Front Desk

LoveReading Says

Longlisted for the UKLA Book Award 2022 ages 7-10

Without question, Kelly Yang's Front Desk has leapt to the upper echelons of my all-time favourite novels for pre-teen readers. Narrated in lively, compelling, authentic style by the one and only Mia (who stole my heart from the very first page), this tells the soul-stirring story of a Chinese family’s struggles when they take on running a US motel.

As her family move into the Calivista Motel, Mia’s hopes and dreams run riot: “Our lives were about to change. We were going to become Disneyland-going people. As if things couldn’t get any better, the Calivista had a pool! It was right out in front. The water sparkled under the golden sun. I closed my eyes and pictured myself doing cannonballs in the water all summer long. This was going to be amazing!” Then, little by little - and big by big - the sparkle dulls as reality’s storm clouds muster. But not one to give up, Mia takes on managing the motel’s front desk. 

Though often harrowingly dampened by anti-immigration feeling and outright racism, and by the day-to-day grind of running the motel, Mia’s hope is a thing of magic. There’s pressure at school too - to be accepted, to make friends, to learn to write well, which is her big dream - but still she stays strong as her parents (understandably) worry whether it’s worth staying. The motel’s community of long-term guests provides a lively, characterful cast of extras, one of whom in particular plays a leading, shining role in Mia’s life, and in her ingenious scheme to fix her family’s fortunes through writing. What a story - I couldn’t love it more - thank goodness there’s a second book.

Joanne Owen

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