The Downstairs Girl: Reese’s YA Book Club by Stacey Lee

Pull up a chair by the window. This one’s a keeper.

A Reese’s Book Club YA Pick and a New York Times Bestseller, this powerful novel from acclaimed author Stacey Lee is the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

Meet Jo Kuan. By day, she’s a lady’s maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night? She’s the secret voice behind “Dear Miss Sweetie,” a wildly popular newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady. As her words grow bolder—challenging fixed ideas about race and gender in the New South—the backlash builds, and so does the danger.

When a mysterious letter surfaces, Jo sets off in search of the parents who abandoned her as a baby. Soon she’s tangled up with Atlanta’s most notorious criminal, forced to decide whether a girl used to living in the shadows is ready to finally step into the light.

Witty. Insightful. Heartbreaking in all the right places. This is historical fiction that holds a mirror to our own moment while painting a vivid picture of the past.

Don’t just take our word for it:

• “This vividly rendered historic novel will keep readers riveted.” —The Washington Post
• “Holds a mirror to our present issues while giving us a detailed and vibrant picture of life in the past.” —The New York Times
• “A joyful read . . . a jolly good time.” —NPR

Perfect for young readers and grown-ups alike. Settle in, listen to the gulls, and let Jo’s story sweep you away.

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