{"id":37297,"date":"2020-03-20T22:07:35","date_gmt":"2020-03-21T02:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37297"},"modified":"2020-03-20T22:07:35","modified_gmt":"2020-03-21T02:07:35","slug":"review-of-front-desk-by-kelly-yang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37297","title":{"rendered":"Review of Front Desk, by Kelly Yang"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Front Desk<\/em><\/p>\n

by Kelly Yang<\/p>\n

Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic), 2018. 296 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written May 31, 2018, from a book sent by the publisher
\n2019 Winner of the Asian\/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature
\n2018 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>:
\n#3 Historical Children’s Fiction<\/p>\n

My parents told me that America would be this amazing place where we could live in a house with a dog, do whatever we want, and eat hamburgers till we were red in the face. So far, the only part of that we\u2019ve achieved is the hamburger part, but I was still holding out hope. And the hamburgers here are pretty good.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mia\u2019s parents were well-respected in China, but in America they\u2019re having trouble keeping jobs. So when they get a job as motel managers \u2013 which comes with a place to stay, rent-free \u2013 they are excited. But the owner of the motel promises them one rate of pay \u2013 then changes the deal after they\u2019re signed up. He makes them pay for any repairs needed out of their own pay, so what they take home becomes less and less. Since it takes all her parents\u2019 time to clean the rooms, Mia ends up running the front desk.<\/p>\n

Mia learns a lot at the front desk about how America works, especially from the regulars \u2013 the people who live in the motel long-term. But she also learns from her new best friend at school \u2013 Lupe, who is also a recent immigrant to America. Unfortunately, the son of the motel owner is also in her class. And he isn\u2019t much nicer than his father.<\/p>\n

When friends from China come by needing a place to stay, Mia\u2019s parents are happy to put them up in an extra room \u2013 only Mr. Yao mustn\u2019t find out.<\/p>\n

When Mia sees injustices around her, she learns how to help \u2013 by writing. Her mother says she\u2019ll never catch up with the native English speakers. Her mother was an engineer, so she wants Mia to focus on math, where she can help. But Mia dreams of helping her whole family with her writing. <\/p>\n

Mia\u2019s only ten, but she\u2019s feisty and she\u2019s friendly, and when she sees a problem, she doesn\u2019t rest until she\u2019s done something about it. Reading about Mia and her family was a delight.<\/p>\n

kellyyang.com<\/a>
\narthuralevinebooks.com<\/a>
\nscholastic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/front_desk.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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