"Under a Painted Sky" is a young adult novel by Stacey Lee. The story is set in 1849 and follows the journey of two teenage girls, Samantha and Annamae, as they flee their home in Missouri and head west to California during the Gold Rush. Samantha is a Chinese-American girl who dreams of becoming a professional musician, while Annamae is a runaway slave seeking freedom in the West. The two girls disguise themselves as boys and join a group of cowboys heading towards California. Along the way, they face numerous challenges, including dangerous terrain, hostile strangers, and the constant threat of being discovered. The novel explores themes of friendship, identity, and the American West, and offers a unique perspective on the experiences of marginalized communities during the Gold Rush era.
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