Review: Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Title: Outrun the Moon
Author: Stacey Lee
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Series? Standalone

Synopsis: “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?”

This is the only book I’ve read that is a story about the 1906 earthquake. Luckily, it’s done really well. Mercy was a really fun character to have as a narrator. Her wit and humor make her an enjoyable person to read about. I especially liked the part where she’s trying to teach the class how to make tea.

One of the reasons that I like Stacey Lee’s books so much is because of the strong female protagonists she creates. Mercy is strong and courageous, not concerning herself with being a timid and obedient woman that would more likely get her a husband. In addition, the main characters Lee makes are Chinese. Being Chinese myself, I think reading books with that diversity in it.

Lee’s writing paints a picture. You really feel like you’re in Chinatown and you can imagine what San Francisco looked and felt like back in the 1900s–the busyness (is that a word?) of the crowd, all the people hanging around, and much more that makes San Francisco what it is.

I also just want to say that Mercy’s younger brother, Jack is adorable. Though he has some lung conditions, if I remember correctly, he’s so energetic and such a happy kid. He looks up to Mercy and I thought it was really sweet how he collected the rice in Mercy’s bowl until she got home.

The cover of this book is so pretty. The blue sky that’s a few different colors looks great with the red and the shattered glass adds a cool spectacle.

This was a fun read, filled with an exciting plot and realistic friendships. It’s a great book for anyone who likes historical fiction and strong female characters.

My Rating: 4/5 dragons