Review : Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

Summary (from Goodreads) 

Title : Under a Painted Sky
Author : Stacey Lee
Publication Date : March 17th 2015
Publisher : Penguin Teen
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A powerful story of friendship and sacrifice, for fans of Code Name Verity

Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.

This beautifully written debut is an exciting adventure and heart-wrenching survival tale. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship.  

Personal Thoughts

The book publishing industry is already winning at 2015 with all the diverse books that are being released.  Stacey Lee's Under a Painted Sky not only shines because of the diversity that it explores, but it's also a stunningly written book that captivated me from the very start.

Under a Painted Sky was more than anything, a story about friendship and about two girls finding strength in each other. It was a beautiful and touching story, and I couldn't help but fall in love with these two characters. Sammy, our Chinese protagonist, was a memorable character in many different ways. Perhaps, however, what truly drew me to her character was that inner resilience. Sammy was a gorgeously written character and a lot of her beauty in Under a Painted Sky came from her unwillingness to back down no matter what the obstacle that she faced. By her side was, a slave girl with a huge heart, Annamae. The bond that developed between these two young women was so much more than just a simple friendship. It was a sisterhood, where they took care of each other, disregarding their differences and sticking together through thick and thin. This delightful slow growing friendship between Sammy and Annamae was the highlight of Under a Painted Sky for me, at times, even making me jealous because I envied their emotional connection.

The friendship between Sammy and Annamae wasn't the only friendship that developed throughout the book. Another wonderful friendship started brewing between Sammy, Annamae, and the three adorable cowboys that they encounter while the girls, pretending to be boys to escape the authorities, are on the Oregon Trail. The three cowboys, Cay, West and Peety, were a delightful. The dynamics between them was such a blast for me. Characterizations weren't the only elements of Under a Painted Sky that blew me away. Stacey Lee's writing and world building were equally amazing. With Under a Painted Sky, the author transported me to the times and her vivid writing was an emotional experience in itself. I was so invested in the book that I actually wound up being petrified for these characters because of all the dangers they encountered, both natural and from other people. The author did a fabulous job at describing the time period and making me experience it as if I was there myself.

Under the Painted Sky was one truly beautifully written book heavy on themes of diversity and friendship. This is one of 2015's strongest debuts and you all HAVE to experience Stacey Lee's lovely writing style and wonderful characters.

Rating 

Cover : 4/5
Plot : 4/5
Characters : 4/5
Writing : 4/5