Downstairs Girl is very unique historical fiction story about a Chinese girl in reconstructionist Atlanta. Although it is contemporary young adult fiction, it kept my interest. I listened to the audio book which was well done.

I loved the characters and was rooting for Jo, who is a lady’s maid that also anonymously writes an advice column. She is witty and non-conformist, smart and a champion of justice. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act in effect at the time, Jo and her adoptive father are not allowed to be US citizens, or to own land or even rent, so they are forced to live secretly as squatters in the basement of a family who prints a struggling local newspaper.

Here are some bits:

• “Mischief dangles from his smile”
• “Luck rides a horse named joy.”
• “The tricky thing about giving opinions is that sometimes they cost you more than you wanted to spend.”
• “The best way to boost your attractiveness is to accept yourself the way you are, which will free your mind to pursue creativity and joy.”
• “We are all candles, and whether we are single or joined with another does not affect how brightly we can burn.”
• “The farther away you stand from someone, the harder it is to like them.”
• “…great souls have wills, while feeble souls, only wishes”

This story is about the struggle of being a poor minority, but it is also about love, and fighting for what you believe in. It is a tale of overcoming. Read this book if you are in the mood for something uplifting. Also, it would be a good gift to a young adult, or anyone who enjoys unusual historical fiction. I give it four stars.