Outrun the Moon by Stacey LeePublication Date: May 24th, 2016
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 400 pages
Format: E-Arc
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Historical fiction
Ages: 12+
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San Francisco, 1906: Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty in Chinatown, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes.
On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. With martial law in effect, she is forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the army to bring help—she still has the “bossy” cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?
Let me start by saying I LOVED Stacey’s first book. Under a Painted Sky was easily top 5 for me last year. It was the year of YA Westerns and Under a Painted Sky was easily the best. The prose is beautiful, the characters are real, and the story is utterly adventurous and fantastical. When I found out Stacey was coming out with another book I immediately jumped at the chance to get my hands on it. I managed to score a copy off of Edelweiss and let it sit for a bit. I know, I’m the worst. BUT, when I finally picked it up I knew Outrun the Moon would easily be one of my Top 10 if not Top 5 books of 2016. And it absolutely is.
Outrun the Moon stole my heart and ran away with it; to be punny, I couldn't outrun it's brilliance. Stacey took every bit of emotion I have and used it. I laughed, I cried, I felt pride for Mercy, and anger toward basically everyone who was insensitive to or prejudiced against her. I won’t lie, I enjoyed Under a Painted Sky more, but I feel that’s only because it was a YA Western and I have a serious obsession with those. However, Stacey did not disappoint with another historical book, with a Chinese-American main character who's one kickass girl. How can you say no to that???
Set in San Francisco, I recognized many of the landmarks and details that were mentioned. Living in the Bay Area, Chinatown - one of the main settings - is somewhere I’ve visited plenty of times, but it was wonderful hearing about the historical intricacies of a place I’ve always felt was more of a tourist location. I know, my ignorance is absolutely showing, but that’s what I’m saying. Stacey doesn’t just write to entertain; she writes to teach. She wants you to feel so connected to the story and the characters that as soon as you finish a page you’re on Google looking up the dates and locations and people and events she’s talking about. She wants you to experience the world she creates as if it were your own. And I absolutely love that.
I can sit here and tell you all the reasons why you should read Outrun the Moon; it's heartwarming, it's heart-wrenching, it's about friendship and family and connecting with the least likely of frenemies. But I really believe you need to experience this beautiful novel for yourself. Read it one hundred times over, it will bring such marvelous feelings to your life.
And don't forget I'm hosting a fabulous giveaway for a SIGNED COPY of Outrun the Moon by the amazingly talented Stacey Lee. Go enter here!
