Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Front Desk
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner, Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother (who was an engineer in China) does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class, the other being Mr. Yao's son, Jason.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
leslovestoread
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
Pickpick

A great story that allows the reader to expand their perspective or perhaps relate to the amazing story.

blurb
Eggs
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

“It's going to be okay. I'll make friends, and if I don't, I'll borrow books from the library.”

#Desk

#SchoolSpirit

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love it! 😍 3mo
53 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
IMASLOWREADER
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

#9 on my read your kindle for july… @CBee #audiophile #readinggoal #readinglife

10 likes1 stack add
review
Rachiiebookdragon
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
Pickpick

An interesting but hard read throughout.

Read for reading prompts.

Library book 📖

4/5

review
Johanna414
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

I‘m jumping the gun a bit on #middlegrademarch but once I started this, I couldn‘t put it down! Mia was such a great character and the author‘s note where she disclosed how much of the story was from her family‘s experiences made me cry. @megnews @sblbooks

sblbooks I loved this one when we read it for the #mgbuddyread. 2y
43 likes1 comment
blurb
Johanna414
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

This is the product of just a few minutes of browsing the shelves for #middlegrademarch books… plus I have some at home, and some audiobooks… plus I just put in a couple holds at the public library. I want to read literally all the books! @megnews @sblbooks

megnews Me too!!! 2y
TracyReadsBooks Some great books in these stacks—I haven‘t read all of them but I loved The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy, Front Desk, Fablehaven and Dead Voices. Enjoy! 2y
Johanna414 @TracyReadsBooks I started Front Desk today and I‘m loving it! 2y
TracyReadsBooks @Johanna414 There are two more books in the Front Desk series and they are equally good. Just a great series beginning to end. 2y
37 likes4 comments
review
Tea_and_Starstuff
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

This book had a fun read with clear and straightforward language, as you'd want for young readers. But with that trapping, it managed to discuss some serious topics with surprising nuance. Immigration, poverty, assault, child labor, racism are things that nine-year-old Mia encounters as she helps her parents manage a motel. Her processing and reaction of it feel exactly right, and the book feels real while still being a great story!

Tea_and_Starstuff I gotta say though, reading it as an adult I struggled with how many adults were completely chill about a nine-year-old motel manager. *Nobody* called child welfare on this kid? But then my disbelief was challenged by the authors note. The touching postscript highlighted why the story felt so real - the heart of it was the authors experience. She points out what parts of the story happened to her, including running a motel front desk at age nine! 2y
3 likes1 comment
blurb
RebL
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

This is a full on yes book for me. I would recommend it to any middle schooler. I loved going to my parents‘ workplaces & had a full-on fantastical belief that I was ready for a career. Here‘s Mia doing just that—while challenging prejudice & learning she can gain skills against feedback that would indicate otherwise. This also could serve as an intro to some of the particular ways Chinese people have been discriminated against in the U.S.

mandarchy I just learned that there are 3 sequals to Front Desk! The author is on Twitter and posted that Barnes & Noble is refusing to carry the 4th title. She's writing faster than I can read. 2y
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
breadnroses
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

I just read this book on recommendation from one of my 6th graders and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! In contrast to The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali, which stars a solidly petty bourgeois family, Front Desk details the story of Mia Yang and her parents, recent Chinese immigrants who work at a motel and are being super-exploited by their boss. This book puts working class solidarity front and center ❤️ Sincerely enjoyed reading!

4 likes1 stack add
blurb
Ember08
Front Desk | Kelly Yang

Cool

review
May112
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

This was great! It was fun, nice, and funny 😄 😄 I add this one of my favorite so I'll give this 5-stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

blurb
BookishTrish
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Join me on Tuesday for a conversation with big hearted middle grade author Kelly Yang. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=spNoqupbcmg

BookishTrish Im on Pacific Standard Time 3y
35 likes1 comment
review
bell7
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

It took me awhile to get into this episodic story of Mia Tang and her family, immigrants from China who run a motel for the cheap and mean Mr. Yao. Mia's friend Lupe and Mr. Yao's son Jason, and the "weeklies" who live at the hotel and pay by the week, are all excellently drawn secondary characters. Before I knew it, I really cared about what happened to the Tangs and loved seeing how everyone came together in a positive way in the end.

blurb
Layla.Ross
Front Desk | Kelly Yang

Front desk is really good, its a very good book, i recommend reading it and it isn't a very hard read to

review
Nikkiminaj
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
Pickpick

It was a good book and it showed me how hard it can be as an immigrant.

blurb
BookishTrish
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

#audiocommute in the rain. So grateful for audiobooks (as I can‘t see to read)

