In the young adult novel Front Desk by Kelly Yang, life in America has not been what Mia Tang and her parents envisioned when they immigrated from China. They had anticipated vacations, a home of their own, and perhaps a pet dog. Instead, they are living in poverty in the motel the have been hired to manage. Mia hopes to change her family’s fortune when she enters an essay contest hosted by an elderly couple wanting to give away their motel. Themes in the novel include following one’s dreams, the value of kindness, and the dangers of racism and injustice.
