Home › Books for Ages 9–12 › Front Desk: A Front Desk Novel
  • Front Desk: A Front Desk Novel by Kelly Yang book cover
  • Front Desk: A Front Desk Novel by Kelly Yang book cover
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Front Desk: A Front Desk Novel

by Kelly Yang

A motel desk, a family’s secrets, and a writing ambition

Critically Recognized
$18.75 USD
$31.25 USD $18.75 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature

    The metadata identifies the book as a winner of the award.

  • Critical praise

    Kirkus Reviews starred review

    The source identifies a Kirkus Reviews starred review and includes a brief quotation from it.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A motel desk, a family’s secrets, and a writing ambition

Ten-year-old Mia Tang helps run the Calivista Motel while her immigrant parents clean its rooms. Her work at the front desk puts her in contact with the motel’s guests, while a secret arrangement to shelter immigrants in vacant rooms creates risks for her family. Mia also wants to become a writer, though her mother questions whether she should focus on math because English is not her first language. The story brings these pressures together through a child balancing family responsibilities, concern for others, and her own goal. This large-print edition includes bonus content.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 9–12 interested in stories about family responsibilities and motel life.
  • Readers interested in immigration, belonging, and helping others.
  • Young readers drawn to stories about pursuing a writing ambition.

Themes

Immigration and belongingFamily responsibilityKindness and mutual helpLanguage and ambition

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists!* Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 

Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!* Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewMia Tang has a lot of secrets.Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?Featuring exclusive bonus content!
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Customer reviews

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Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

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Ella

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.