Front Desk

Ten-year-old Mia and her Chinese American family live and work in a motel owned by an unscrupulous man, where they are worked to the bone. Mia works at the front desk and dreams of a better life: being a writer and buying her parents their own hotel. Mia, her family, and other characters are subjects of racism and prejudice and Mia uses a number of imaginative methods to solve her problems and build her confidence. This award-winning novel deals with timely topics of racism, the treatment of immigrants, assimilation, growth mindset, and believing in one’s dreams. Suitable as a read-aloud to facilitate discussions and to explore using personal stories to create written pieces.