About the Book
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Author:
- Stacey Lee
- Genres:
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
- Voices:
- Chinese Diaspora
- Cis Girl
- Straight
Cover Story: Dramatic
BFF Charm: Yay x2
Talky Talk: Historic-Lee Wonderful
Bonus Factors: Asian-American History, Old Hollywood
Relationship Status: See You On The Silver Screen
Cover Story: Dramatic
I love this cover! It’s screaming “foul play” and sets the perfect tone. Lulu’s decked out in Old Hollywood glamour, wearing her famous red lipstick, and the flowers by her photo are not only evoking funeral flowers but are a nod to the Chow family, who are florists.
The Deal:
In 1930s Chinatown, Gemma and May Chow struggle to keep their family business going while their father convalesces at a sanitarium. Their troubles double when they discover the body of one of their childhood friends and now-famous Hollywood actress, Lulu Wong, dead in an abandoned stable in their neighborhood. What was Lulu doing there, and who killed a perfectly healthy young woman?
Unfortunately, the very white LAPD—who may be greasing their palms from people like makeup-exec and outspoken anti-Chinese dickwad, Otis Fox—writes off her death as one more reason why the Chinatown community should cease to exist. Gemma and May know that no one in their neighborhood would have killed Lulu, who was revered as a local success, and they vow to do their own investigation into her murder.
BFF Charm: Yay x2
I am much more of a May—worrywort extraordinaire, concerned about breaking with the rules even as they chafe—than free-spirit and headstrong Gemma, but because of that, I think I’m drawn more to people like Gemma because I envy their boldness. Gemma’s chapters were more compelling because her impetuous actions were driving the story forward, but I did like hearing about Lulu’s life from May’s perspective as she remembered her friend and had to reckon with herself about how her extreme cautiousness kept her from keeping Lulu closer after she hit it big.
Both sisters felt like very classic Stacey Lee characters, in that they’re admirable young women just looking to do right for themselves, their family, and others.
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
There’s a LOT going on in this book, and less focus is given to romance than perhaps in some of Lee’s other works. Gemma convinces May to sell flowers at a more upscale park in a primarily white neighborhood, and there she meets Freddie, and you spend the book wondering if there’s a catch to his character. Because of her age (almost twenty), May is being, ah, gently pressured by her parents to marry, which would also help ease the family burden while their father is away at a sanitorium. She’s less impressed that they think Wallace the Bug Boy of their youth is a viable candidate…
Talky Talk: Historic-Lee Wonderful
Stacey Lee is an auto-read author for me. I know I’m going to get richly drawn characters and historical landscapes I can practically step into, smelling the sights and seeing everything in full Technicolor. Even better, I’m going to be entertained while still learning something new about US History that I was never taught in school. Lee’s stories are always ambitious and multi-layered, and while the general mystery of Lulu’s murder sometimes dragged in parts, I still enjoyed my time in Chinatown.
Bonus Factor: Asian-American History
Gemma and May’s family is deeply invested in the outcome of the political machinations of the rich and famous in their area of Chinatown, where there’s talk of demolishing whole neighborhoods and displacing families to build a train station. Lee sets her story during this very real time in history when LA’s Chinatown was facing not only local issues but a national Depression and continual prejudice and racism, and with hindsight we also know other weighty matters like World War II were only right around the corner. Hollywood’s fascination with “the Oriental” and its problematic portrayals on-screen also reached a fever pitch during this time. It’s intense!
Bonus Factor: Old Hollywood
Lulu’s catapult to fame makes everyone in the old neighborhood happy for her, so it’s particularly devastating that her murder also ends their representation, especially as Lulu was fighting for roles for Chinese women to be more than just the on-screen villain. In order to investigate, Gemma and May infiltrate the last movie Lulu was working on, and have to sneak into some parties and rub elbows with some Hollywood hotshots. It’s not the focus, but it’s neat to see the backstage machinations.
Relationship Status: See You On The Silver Screen
I’d be happy if you got your big break and got onto the silver screen, Book. I love that you want to bring awareness to things I don’t know much about, and do so in a thoughtful and interesting way. Shine on!
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. Kill Her Twice is available on April 23, 2023.
