not an ideal situation) when she finds herself in extremely unfortunate circumstances, she must flee West with the help of Annamae - a runaway slave. Samantha is a Chinese girl living in Missouri in 1849 (i.e. The author is one of the founders of #WeNeedDiverseBooks so, not surprisingly, this book was refreshingly diverse. Under a Painted Sky was hard to put down I was so completely invested in the characters and the plot. The blurb promises a book for fans of Code Name Verity - something which I'm sure appeals to many readers out there - but I found CNV to be much slower than this. So easily readable, so easy to get caught up in the emotion, the action and the wonderful relationship between the two main characters. There are some books I sit down to read a little of and suddenly find myself blinking at the clock, which tells me it's three hours later. And it's a western! So far from the genres I usually find myself in, but oh so very good.

It's one of those rare stories that manages to blend sad, moving parts, with action-filled fast-paced parts and laugh-out-loud hilarious parts and get the balance just right. Well, I'm so glad I'm one of those curious readers. But you're curious enough to pick it up anyway and not expect much. and yet, you read the description and you're just not that excited for it. You know the kind - they win a bunch of awards, get a kirkus starred review, feature in Goodreads 'best books of the month'. I admit that there are some books I only read to satisfy my curiosity after I see all the hype. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship. This beautifully written 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.

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. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. 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. 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.

Under a painted sky book