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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
I loved Front Desk, but this follow-up was disappointing. The historical context was super interesting, but I just didn’t believe how perfect and mature Mia always acted. For a book set in a such a fraught time in recent history, there was a lack of believable conflict and growth among the main characters. My favorite story arcs were Mia’s mom and teacher, although they both had changes of heart that happened a little too easily.
If you thought Front Desk was good, Three Keys is a knock-out! Mia Tang and her friends are back and better than ever. Kelly Yang pulls no punches with this story. The emotions in this - the good and the bad, the joy, the fear, the hope - are off the charts. A well-researched and sensitively told must-read.
oh my god??? this story is so important and educational while being acessible for younger readers. this series is so good
I cannot believe that I went so long without continuing in this series. Yang returns to Mia, a fictionalized version of herself and explores a new chapter in Mia's life, one still examining the immigration experience in California during the contentious gubernatorial election in which one candidate stoked xenophobia with support of Prop 187m a ballot measure which would have denied basic social services to thousands. Yang shows clearly just how much history echoes. While Mia reads as slightly more advanced for her age, suspension of disbelief easily takes care of that. I cannot wait to continue with the series.
Is this even better than Front Desk? Yes, yes it is. It takes place in 1990s California where voters are facing an anti-immigrant proposition and Lupe's undocumented parents are in trouble. Touching on anti-immigrant sentiment and family separation, Three Keys also helps the reader understand that history is just repeating itself with Trump. My favorite thing is just how hopeful this book is - kids changing people's minds in a way that doesn't feel forced or overly idealistic.
A solid follow-up to "Front Desk". Appreciated delving more into Lupe's story and learning about Prop 187 and its implication for immigrants. Though it is centred around the American experience, young readers from everywhere will connect with the themes of friendship, belonging, and empathy. Fans of Front Desk will welcome the chance to reunite with the characters and be inspired by their call to action when faced with seeing their friend in need.
Three Keys by Kelly Yang is the second book in the YA Front Desk series that the kids and I are listening to on our daily commute. Ms. Yang’s protagonist, Mia and her parents are now running the Calivista Motel on their own. But California is headed for an election and on the ballot is a threatening new immigration law, a law that is making everybody in Mia’s world question who needs to be in America and who shouldn’t. We enjoyed Mia’s relationship with her BFF, Lupe, and we like how Jason - formerly a foe - is now a friend. And the motel setting is great. We loved the “weeklies”, although they don’t seem to be featured as much in this book. We also appreciated how the family and friends work so hard, banding together to save the motel. Overall, it is a good sequel to Front Desk, but not quite on par. We give this one three and a half keys
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
After reading and loving Front Desk, I knew Three Keys would not disappoint. I love how Yang’s books tackle racism and racist policies head on. Yang revealed in an author’s note that she researched this book extensively before writing, speaking to immigrant families about their experiences and including real life instances of hate crimes in the story. I could go on and on but in short this book is powerful and timely and everyone should read it. I really hope there is a Front Desk #3!