I dont even know how to tell you guys how much i enjoyed this. Under a painted sky this story falls back into the old west time in 1849. Under a painted sky is the story of samantha and annamae a chinese american girl and african american who through unexpected circumstances must escape together along the oregon trail disguised as boys. Under a painted sky is a gripping, exciting, and fast moving novel. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing. Despite it being a feel good book, under a painted sky has some painful truths woven into it that leave a shadow on its reader. In 1845, sammy, a chinese american girl, and annamae, an african american slave girl, disguise themselves as boys. They sneak into the wagon headed to the oregon trail where they want to go.
Last year, when i read stacey lees under a painted sky, i fell in love. The story starts out with the main character, fifteenyear old samantha, explaining how she just killed a man who tried to rape her. Stacey lees under a painted sky not only shines because of the diversity that it explores, but its also a stunningly written book that captivated me from the very start. The main pov character in under a painted sky is of chinese descent in an era when being anything other than white in america was terribly difficult and dangerous. Under a painted sky also reminded me how much of the west was settled by immigrants from everywhere. Are these minor characters significant to the plot of the story.
Oct 19, 2015 firsttime authors have made their names in hardhitting contemporaries, global spy stories, and, as with under a painted sky, refreshing and diverse tales. I found it an interesting way to draw in some additional chinese culture into her story. The setting takes place in missouri, 1849 setting stacey lee author stacey heather lee was born in the 4th generation. Two girls on the racial margins of mid19thcentury america team up and head west. Under a painted sky would make the perfect choice for even the most reluctant historical fiction reader and should not be overlooked under any circumstances. Under a painted sky wasnt what i expected it to be, in the best way. Under a painted sky is a young adult historical fiction novel by american author. When they kill a man in selfdefense, they disguise themselves as boys, take the names sam and andy, and set off on the oregon trail. Under a painted sky wasnt what i expected it to be, in the best way possible. The book was probably very similar to being on the oregon trail every once in a while something exciting would happen but for the most part, youre on the trail with a long stretch of boring ahead of you. The day started out like any other for fifteen year old samantha young, the daughter of a chinese dry. Although a historical novel, under a painted sky focuses more on characterization and the relationships that develop between the main characters in the novel, in particular between samantha and annamae as well as between samantha and west pepper rather than on presenting readers with detailed information about the oregon trail and the movement west. From the author of the critically acclaimed under a painted sky, an unforgettable story of determination set against a backdrop of devastating tragedy. Under a painted sky is a story about friendship, identity and the meaning of family.
Two girls one accused of murder and the other a runaway slave disguise themselves as boys and join up with three young cowboys heading west to california. When they kill a man in selfdefense, they disguise themselves as boys, take the names sam and andy, and set off on. Under a painted sky by stacey lee patricia hruby powell. Samantha has killed a man, and annamae is willing to risk everything to escape life as a slave. It is about two girls named samantha and annamae who after some unfortunate luck leave their home, missouri, behind to start a new life, but they must first survive the oregon trail. With the help of runaway slave, annamae, she runs to the oregon trail to escape the law and find her fathers only friend. Under a painted sky by stacey lee is an inspiring and moving tale about two girls traveling to california during the gold rush in 1849.
Under a painted sky is a unique ya historical novel featuring a set of characters like no other booka chineseirish american girl, an africanamerican girl together on the run and in disguise, throw in some cowboys and hired guns and, well, thats only the beginning. Track listing oh how she changed dave cousins, tony hooper autumn heroines theme john. Winner of the pen center usa literary award for young adultwinner of. That might be a chinese thing i dont know what that is she was born in southern california. Course, with a painted sky, lights not always good. Under a painted sky two runaway girls, a sisterhood, a family. Under a painted sky was more than anything, a story about friendship and about two girls finding strength in each other. Im a big fan of wild west stories, and i loved exploring this time and place with sammy and the other characters. What is each characters sign and are the character traits associated with each zodiac animal fitting for each of the characters.
With help from annamae, a runaway slave she met at the scene of her crime, the two. Then her fate takes a turn for the worse after a tragic accident leaves her with nothing and she breaks the law in selfdefense. Samantha, the main characters, and anna mae are fugitives so you can. Whether it be the sound of sammys music on the violin or the rope around the characters at night, all of the elements came together to place me amongst this cast and thus have me be heavily invested in them. Under a painted sky comes out in about 2 weeks on march 17, 2015. Because under a painted sky is a very special novel, and hands down one of my favorite debuts this year, i wanted to do something a little different to emphasize how it inspired, challenged, surprised and amazed me. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. It is one of the most heartbreaking but also hopeful stories ive ever read.
