Librarian Book Review: Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

Summary:
After her father is killed in a fire and she kills a man who attempts to rape her, Chinese American Sammy escapes with the help of Annamae who is a runaway slave. Both girls know that the punishment if they are caught will be death. Together they head west along the Oregon Trail, hoping to find Annamae's brother and Sammy's father's business partner so they can start a new life. Along they way they fall in with a group of young cowboys, who help them survive the dangers of the trail.​

Review:
There aren't many young adult westerns written, so I was very excited to find this one. There have been two other young adult westerns written in the last year (Vengeance Road  by Erin Bowman and Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson), so I am hoping this is a new trend in young adult publishing. This book tells the story of a Chinese American girl who is on the run with a runaway slave after she kills a man who attempts to rape her. Sammy is a likable character and her history and background are well developed. She is a real person, but so often people judge her by the color of her skin. The story is fast paced from the very beginning when Sammy kills the man and doesn't stop moving until the very end.

Overall:
This was one of those books where I finished and I wanted more--it was just so much fun to read. The story has action, adventure, danger, and romance--a great combination.​

Cautions for Sensitive Readers:
Sex: attempted rape
Drugs/Alcohol: some hard cider and other drinks are present in the novel
Language: mild
Violence: yes

Monday Meme: Three Books Every History Buff Should Read

Into the Dim- Janet B. Taylor: There's nothing like a good time travel story! When three teens find themselves sent back to the middle ages via an ancient wormhole, they must rescue someone they thought was dead and ward off the evil plots of a rival time-traveling society, all the while searching for a gemstone that will give them control over the wormhole. It's really an interesting look at a time in history most people don't think about. Click here to get it from KHCPL.

Vengeance Road- Erin Bowman: This is one of my absolute favorite takes on the Wild West. There isn't a lot of western historical fiction in the YA genre, and Vengeance Road set the bar high for future writers. I love the gritty heroine, the chase across wild desert, and the truth behind the setting. If you think you would, too, check this one out here.

Blackhearts- Nicole Castroman: This one is described as a Blackbeard origin story, or "pre-pirate." As a member and co-founder of the #prepiratenation, I can safely say that this is one of my favorite books. Ever. It's got a great set of characters, perfect pacing, and excellent conflict, as well as a sequel coming in 2017. It's not a dangerous adventure on the high seas, but it peeks into what could have been the life of one of our most treasured bad guys. Click here to get your copy.

Monday Spotlight: Erin Bowman

 

 And Erin Bowman's new book, Vengeance Road, is coming September 1, to a library near you!

A BIT ABOUT ERIN

She’s awesome. That’s the first thing you should know. And she’s got an amazing book coming out this fall, Vengeance Road, a wild western throwdown that’ll knock your socks off. (I mean, I’ve only read ten chapters, but I love it so far). She’s always been into stories, and she released her first book, Taken, in April of 2013. That’s the first in a series, which includes three books and a novella. You can find her full bio, as well as some pretty pictures and info about her books, on her website at www.embowman.com.

WHY SHE’S FEATURED

Erin is featured today because she’s personable. From emojis to romantic comedies, she’ll tell you what she thinks and she’s got some great opinions. She’s really fun to talk to, and her writing is super-stellar. I love the way, in Vengeance Road, she writes likes she’s in the Old West, and although sometimes that can turn me off from books, Erin uses it in a way that doesn’t overpower the storyline, but enhances the way you see the plot come to life in your mind. There’s magic in that- a writer who can make their book come to life in your mind. And that’s why Erin Bowman is my spotlight. 

Put a hold on Vengeance Road by clicking here!

Monday Meme Spotlight: Westerns!

     Everyone needs some good ole' cowboy duels every now and then. The problem is that there are very few YA books that are really Western in genre or Western in feel. So if you're looking for a good western, here are a few (released and upcoming) that you can enjoy reading.

Vengeance Road, Erin Bowman (September 1, 2015)- As a part of Erin's street team promoting Vengeance Road, I have to inform you all that IT IS AWESOME. I've been gifted the first four chapters and a few other excerpts, and each character has such a unique, compelling voice. Kate, the heroine, is tracking down a gold mine and the outlaws who killed her father, and she's fearless. Absolutely, amazingly fearless. You'll love her fire and reckless energy, and you can be sure that the western feel will stick with you through the entire book.

Under A Painted Sky, Stacey Lee (Available Now)- Two girls, one Asian-American, one a runaway slave, find themselves on the Oregon Trail in 1849. 

If you're like me, you grew up on the computer game 'The Oregon Trail'. You know about getting wagons across rivers, approaching strangers, and bartering for blankets when you're freezing to death. When the girls in Under A Painted Sky meet up with some cowboys, they find unlikely allies.

Blood Red Road, Moira Young (Available Now)- Okay, so it's set in the future, but it's about as "Old West" as a non-western book can feel. Wild outlaws, fights to the death, and crazy escapes makes for a quick, easy read that will definitely leave you wanting more.

     There's a great need for diverse books in our culture- no one wants to read the same thing over and over again. Westerns are one piece of that puzzle. It's important to expand our horizons, and when we do, we find ourselves better able to relate to the world.