The Downstairs Girl

A very engaging and smart read!

Stunningly written by a masterful storyteller and beautifully performed by the audio narrator, this book is my new favorite discovery. The story is so good, I wish I never finished it; I miss the characters already. Set in late 19th century Atlanta at the beginning of Jim Crow, the life experience of a 17 year old Chinese American girl, living secretly with her old guardian in the basement of a white family’s home, could have made a devastatingly traumatic story. Instead, the author gives us a whip-smart, determined heroine-narrator who shows us the social ills of her world but also her joys of family and friends, budding romance, independence, and the strength to reinvent herself. It’s a lovely, often funny; sometimes dangerous, and always heartwarming coming of age story steeped in a rich social history landscape. On top of that, we’re given a wonderful horse (and heart pounding horse race), an adorable dog, and absorbing mysteries connected to Jo’s past. I did not see the reveals coming. Through it all, the author weaves sentences of beauty - Jo expresses her thoughts almost poetically; one gorgeous turn of phrase after another; even the sharp ones. I loved these characters, I loved the language. I will be reading this one again!!!

A must read. Author combined serious subject matter with a splash of humor. Reader was a perfect match for this story.