Front Desk Audiobook By Kelly Yang cover art

Front Desk

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Front Desk

By: Kelly Yang
Narrated by: Sunny Lu
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Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number one: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, 10-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number two: 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 three: 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?

©2018 Kelly Yang (P)2018 Listening Library Asian & Pacific Islander Creators Asian American Family Life Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Multicultural Stories Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Featured Article: The top 100 kids books of all time


Listening to a story is the first way that we’re introduced to books as kids. And while our parents and grandparents (and babysitters and siblings!) are no doubt wonderful narrators who left indelible marks on our bookish hearts, the performances featured on this list elevate these stories to new heights. Representing listens for kids ages 0-12, and featuring animals, magical creatures, awkward middle schoolers, and more, our kids essentials will help you rediscover the magic of childhood.

Featured Article The top 100 kids books of all time
Inspiring Immigrant Story • Educational Cultural Perspective • Excellent Narration • Strong Protagonist • Clear Delivery
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This story is semi-autobiographical. It’s about a Chinese family that comes to America with very little money. They struggle to make a living running a motel. The characters are very realistic in their struggles and are very relatable. There are themes of poverty, diversity, and resilience. My favorite aspect of the book is in the main character’s struggle to fit in with her peers while already working at the motel and while being very poor. It takes a lot of resilience and wits to overcome her circumstances and she has a lot of both. This is a great book for 3rd-5th graders. There is a lot to be learned from the main character’s strength of character.

Wonderfully inclusive story

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LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! It is so much fun and scary but that makes it even better

This book is amazing I love this book

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Very funny girl with her gentle family! I enjoyed listen to it! not only for children.

Good book!

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Amazing but there are some scary and sad parts and a little romance seen but overall it was amazing

Amazing but can be sad and scary

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I just love your book and I want to say that this book is my favorite and it was a great one. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great book to read.

Thank you Kelly Yang

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Front Desk is a middle grade book about a 10 year old Chinese immigrant named Mia. Even though this is a kids book, I, in my late 30s, enjoyed it quite a bit.

This is book 1 of a series. Book 2 is already released, but book 3 shows to be released in September of 2021. I will read the next book. I'm curious what is next for Mia and her family.

This book tackles some difficult topics such as racism, poverty, bullying, and abuse of power, but it does so in a way that makes it easier for younger audiences to understand. This has morals in it, but they are conveyed in a non preachy way.

At the end of the book, we learn that a lot of this story comes from actual experiences of the author. That is really powerful to know and makes it more relatable for the reader.

The narrator did a great job! She was very believable as the 10 year old main character and her other voices were good too.

Based on real events

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This book is absolutely amazing it taught me a great lesson and I always thought I had it the worst living in a two bedroom apartment with my mom and brother but this taught me that people have it worse than me and I should appreciate what I have and not to discriminate or treat people differently by what they look like or the color of there skin.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I listened to Front Desk with my 7 & 9 year old daughters we all loved it. It is funny and suspenseful and tackles big topics like racism, social justice, immigration, and bullying.

An important, timely book.

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This book was recommended to me by three of my piano students, who just happen to be around the same age of the heroine of this book. Each of them, independently, read it because it is on the list of books for Oregon Battle of the Books. I am so glad it is! One of my students shared that the song Fur Elise is in the book and that the main character can play it! But this is much more than story about a young girl who can play the piano. It is a story about a young girl who has the courage to dream up a better way for us all to live together and the courage to do it! I can't wait to hear what my students think about it!

Yes, listen to it!

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It's an incredible book One of my number one Favorites Thrills in every Chapter I cry when I read it love it and it's amazing I'm

one of your number one fans

The best book ever

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