GondorGirl 🤣 You'd think someone would have solved the foggy glasses problem by now! 3y
Larkken Hate it. Am now totally considering lasik more than previously 3y
42 likes2 comments
blurb
Johanna414
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

I'm so excited that I just got the ok from my principals to bring back my 6th grade book club! I was one of the things I missed most last year. Now to decide on our first book of the year... #schoollibraries #librariansoflitsy #teachersoflitsy

DebinHawaii Yay! 🎉 That‘s so exciting! 🤗 3y
Tamra So fun! Good luck! 3y
megnews Yay! Man, I wish someone had done a book club when I was in school 3y
Johanna414 @megnews we have so much fun! They come in to the library during their lunch and I read to them while they eat. I only expected a few kids to sign up when I started it, and ended up with 24 that year! 3y
40 likes4 comments
review
KimmyM
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

4 stars - This was a delightful read! I loved reading about the motel and the people Mia met there, and I loved her friendship with Lupe. There are some tough subjects that Mia and her parents face including racism, poverty, discrimination, and immigration, and Mia's challenge of being the new kid in class. There were moments of sadness and heartbreak, but also joy and happiness. loved Mia‘s bravery and optimism in the face of so many challenges.

review
EmilieGR
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

Well written and engaging, this book is important reading for its targeted age group about a dark and often unacknowledged element of the immigrant experience. The predicament the protagonist and her family find themselves in is horrifying, but they prove that kindness and compassion will get you far in life.

7 likes1 stack add
review
Fantasy_bookworm
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

Woah! This book was really cool. I finished it super quickly, because I just couldn‘t put it down!!

Mia‘s story is engaging and emotional, full of friendship and hardship. I recommend this funny, thought-provoking tale to all ages. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

blurb
amill7516
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

I love this book!

mylifeisbooks I absolutely adore this book! I love Mia's story! Kelly Yang really outdid herself writing this book! 4y
amill7516 I know! Mia is so brave! 4y
3 likes2 comments
review
Allylu
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

Front Desk is my next Middle Grade finish. It‘s a story based on the author‘s childhood leaving China to come to the US with her parents and their experiences here. It is a very realistic picture of immigrant life. Lots of good life lessons. I enjoyed it very much. Middle Grade books tackle such important issues. #100YEARS100BOOKS #BookSpinBingo #18 #MGMarch #20in4 1 down, 4 to go!

Andrew65 Great start 👏👏👏 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
michellem3t
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

A sweet and inspirational book for young readers. Optimistic young girl from an immigrant family using anecdotal experiences to give a glimpse to challenges faced not just by her family but other minorities. She is a champion for those needing to overcome some adversity with her hope and determination. Light reading due to age of target reading but worthwhile for any age.

blurb
COMICS XD
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Front desk is a good book. and this time i am not joking about anything. Front Desk is based in Kelly Yang's real-life experiences, making it an #ownvoices novel. ... Front Desk details the family's first year managing the hotel including little daily occurrences, diversity issues and the building of community at the motel.

4 likes1 stack add
review
ravenlee
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

#doublespin done! This was hard for me to get into, because there‘s so much hardship and discrimination. It felt bleak. But Mia is no pushover, and I admire her fighting spirit. Looking forward to the next one.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
44 likes1 comment
blurb
Airykah13
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

📚 Front Desk
📖 moist
🥘 eggs and toast

#thoughtfulthursday @MoonWitch94

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🎃🍂📖 4y
19 likes1 comment
review
mandarchy
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

I love this book!

review
Zephsomething
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

This book was so good!! I highly recommend it for both the 9-12 readers it was intended for and also any adults looking for a heartwarming story!

blurb
Zephsomething
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Starting on an easier read after a horror novel! I‘m very excited to see where this book goes, I‘ve heard good things!

3 likes1 stack add
review
lowellette
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

What a delight! I was recommended this book by an author recently and loved it! A young Chinese immigrant struggles with running the front desk of a motel her parents manage, with racism and poverty issues, and feelings of inadequacy when it comes to one of her favorite subjects—writing. This character is the hero we need right now!

TheBookHippie I loved this book. We read it for #mgbuddyread . 4y
lowellette I bet there would be lots to discuss! I‘m reading the second book right now. 4y
10 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Onceuponatime
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this #oregonbattleofthebooks pick about a Chinese immigrant family dealing with poverty and racism as they try to make their way in America. Based on the author‘s own experience, this story is well-written and an engaging read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
alisonrose
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
Mehso-so

A lot of important stuff here, about identity, prejudice, family, but this sold its younger readers short. I promise 10-12 year olds can handle more subtlety & don‘t need to be whapped over the head w/every message. Plus while it represents a lot of real life issues, the way Mia is able to quickly & easily solve everything is so unrealistic & implausible that I worry it would only make kids feel worse about their own similar circumstances. 2/5 ⭐️

alisonrose More detailed review at GR. Give us longer character length already, Litsy! 😣 5y
21 likes1 comment
quote
alisonrose
Front Desk | Kelly Yang

“We have to take her to the hospital,” I said to my dad.
“No,” my mom said, coughing. “We don‘t have any insurance. Going to the hospital will kill us.”

