Front Desk by Kelly Yang | Book Summary

Front Desk, written by Kelly Yang, follows the journey of ten-year-old Mia Tang, a Chinese immigrant navigating a new life in 1990s America. After a period of homelessness and job loss, Mia’s parents are hired to manage the Calivista Motel for a wealthy and demanding owner named Mr. Yao. While her parents clean the rooms, Mia takes charge of the front desk, where she manages customers and befriends the motel's long-term residents. The family faces significant financial pressure and strict rules, including a prohibition on using the motel pool. Despite these hardships, Mia harbors a secret ambition to become a writer, even as her mother encourages her to focus on math. The story highlights the resilience of immigrants as the Tangs secretly provide shelter to other newcomers while striving for their own American dream.