Welcome to Litsy!

Set in 1930's Los Angeles, a few young Chinese-American women decide to take on a corrupt police force, a bunch of rich men trying to run roughshod over Chinatown, and a murderer of a beautiful starlet. The characters were fantastic, the atmosphere lush. There was just the right amount of history, danger, and romance.

I really liked this teen mystery set in LA in 1932. A young Chinese-American actress is murdered and her friends have to find her killer.

It was a fast read, but it was also slightly boring. I really think the issue is with me on this one. I thought the writing style was great, and the storyline was decent, yet I still didn't end up caring for it. It was just an okay read for me. I probably won't even remember much about it in a couple days.

If you‘ve read Stacey Lee before and/or if you like YA historical fiction with a mystery thrown in, I definitely recommend. Lee does a great job showing us a side of history often underrepresented or forgotten. Told in the dual POV of sisters Gemma and May, I loved their distinct voices and personalities as they investigated the murder of their friend, Lulu, and navigated being Chinese in Los Angeles in 1932.

This is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction that I really enjoyed. Both Gemma and May act as narrators, offering similar yet unique perspectives about the events taking place and the feelings held by many of the characters; these two sisters could not be more different. While there is a decent mystery within the narrative I think the historical and social commentaries carry the story just as much, if not more.