It's 1849 in Missouri and Chinese American Samantha is in trouble. Her father's shop burned down, he died in the blaze, and she is wanted for murder after killing a man who tried to rape her. Luckily, plucky Annamae, a slave, helps her escape. A runaway slave and a Chinese girl would stick out like a sore thumb on the Oregon Trail, so they disguise themselves as boys dy and Sammy d try to lie low as they make their way to California. One fortunate night, they fall in with three kindhearted (if a bit rowdy) cowboys, Cay, West, and Peety, and they all help one another stay safe on the dangerous trail. Meanwhile, Sammy and Andy try their darndest to conceal their gender, which becomes increasingly difficult as Sammy starts falling for West, and Andy for Peety. Debut author Lee packs the plot with plenty of peril and Wild West excitement, and Sammy's fixation on fate, luck, and the Chinese zodiac adds a unique flavor. A great fit for fans of historical adventure with a touch of romance.

Gr 7 Up-Although Samantha and her father have a successful dry goods store in Saint Joseph, Missouri, they long to escape: Samantha yearns to return to New York in hopes of a music career, while her father dreams of moving west to California. After her father dies in a fire, the teen is left grief-stricken and vulnerable. Their landlord, Ty Yorkshire, offers her accommodation at the town hotel, where she befriends Annamae, a slave housekeeper. After Samantha kills Ty during a rape attempt, she and Annamae create disguises and join a caravan traveling to California in search of gold. While Annamae's dialogue is written in a colloquial dialect, it doesn't distract from the story. Samantha's voice will sound contemporary to modern ears, yet not inaccurate to the mid-19th-century time period. The ever-present fear of being caught, whether by police or fellow travelers becoming wise to their disguises, is effectively created, as is the primitive life on the trail. As the girls learn cowboy techniques such as using dried buffalo scat to make a campfire and roping horses, readers are introduced to authentic cowboy life. Complications arise for Samantha when she develops a crush on a fellow cowboy; while Annamae falls for a vaquero (Mexican cowboy). This offers a much needed multicultural look at the Oregon Trail, with resourceful, smart, and brave Chinese American and African American girls as main characters. High drama, tension, romantic longings, and touches of humor will entice historical fiction fans, and will be a perfect tie-in to social studies curriculum. Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

In just one day, Samantha's entire life changes. Her father is killed in a fire at their dry goods store, and hours later, Samantha kills a man in self-defense. She decides to leave Missouri and flee to California. It is 1849, and everyone is headed west. She does not have a plan but knows that her father wanted to travel to California. Annamae, a slave girl at the hotel where Samantha kills the man, decides to accompany her. They dress as young men, going by Sammy and Andy now, and after smuggling themselves across the Missouri River, they set off on their expedition. To their surprise, they are befriended by three young cowboys who take them under their wings. The cowboysWest, Cay, and Peetyare whimsical and skilled. Sammy and Andy know they are wanted by the law and fear both being caught and the cowboys finding out they are actually girls. Their journey is daring as they become pioneers in every sense of the word.Lee nimbly balances friendship, adventure, survival, suspense, and romance in this racially diverse western. The historical details cover vast groundnot just about westward expansion and the Gold Rush but also about slavery, life as an immigrant, and gender roles. Samantha and Annamae are incredible characters; they are self-sufficient, determined, and compassionate. Lee's writing is striking, and her well-rendered characters leap off the page. This distinctive story will likely win over even readers who do not think they enjoy historical fiction or who never considered reading a western.Amanda MacGregor.