In her Author’s Note, Stacey Lee says she’s “always trying to tell the stories of people who’ve fallen through the cracks.” What do you think she means by this? How does Lee’s statement apply to characters in The Downstairs Girl?

How does the text show that intersectionality is important to bring about large-scale, holistic social and political change? Which characters showcase the necessity of such an approach? Which characters resist it? How and why?

Bicycles or “safeties” are an important symbol in The Downstairs Girl. Why do you think Lee gives them so much importance? How do they compare with depictions of other forms of transport in the novel?