Under a Painted Sky

4.4 | 838 ratings

Price: 19.69

Last update: 09-12-2024

About this item

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.

“This moving novel will captivate you.”—Buzzfeed.com

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.

Winner of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award

An ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick

An Amelia Bloomer Book

SCH

I absolutely loved everything about this story

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2015

I absolutely loved everything about this story. At first I was unsure of the time period, I've never been a huge western fan, but I'm so glad I picked this up. Not only were the historical details interesting, but the characters were timeless. Sammy was such a beautiful, courageous, complex main character, I couldn't help but root for her. The memories of her father and her connection to him through music was heartbreaking, and her heritage touched every facet of her life on the run. The family she formed with the cowboys and Andy was so genuine and real, and made me laugh in unexpected places. The action was fast paced and something was always happening, so it was hard to put down. Highly recommend this story for anyone who's a fan of adventure, strong female relationships, and romance. A++

Kristy

... into YA Westerns and I have yet to be disappointed. Under a Painted Sky is a diverse

Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2016

Over the past year I have made a foray into YA Westerns and I have yet to be disappointed. Under a Painted Sky is a diverse, cultural infused tale of two girls, Our main character, Sam a Chinese, newly orphaned girl, teams up with Annamae (Andy), an African-America, runaway slave. Together they flee St. Joe, Missouri disguised as boys and begin on the Oregon Trail. They soon join three cowboys who help keep them safe and teach them how to survive.

I think what I loved most about this book is how Lee was able to incorporate Sam's Chinese heritage and beliefs along with Andy's and intertwine all it beautifully into this richly told story. Sam's and Andy's friendship was also a highlight of the book. It caused for some great moments, some funny, many heartfelt, and I was glad to see such a positive example of female friendship in a YA novel.

Although "girl disguised as boy" seem to be a common theme in YA westerns I did not mind it here and thought Sam's inner thoughts about the challenges of pretending to be a boy were hilarious.

I think Lee struck the perfect balance between an adventure story, a coming of age tale, and portrait of what life could be like for minorities and females in the 1800s

amber a

I tend to leave most books in this genre disappointed. I miss the classics

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2015

I bought this book after hearing Stacey Lee speak about narrative tension at a lecture for YA writers - the talk was specifically entitled, "How to keep them up all night." The lecture (alongside Anna Shinoda) bit off a rather large amount of material. Neither woman mentioned vampires. The methods they discussed were smart, creative, and delivered with just enough humor to leave me wondering whether I'd be able to put their debut novels down.

I devoured GONE WITH THE WIND at least six times cover to cover between my sophomore and senior year. While I am more susceptible to the Historical Fiction page turner than the average girl, I tend to leave most books in this genre disappointed. I miss the classics. I opened this book determined to not judge it by its gorgeous pastel cover. I started slowly. I enjoyed the first four or five chapters - leaving each fully appreciative of Lee's craft. I particularly enjoyed her ability to pepper humor though tragedy. I often complain about writers who miss the mark here. Stacey Lee nailed that important believable balance for me. I liked her characters quickly. I left each chapter satisfied, but thoroughly able to get up and go on with my life. Like a jaded Thumper in Walt Disney's BAMBI, this book was more than nice, but I wasn't susceptible to any kind of teen-aged Twitterpation over it. After the sixth or seventh chapter - four or five days after I first picked it up, I quietly closed my copy, placed it on my nightstand, switched off my lamp, fluffed my pillow and turned over. I turned over again. I flipped on the light - OK, just one more chapter... I zombie sleepwalked to work the next day. That night I retired early, making some completely convincing excuse about being exhausted. I was certainly too tired to read. Flash forward to 6AM when I woke up with this novel on my face. I turned it's last page this afternoon, fully satisfied. I am truly sad it's over. This book transported me. It's one I'll want to have in my collection forever, alongside the beautiful books that mattered to me as a teen; JANE EYRE, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, UNDER A PAINTED SKY. Classic in feel, subject matter, and voice - but modern in approach, I'd be as comfortable recommending it to my book club as I would handing it to any teen. Readers of all ages and walks of life will surely find something that resonates with their own stories too. As for me, I am sure I'll be back on the trail with these girls-- I mean boys, before long.

Now I'm off to try my hand at Anna Shinoda's LEARNING NOT TO DROWN. Well, maybe tomorrow. I need a good night's sleep and it's clear these authors know how to keep those pages turning.

Pamela

A great BeeHive Award Winner!

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2016

This is a BeeHive Award winner for young adults! What a great read! It is a page turner, that's for sure. Two runaways--a slave and a Chinese girl--take to the trail West during the big Gold Rush. They meet up and join three young men traveling West to seek their fortunes. The catch? The girls are disguised as "boys!" The adventures begin! Fast paced book. Highly recommend it for young adults, but I really enjoyed it, too. Written well and in all situations, the characters were believable! I did make some predictions that, in fact, came true. Didn't ruin the story for me at all--only heightened my anticipation! Great read!

CAD

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2015

Nice read. Good story.

Mainer

My pick for Best YA from 2015

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2015

I don't usually like Westerns, but this historical novel reads like a racially diverse Little House on the Prairie. There's a touch of romance, but the most important relationship is the friendship between these two resourceful girls. The writing is superb with well developed characters, a fast pace and a fine sense of place and period (1849). Despite dealing with tough issues like murder, slavery and racism, it still manages to be a feel good story, appropriate for tweens as well as teens. The girl protagonists are 15 and 16 and the boys are a bit older. This debut tops my list of best YA from 2015 that I've read to date: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2015/12/best-ya-books-of-2015.html

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