I loved Stacey Lee's YA historical fiction with minority heroines. So it was nice to learned a little bit more about her.

This collection framework is a great way of presenting an author to new readers!

This gave me a good idea of what Stacey Lee is capable of as a storyteller. The type of stories she writes is not for me, but I know there's a huge following out there that is hungry for more stories similar to these that are previewed here. I think it's great how all her stories that I've sampled are set in historic times, as I feel it broadens readers' understandings of different times. I think it's important for characters to reflect the times they're written in, rather than all of them having post-2000-feminist-ideal personalities, so that's a miss for me in most modern books, including these ones. More historical accuracy would be better. Still, romping through history and subtly learning about it while enjoying a fictional tale is a great way to spark interest in historical periods, so I love that these books all have that aspect.

I adored The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee so I was excited to check out these excerpts of her other novels! I’m most intrigued by Luck of the Titanic so I will probably pick up that one next. I wasn’t aware of Under the Painted Sky and Outrun the Moon previously but I will be adding them to my TBR now.

A compilation of the first few chapters of four of Stacy Lee's books that left me wanting to read more of each. Also introduces her new book 'Kill Her Twice'.

This is a sampler book of Stacey Lee stories. It includes Under the Painted Sky, The Downstairs Girl, Luck of the Titanic and Outrun the Moon. Each one gives you just enough to get hooked. I really like her subject matter and writing style.

Stacey Lee is a great author. This includes experts fro some of her fantastic works, and left me wanting to read more of her books!

"Discover Stacey Lee" offers readers a captivating glimpse into the diverse and thought-provoking worlds created by author Stacey Lee. This sampler features excerpts from four of Lee's novels, each showcasing her talent for weaving together compelling narratives set against rich historical backdrops.

In "Under a Painted Sky," Lee takes readers on a journey along the Oregon Trail, exploring themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice against the backdrop of the American frontier. The excerpt provides a tantalizing glimpse into the challenges faced by the novel's protagonists as they navigate the unforgiving terrain and forge unlikely bonds.

"Outrun the Moon" transports readers to the tumultuous setting of San Francisco in 1906, against the backdrop of the devastating earthquake. Through the story of a determined young woman, Lee explores themes of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, offering readers a glimpse into a lesser-known chapter of history.

"The Downstairs Girl" delves into the complexities of identity, betrayal, and family in the New South. Through the eyes of the novel's protagonist, Lee explores issues of race and social justice, inviting readers to reflect on the meaning of belonging and community.

Finally, "Luck of the Titanic" offers a richly imagined tale set aboard the ill-fated Titanic, following the journey of twin British-Chinese acrobats. Lee skillfully combines historical detail with vivid storytelling, creating a narrative that is both compelling and emotionally resonant.

Throughout the sampler, Stacey Lee's writing shines, with strong female protagonists and sharp commentary on the darker aspects of history. Her ability to bring lesser-known historical periods to life is commendable, drawing readers into worlds that are both immersive and thought-provoking.

Overall, "Discover Stacey Lee" serves as an excellent introduction to the author's work, offering readers a tantalizing taste of her storytelling prowess. Whether delving into the Oregon Trail, exploring the aftermath of a natural disaster, or navigating the complexities of identity, Lee's novels promise to captivate and inspire readers of all ages.

Discover Stacey Lee
by Stacey Lee
Pub Date 22 Feb 2024
PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group
Historical Fiction| Teens & YA



My review of Discover Stacey Lee was provided to me by Penguin Young Readers and Netgalley:


~UNDER A PAINTED SKY~
This debut novel by Stacey Lee explores love, friendship, and sacrifice on the Oregon Trail. 


~OUTRUN THE MOON~
In the aftermath of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, an unforgettable story of determination unfolds. 

~THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL~
In the New South, this novel explores identity, betrayal, and the meaning of family.

~LUCK OF THE TITANIC~
On the Titanic's ill-fated maiden voyage, twin British-Chinese acrobats Valora and Jamie Luck take part in a richly imagined story.


I give Discover Stacey Lee three out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I have never read any of Stacey Lee’s books before, but after this teaser book, I definitely will! Stacey Lee focuses on lesser known parts of history. This was a great introduction to her books. Many thanks to NetGalley for this sampler book.

I'm a huge fan of Stacey Lee (I love The Downstairs Girl, but Luck Of The Titanic is my absolute favourite) so this sampler was a joy to peruse! I enjoy how her stories always shed light on the lesser-known (and darker) parts of history while featuring strong, admirable female protagonists and razor-sharp commentary. This is a wonderful collection and I look forward to more from Lee, who's definitely an author I will never stop recommending to everyone.

I enjoyed this Stacey Lee sampler! I had previously read and loved The Downstairs Girl. I have now added Luck of the Titanic, Outrun the Moon, and Under A Painted Sky to my TBR. I’m really curious about Luck of the Titanic and the fate of the two acrobats siblings. I love that Under A Painted Sky takes place on the Oregon Trail and I’m excited to see what Lee does with the setting. Outrun the Moon also seems like an interesting adventure. Stacey Lee is one of my go-to authors when it comes to historical YA. I can’t wait to read more from Stacey Lee!

Thank you to Stacey Lee, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Netgalley for a free sampler in exchange for honest feedback.

Historical fiction is still my favorite genre + Stacey Lee does it really well. I didn’t grow up getting to read any historical fiction involving Chinese women, so it was a joy to discover her as an author. I actually already read Outrun the Moon last year and really enjoyed it, so I may be a biased party in that I’d already added her other books to my “to read” list.

This was a great “taster/teaser” with sample excerpts from 4 of her books (Under a Painted Sky, Outrun the Moon, The Downstairs Girl, and Luck of the Titanic), so you can decide for yourself which ones you’d want to continue reading!

This is a nice selection of excerpts of Stacey Lee's work, allowing people to decide whether they wish to read any or all of her books, based on these samples.

Lee clearly has a gift for writing historical fiction, and I most enjoyed the glimpse into the Oregon Trail experience.

I did also like the insight into what it meant to be a young woman of Chinese extraction in a much earlier era, and to be gifted but unable to achieve your dreams because of the pervasive racism in America at the time, which was featured in The Downstairs Girl.

If you like reading historical fiction then this is worth a look at taking at! I give it an average of 3.5 stars, because some excerpts were better than others.