[Ain‘t America great. 😑]

blurb
alisonrose
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Since my last read was pretty heavy, I felt like going in a very different direction with a middle grade novel. This has some serious themes but, you know...middle grade isn‘t gonna drag you down. #nowreading

review
LaurenMags
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

This was a great #middlegrade book about Chinese immigrants in the United States.

review
cosmicv1bes
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

woohoo! first review of 2020! this was an amazing book. the plot was great, i loved mia and the other characters, and the book was just all around amazing! Front Desk shined a light on immigration in the usa and gave me a deeper understanding of my previous knowledge through a wonderful story. this was a great book and i will definitely read it again in the future!

review
mcctrish
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

Day 2 of breakfast in bed and finishing up all the books I have on the go. Holidays are wonderful! I loved this fictionalized account of Kelly Yang‘s coming to America. It‘s eye opening and inspiring.

blurb
mcctrish
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Thank you @sherryvdh for the very pretty card. It‘s giving me some decorating ideas. #poutinepenpals I hope you get your Christmas wish of lots of reading time 🙏🏻

sherryvdh Wow, it got there quickly! 5y
mcctrish @sherryvdh it‘s not often the mail gods are in my favour 🤣 5y
21 likes2 comments
review
Matilda
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

Adored every second of this book that made me feel every single emotion. Officially my new favorite kid in literature.

36 likes1 stack add
blurb
Eggs
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

1: just finished the tagged book

2: PS!!! 🎃

3: “It was a picture I‘d been waiting a long, long time for.”

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

review
Eggs
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

MG fiction based on the author‘s real life—a Chinese family resettles in Southern California and struggles with all kinds of language barriers and indignities, but MC Mia is a hero!

sblbooks I really like this one too. We read it for #mgbuddyread a few months ago. You should join us we read a new middle grade book, and have a discussion at the end of every month. 5y
Eggs @sblbooks Thank you for the invite! What are you reading this month? 5y
sblbooks We took September off. We are reading small spaces by Katherine Arden in October. The next discussion is Sunday October 27th at 4pm @Lmstraubie heads it up. The host for October is @LibrarianRyan just 5y
See All 6 Comments
sblbooks ... search for the #mgbuddyread. 5y
Lmstraubie Thanks for the shout-out about our #mgbuddyread group @sblbooks 🙂 @Eggs it's really easy going. Questions are posted around 4:00 on the last Sunday of the month. You join in when you can. LMK if you have any questions! 5y
Eggs I read Small Spaces a few weeks ago !! Thank for info!! @Lmstraubie @sblbooks @LibrarianRyan 5y
51 likes6 comments
review
ChristyM
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

This was my summer for catching up on acclaimed middle grade novels. When Mia‘s family immigrates from China to the US, her parents take a job managing a motel. Mia has to balance teen struggles along with concerns of race, poverty, crime,and justice. Lovely writing and well-developed characters pull the story together. The only piece that disappointed me was the character of Mia‘s teacher who is clueless and unsupportive.

blurb
book_princessBritt
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Took an adventure break to get some library books! #24in48

LibrarianRyan Front desk was so good. 5y
10 likes1 comment
review
LibrarianRyan
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image
Pickpick

4 🌟

Overall this was a lovely story, and it was recently announced that there will be a sequel.

Full Review on LT and GR

#BBRC #MGReadersChoice
#Booked2019 #DiverseMG
#LittleLoveBingo #BuddyRead
#KillYourTBR #Cityvisited

58 likes2 stack adds
quote
LibrarianRyan
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Anyone else think the teacher is racist.? This is just one sample.

#mgbuddyread #yesimbehind

SaturnDoo 🤔 no that passage didn't come across as being racist but there were some others that did. 5y
LibrarianRyan @SaturnDoo yes, others were much worse. 5y
SaturnDoo @LibrarianRyan I agree. How are you liking this one so far? I am excited for the sequel next year 😁😂 5y
See All 6 Comments
LibrarianRyan @SaturnDoo I just finished it. I really enjoyed it. I would never have read this if it wasn‘t part of the buddy read but I loved it. 5y
mrp27 I read this a while ago so it's not entirely fresh in my mind. I remember the teacher making me feel uncomfortable. 5y
SaturnDoo @LibrarianRyan I enjoyed it too. I like MG, I probably would have read it at some point but I liked reading it as a buddy read. 😊 5y
41 likes6 comments
quote
LibrarianRyan
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

