The novel’s themes of family, acceptance, adventure, and survival work together nicely as a nod toward archetypal western conventions, while still maintaining a contemporary perspective for young adult readers. Just as Sammy saves her friends, they similarly risk their lives for her. In order to save her friends, Sammy bravely helps an injured member of a dangerous gang in exchange for help. While on the Oregon Trail, some of the boys and Andy fall ill with cholera. Lee weaves this theme of chosen family together with scenes of adventure and survival. The women no longer see them as a threat, but as part of their chosen family. Despite their pseudo masculinity and superficial identities, the women form emotional ties with each other and the young cowboys. “Andy” and “Sammy” realize they must adjust their façade to ensure they will not be revealed to their companions. At one of their stops, a midwife sees through their disguise and shows solidarity among women by providing them with necessary sanitation materials. For example, she addresses the struggles and challenges of gender roles in scenes where the girls are forced to adapt to the “Old West.” They have to straddle the horse instead of sitting side-saddle and they struggle to care for their feminine hygiene while undercover. In her story, Lee engages both the past and the present by updating a familiar genre – the Western – with a modern perspective inspired by the need for diverse books. They work together to protect each other at all costs on their journey. Along the way, they encounter and befriend three boys, whom they begin to view as their family. The women disguise themselves as men and learn the true meaning of survival in the dangerous West. Samantha is wanted as a murderer and Annamae is a runaway slave. In Stacey Lee’s young adult novel 'Under a Painted Sky,' two fugitives from the law travel west on a journey to find freedom from their pasts.

Under a painted sky