Published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Mar 17, 2015 | Young Adult Historical Fiction
Hardcover: ISBN 9780399168031
Paperback: ISBN 9780147511843
Under A Painted Sky
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl, Stacey Lee’s debut novel is a powerful story about love, friendship, and sacrifice, perfect for fans of Code Name Verity.
All Samantha wanted was to move back to New York and pursue her music, which was difficult enough being a Chinese girl in Missouri, 1849. Then her fate takes a turn for the worse after a tragic accident leaves her with nothing and she breaks the law in self-defense. With help from Annamae, a runaway slave she met at the scene of her crime, the two flee town for the unknown frontier.
But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls. Disguised as Sammy and Andy, two boys heading for the California gold rush, each search for a link to their past and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. Until they merge paths with a band of cowboys turned allies, and Samantha can’t stop herself from falling for one. But the law is closing in on them and new setbacks come each day, and the girls will quickly learn there are not many places one can hide on the open trail.
Kirkus Reviews
“Well-crafted and suspenseful, with more flow than ebb to the tension that stretches like taut wires across plotlines, Lee’s tale ingeniously incorporates Chinese philosophy and healing, music, art and religion, as well as issues of race and discrimination (including abolitionist views and examples of cruel slave treatment)… Emotionally resonant and not without humor, this impressive debut about survival and connection, resourcefulness and perseverance will keep readers on the very edges of their seats.”
Publisher's Weekly
“A vivid, nontraditional western…with plenty of twists…Growing romantic undertones with hints of uncertain sexuality add bonus interest to a story that distinguishes itself by integrating strands of Chinese lore and wisdom, Christianity, and music with themes of friendship, diversity, and survival.”
Awards, Honors & Praise
Winner of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award
An ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
An Amelia Bloomer Book
An Educator's Guide For Under A Painted Sky
The activities in this guide align with Common Core State Standards and fit into the curriculum for Grades 7 and up.
A Discussion Guide to the Works of Stacey Lee
Discussion questions for all of Stacey Lee’s historical fiction from Penguin Random House.
Photos that inspired Under A Painted Sky
A slideshow collection of photos to provide historical context.
Under A Painted Sky Book Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
1. DID CHINESE PEOPLE REALLY LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 19TH CENTURY?
Even earlier. Chinese came to California in the 16th century as traders. In the 1850s, the first major wave of Chinese came during the 1850s in search of the Gold Mountain in California. After the gold rush was over, many stayed to work on the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
2. WERE THERE REALLY COWBOYS IN 1849?
Yes. Most people think cattle drives did not start until after the Civil War, but this is not true. After the United States annexed cattle-rich Texas in 1845, the cattle industry there began to expand. Cattle drives from Texas to New Orleans were recorded as early as the 1840s. Here’s a great article on the earliest cattle drives to California:
The California Trail Herd
3. WHAT DON’T PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT COWBOYS?
They were poorer than dirt, they had hemorrhoids from sitting so long, and their jobs were very dangerous as well as lonely.
4. DO COWBOYS WEAR UNDERWEAR?
That’s a good question and one I’ve had to mull over on more than one occasion. Some of them wore long underwear, especially during the colder months. Others went au naturel. Not only was the wearing of underwear not common in the 1840s, if one did have underwear, it would have been an additional expense. In addition, though I am no expert, modern cowboys claim that underwear causes chafing.
5. WERE HORSES ON THE TRAIL COMMON?
The pioneers preferred bringing mules or oxen. Mules had steadier feet than horses, and oxen, while not as fast as mules, were less temperamental than mules, not to mention they could eat low quality grass.
6. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THE PIONEERS TO TRAVEL FROM EAST TO WEST DOWN THE OREGON TRAIL?
About 5 months to travel the 2,000 miles.
7. WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE THIS STORY?
I’m 4th generation Chinese American, but still get asked, “Why don’t you speak Chinese?” The question always made me feel like I was back in the 1800s, when Chinese people first started coming to the U.S., and when such a question might have been legitimate. I became interested in the question of how, exactly, a Chinese girl would have been treated back then, and not only a Chinese girl, but a native speaking one.
8. DO YOU HAVE A HORSE?
Unfortunately, I am deathly allergic to horses. But one day I hope to own a hypoallergenic curly horse of my very own.
9. DID PEOPLE REALLY CALL CHINESE PEOPLE “CELESTIALS” BACK IN THE 19TH CENTURY?
Yes, this was a popular term for Chinese people who were thought to belong to the “Celestial Kingdom.”