You know. I really kind of hate this kids mom. She‘s not Mommie Dearest bad, but she‘s no laugh riot either.

quote
LibrarianRyan
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
post image

Anyone else get pissed off when her mother told her she couldn‘t write because she wasn‘t a native speaker. Ighhhhhhhhhhhhh

Lindy 🙋‍♀️ 5y
mrp27 Yes! 5y
48 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Lmstraubie
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image
Peddler410 I wonder about Mr. Yao‘s son. I was happy to see him change by the end of the story. 5y
sblbooks This was a good book. I heard there might be a sequel. Did anyone else hear that? 5y
TheBookHippie @sblbooks yes I did does anyone know???? 5y
See All 15 Comments
TheBookHippie This is a true very good story 5y
TheBookHippie Thank you for this!!!! It was an amazing read! 5y
mrp27 @sblbooks I think I heard the same thing. I'd definitely read it. 5y
mrp27 Great book and very timely. 5y
LibrarianRyan Anyone else think the teacher was racist. And using racist lesson plans? What about mom and her actions or lack of actions? @Peddler410 @amie @sblbooks @TheBookHippie @mrp27 @Chelsibno @SaturnDoo 5y
TheBookHippie @LibrarianRyan I did but that‘s daily life here I forget it‘s not normal 😳😭 5y
LibrarianRyan @TheBookHippie unfortunately very true. 😢😤 5y
Lmstraubie @LibrarianRyan @TheBookHippie I was thinking she depicted the teacher that way to shine a light on how white privilege blurs people's vision. 5y
LibrarianRyan @Lmstraubie ohhhh. Good point. 5y
JaclynW Thank you for bringing my awareness to this perspective changing book! It is so timely. I will be recommending this to everyone I know. 5y
JaclynW @LibrarianRyan The teacher's actions bothered me too. I saw it as a naivety on her end - @Lmstraubie definitely white privilege. I was also happy to see Jason change at the end @peddler410, what courage it took on his end to stand up to his dad. 5y
5 likes15 comments
blurb
Lmstraubie
Front Desk | Kelly Yang
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image
Peddler410 I found myself thinking about how determined Mia was. She wanted to prove she could be a writer. She was also determined to help the weeklies as well as support her family in helping the other immigrants. 5y
sblbooks I felt for Mia and the other immigrants, and I was glad it turned out well in the end. 5y
TheBookHippie I kept thinking of all the kids from Pakistan and Mexico I serve. 5y
See All 15 Comments
mrp27 I kept thinking how hard the immigrant community works. Always striving to do better and be better. 5y
Lmstraubie @Peddler410 @sblbooks @TheBookHippie @mrp27 @Chelsibno @SaturnDoo I kept thinking of how it reflects day to day life that my white privilege has shielded me from. 5y
SaturnDoo Altough I'm not an immigrant I was able to relate to Mia and her situation.I worked as a front desk clerk AND was a weekly, there were 2 of us. The owners of the hotel were immigrants and treated us poorly. Because I was on-site, if they needed extra help/had no help, I was expected to work when I was off with no pay.Several things happened & we would get drug into the situations when we weren't involved to start with. It was a nightmare 👎 5y
LibrarianRyan That I love my mom. I‘m a navy brat. They don‘t pay enlisted military very well. Now I know we didn‘t have a lot of money but I never noticed it growing up. That my mom (while she does drive me nuts) never told me I could be or do something. Yeah maybe we didn‘t have money for this or that but we almost always found a different way. Sorry for the sap. @Peddler410 @amie @sblbooks @TheBookHippie @mrp27 @Chelsibno @SaturnDoo 5y
Lmstraubie @librarianryan Sap is always welcomed 🙂 5y
85eliana Sorry I missed this discussion! We switched to our summer schedule and travelled so I definitely lost track of this. I‘m really enjoying reading the conversation! 5y
Lmstraubie @85eliana No worries 🙂 Feel free to add your thoughts at any time. Just tag the participants so they know you added to the conversation. Hope you had a good trip! 5y
JaclynW All I kept thinking about was our current situation at the border. I'm so frustrated with our government. I'm frustrated at Americans who don't get to know these immigrants/refugees stories. I'm frustrated with the inhumane treatment. It is all completely unacceptable to me. This book shows, what I believe, to be the heart of most immigrants/refugees. They all are seeking better lives - that is universal. Mia was inspiring. I loved her spirit. 5y
mrp27 @JaclynW Agreed! 5y
Lmstraubie @JaclynW It's amazing the lack of humanity by some and the incredibly humanity of others. 5y
JaclynW @Lmstraubie I hope the one out numbers the other in the end.😊❤ 5y
5 likes15 comments