Author Spotlight: Stacey Lee

"To be a writer means you have to understand everyone's struggle, not just the protagonists but also the antagonists and everyone in between. You have to understand where they're coming from and how that informs where they are in life and how they react and what their relationship dynamics are." — Stacey Lee

Stacey Lee is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including The Downstairs Girl, a Reese's Book Club Late Summer 2021 YA pick, and Luck Of The Titanic, which received five-star reviews. She has also written Under a Painted Sky, Secret of a Heart Note, Kill Her Twice, and the Winston Chu duology, which she wrote under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

She is a fourth-generation Chinese American, a lawyer, and a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement. She writes stories for all kids (and, according to her, even the ones who look like adults). Stacey loves indie bookstores and says,  “They are such lovely, civilized places. People there are smart and helpful, and there's always something to talk about.”

Stacey Lee's Young Adult Novels

The Downstairs Girl is a captivating historical novel exploring identity, social justice, and personal growth themes. Set in Atlanta, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid by day and secretly writes an advice column by night. As her column challenges societal norms about race and gender, Jo faces backlash and uncovers secrets about her past. This witty and insightful story offers a powerful look at the complexities of identity and the fight for justice in the New South.

Luck of the Titanic is a gripping historical novel that follows British-Chinese twins Valora and Jamie Luck on the ill-fated Titanic. Seventeen-year-old Valora, determined to reunite with Jamie and secure a future as an acrobat, sneaks aboard the ship. Amidst the luxury and rigid class distinctions, Valora's plan unravels as the Titanic meets its tragic end. Inspired by real accounts of Chinese survivors, Stacey beautifully weaves themes of family, identity, and resilience into this wonderful story.

Kill Her Twice is a murder mystery set in 1932 Chinatown, Los Angeles. Sisters May, Gemma, and Peony Chow discover the body of movie star Lulu Wong and take it upon themselves to solve her murder, fearing justice won't be served. As they investigate, they face resistance from the police, who downplay Lulu's death, and political forces that seek to malign Chinatown. The trio must navigate these obstacles to honor Lulu's legacy and prevent the killer from striking again.

Stacey Lee's Tween Winston Chu Duology

We adored her book Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies so much that we had to feature it in our “Toy Shop of Wonders” box! Plus, it included three of our exciting gifts, which brought this book to life in the Once Upon a Book Club way.

The character of Winston Chu is inspired by Stacey's son, whose boundless energy and knack for getting into mischief sparked the idea for this imaginative tale. During an interview with Rick Riordan, Stacey said, "My kid's button has been stuck on 'go' since he was born, which has meant lots of adventures for me. He's touched more than his share of things he's not supposed to touch, and I have the broken toe to prove it. So I wondered, what if there were magical consequences for a good kid whose motor always ran a little too fast? Enter Winston."

Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies

Twelve-year-old Winston Chu is supposed to learn impulse control at his mom's cooking academy. However, while skateboarding home with a pie, he stops a robbery at Mr. Pang's Whimsies, an oddities shop in Chinatown. As a reward, he can choose any item, but the first thing he touches will be his. Impulsively, Winston grabs an old broom to chase a magpie, ending up with both a broom and a dustpan.

Back home, Winston stashes the broom in the closet, but when his prized possessions start disappearing, he suspects the broom and dustpan. Determined to solve the mystery, Winston breaks into Mr. Pang's Whimsies to uncover the shop's secrets and fight magic with magic. This time, he better have a plan.

Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters

In Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters, Winston faces a new threat from Mr. Gu, the older brother of his previous nemesis, Mr. Pang. As exotic birds flood the city and a mysterious fog turns people into zombies, Winston must stop Mr. Gu's sinister plans.

With a mix of humor, action, and magical elements, this story brings Winston's adventure to a thrilling conclusion. This book is filled with mile-a-minute excitement and captivating twists and turns!

Conclusion

We love finding out more about the authors behind these incredible books. If you enjoyed finding out more about Stacey Lee you will definitely want to have a look at our blog on a co-authoring dynamic duo—Christine Pride and Jo Piazza!

Whether you’re looking for young adult or tween book box subscriptions, we’ve got you covered. Here at Once Upon a Book Club, our book boxes are packed with fabulous novels and those coveted surprise gifts! Subscribe now and let the excitement begin.