates these unspoken rules?

6. Words and language are very important in The Downstairs Girl, whether it is Old Gin's sayings, Miss Sweetie's clever turns of phrase, or the ways different characters address one another, depending on their station. Discuss the use of language in the novel and identify ways, both large and small, that the words used define the situation

. 7. On p. 39, Jo states that "Someone needs to blow the trumpets of change. Someone who has viewed society both from the top branch and the bottom, from the inside of the tree and from the outside." How do different characters' actions match this description? What kinds of change are they trying to effect, both big and small?

8. Miss Sweetie tackles many issues of the day in her columns and uses her platform to shed light on injustice. Discuss the changes Miss Sweetie is able to make through her writing, and how that impacts her life both directly and indirectly throughout the story.

9. Naomisays,"Wegottojumpinandmaketherules...Orsomeoneelsewillmakethem for us" (p. 115). In what ways do Jo and other characters attempt to make the rules? What role do rules-and their breaking, expanding, and reimagining-play in the story? 10.Jo and Noemi witness the statue of a Confederate officer being erected. Use their discussion on p. 114 as a jumping-off point to address the current events around the removal of these statues throughout the South.

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 BookPage 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

"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