Under a painted rye, a cocktail for adventurous ladies. There were still cowboys, gold diggers, and people still used horses for transportation no cars were invented yet. According to wikipedia, chinese new year is known as the spring festival in china and the lunar new year in asia. Jun 24, 2017 under a painted sky wasnt what i expected it to be, in the best way possible. Before you even realized what is happening, youre emotionally invested in the story and the characters. Annamae andy, samantha sam young, west pepper and his cousin cay and their friend pedro. As the book opens, samantha, a 15yearold chineseamerican violinist, yearns to move back to new york city in 1849, though her kind and optimistic father, owner of a dry goods store in the bustling outpost of saint joe, missouri, has great plans for them in california. Samantha dreams of moving back to new york to be a professional musician not an easy thing if youre a girl, and harder still if youre chinese. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Samantha and annamae are two characters that readers have long been searching for, allowing for the inclusion of exciting and original voices to shed new light on a familiar story. The narration in the audible version is immensely engaging. Mar 16, 2015 samantha and annamae are two characters that readers have long been searching for, allowing for the inclusion of exciting and original voices to shed new light on a familiar story. Chasten and asks a out sammy and anamae and ty yorkshire they search the wagon but sammy and anamae sneak out just in time.
This book goes back to when america really felt like a big melting pot. Beautifully written, with descriptions that had me longing to take the road, and characters that were strong and full of charisma, under a painted. Under a painted sky by stacey lee by emily savell on prezi next. Under a painted sky is a fictional western story set in 1849 on the oregon trail. Under a painted sky is a young adult novel by stacey lee, published in 2015 set in 1849 missouri at least at first, the book follows protagonist samantha and her friend annamae. Under a painted sky under a painted sky by stacey lee published. Under a painted sky by stacey lee under a painted sky by stacey lee was on so many bloggers favorites lists for 2015, and was on my own highly anticipated readsand then i didnt read it for ages. Under a painted sky book notes other flashcards quizlet.
New years day in a particular year falls on the day of the new moon between january 21st and february 20th. In 1845, sammy, a chinese american girl, and annamae, an african american slave girl, disguise themselves as boys and travel on the oregon trail to california from missouri. Under a painted sky there was an old man who painted the sky childs introduction to the night sky. Though the book is mostly historically accurate, the author decided to change the location. Under a painted sky two runaway girls, a sisterhood, a. Two girls one accused of murder and the other a runaway slave disguise themselves as boys and join up with three young cowboys heading west. Friendship, diversity and adventure in stacey lees under a painted. Mar 17, 2015 two girls on the racial margins of mid19thcentury america team up and head west. Under a painted sky by stacey lee lone star on a lark.
Clouds outlined in gold streak across the firmament, casting uneven shadows over the landscape. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of under a painted sky by stacey lee. She would say, he did that because he was born in the year of the rabbit. Under a painted sky book pima county public library. The characters were pretty good, especially compared to some of the other books ive read lately, where the characters were so generic and boring that they were barely characters at all they were just names with a few physical traits attached. With the help of a runaway slave named annamae, samantha flees town. Samantha and annamae are girls on the run in under a painted sky. Thank goodness for my book club having it as the pick for janfeb, because i really, really needed to read this one, and i think you will, too. I cannot say enough about how each of these characters grows.
The girls cut their hair, wrap their chests, dress as boys, become sammy. Set in 1849, it was chineseamerican author stacey lees debut novel in 2016. Thats how i came out of reading it, filled with hope for the characters as well as genuinely happy, which wasnt the case for the biggest chunk of the book. I never heard someone call the sky painted before, but its the perfect word. 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. Your kids will have a blast getting their fashion transformation while basking under the colorchanging led rainbow and listening to the delightful and relaxing music of the islands. Under a painted sky is a young adult novel by stacey lee, published in 2015. Samantha dreams of moving back to new york to be a professional musiciannot an easy thing if youre a girl, and harder still if youre chinese. It was easy to fall in love with the characters sammy and andy and i thoroughly appreciated the chance to imagine the life of teenagers in the expanding frontiers of usa. Each character was phenomenal, and i absolutely adore the friendship between andy and sammy. Under a painted sky should historical novels use racial.
Set in 1849 missouri at least at first, the book follows protagonist samantha and her friend annamae. In 1845, sammy, a chinese american girl, and annamae, an african american slave girl, disguise themselves as boys and travel on the oregon trail to california from missouri provided by publisher. Under a painted sky starts off with a bang, with narrator samanthaa. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jan 21, 2016 last year, when i read stacey lees under a painted sky, i fell in love. In just under 400 pages, lee has written a historical fiction and a western, no less. A powerful story of friendship and sacrifice, for fans of code name verity missouri, 1849. Under a painted sky book san francisco public library. Lees under a painted sky will appeal most to middle and high schoolers, though many adults will also enjoy its adventurous plot and accessible characters.
Between the characters who discovered a new best friend, the sweet and hot. Everything about under a painted sky was slower but thats how it works its way into your heart. Hi style studio is a relaxingyetsophisticated atmosphere that embraces the true spirit of aloha. Under a painted sky book the seattle public library.
1604 1423 1595 846 1316 1592 1054 563 1385 1175 860 1386 1682 692 1199 979 1365 618 135 1441 679 1134 1114 346 376 448 796 1182 114 160 1354 495 1332 193 410 354 694 447 655 622 203 1129 338