Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Hardcover, 286 pages
Published May 29th 2018 by Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine
Genre: Middle grade
Front Desk follows ten year old Mia Tang, who works at the front desk of the Calivista Motel while her parents manage it. Mia and her family are recent immigrants from China who know the challenges of not having a place to stay. Having finally got the job managing the motel, they use this opportunity to hide other immigrants in the vacant rooms, making them live in constant fear of the horrible motel owner, Mr. Yao. Mia takes pride in her work, and loves getting to know the weeklies, who also call the motel home. Of course she still has to deal with trying to fit in at school, which isn’t so easy for her. Mia spends her time dreaming of being a writer, regardless of what her mother might say about her English abilities. She begins to write letters to help the people around her, who often are victims of injustice, and slowly finds that her words have the power to make positive change in the world around her.
This story was written as a way for Kelly Yang to explain to her son what her childhood was like, making Front Desk deeply nuanced and real. The characters are treated with respect, and Yang explores the racism and exploitation that are experienced by those who are also dealing with the harsh realities of poverty at the same time. Told through the spunky perspective of Mia, the story keeps it’s hopeful outlook without diminishing the real problems of our society.
Front Desk is a fast-paced story following a witty girl determined to use her words to help the people she loves, with or without the support of her family. It is an incredibly important and validating story for young readers who are immigrants or children of immigrants in the US, while providing a much needed window into immigrant experience for others. It leaves the reader with hope and the idea that we have the power to defeat the injustices in our lives when we think creatively, work hard, and care about the people around us.
Overall rating: 5 out of 5
