Theresa Evangelista did a fabulous job on that cover design. I only understood when I closed the book at the end. Eventually, I noticed the dragons, but it took me a lot longer to realize that the other squiggles weren’t just designs.

The sky is gorgeous and the silhouettes caught my eye. I don’t even think I cared what the book was about at that point. One more thing - the cover had me immediately. Stacey Lee has delivered a story that entertains yet also provides food for thought. Under a Painted Sky often has a lighthearted feeling, yet still deals with serious issues like racism, family loyalties, and gender roles. I enjoy romance, but am happy when a book can be more than that. I appreciated that the romance aspect of the book didn’t completely overwhelm the friendship narrative. The friendship between Sammy and Andy begins as they rely on each other for survival, but deepens as they share about themselves. In spite of the death, violence, fear, and tragic circumstances of the characters, there was hope and as the summary indicates, there was “the power of friendship.” Strangely, even in the midst of tragedy and difficulty, the book had a positive feel to it. Just when the pace slowed a little, some new calamity would pop up. The action ebbed at times, but things never got dull. The story begins with a bang or rather a smash. Add in that they are pretending to be boys and I knew it was bound to be interesting. Review: Two girls running to the west in the mid 1800s seemed like an unusual story. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship. This debut is an exciting adventure and heart-wrenching survival tale. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. Summary: Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician-not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. Genres: Action/Adventure, Historical, Romance

Under a painted sky book